Manny contacted me promptly after my initial inquiry about needed repairs to my classic car. Looking forward to having Manny work on my car. read more

I was with my father when he bought a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville convertible sight unseen in 1962. It was a family car until my parents gave it to me in 1967. Nothing is too good for that car. The car looked great but desperately needed mechanical help. Specifically it was leaking a lot of oil from multiple places, plus a series of other issues. I interviewed a number of providers. What I was looking for was someone that knew what they were doing AND actually cared about their work. When I talked to Manny, I knew he filled the requirements. I reread the 1 star reviews again here on Yelp before I wrote this and have trouble believing them. Here's why: Manny is a truly detail oriented guy. Although everybody makes mistakes, based on my experience, he would always return phone calls. In any event, he went through the car, rebuilt the engine and brakes, serviced the differential, new shocks, new seals, replaced the top raising and lowering mechanism, fixed service little annoying electrical problems, etc. He sent videos all the way through the process. He also called me and asked questions about what I wanted. So I was involved (but, mercifully, not on my back) By way of example on detail oriented and pride in his work, I will describe what he did to fix the brakes: I wanted to keep the drum brakes to preserve the factory spinner hubcaps. He ordered new drums and the car pulled. He ordered a second set and the car still pulled. (Note: the drums were from China and the instructions said to turn them before installing. Really? Repair a new item before installing it?). So he found a disc brake kit that would allow me to keep the spinners. Did not fit. Ordered a second kit from somebody else. Did not fit. Finally, he had a custom kit made and it fit. Car does not pull. How many guys would go through that? I think most would say "good enough". This is not what Manny does. There is a similar story with the carburetor. So now the car runs great. I picked the right guy. Last item: he works on one car at a time. You gotta be patient and wait your turn. it's worth it. read more

Called Manny after having idle issues with a 1964 El Camino with a crate engine. Manny spent several minutes speaking with me over the phone to thoroughly understand the symptoms and gave me several possible causes with a timeline I could expect to have my vehicle serviced. read more

Wanted to follow up now that the work on my 1964 1/2 Mustang coupe has been completed. All I can say is outstanding!! Took a factory straight six, 179hp, four speed and upgraded to a crate Blueprint 302, Tremec 6 speed transmission and dual exhaust. Manny was great at researching parts and getting things preordered to keep us on track. He shared texts, photos and videos to keep me in the loop. He addressed all the things that come up in a major rebuild like mine. Even things that weren't part of my project but always come up with classic cars...he made me aware and once I gave him the greenlight took care of them. Add ons included alignment correction, tires, rust repair, trim repair, carpet, gauges.......list goes on and on. Yes you have to wait for a slot to open up, but then you have Manny's sole focus and the works goes really quick, unlike a shop where they take your car and it just sits around in the back. As a woman I've had some pretty bad experiences as other shops. Manny is nothing like that. Always willing to explain things and give me options. I never felt taken advantage of. If your looking for someone who cares as much about your car as you do SEE MANNY. He won't disappoint. read more

Manny's Classic Auto Restorations & Customs - Car heading out to Manny's - Auto Customization Near Me - Wildomar, California

Manny worked on my '77 El Camino and did everything I wanted in great quality plus drew my attention to a couple of items that will require attention. I never felt any pressure to order more than I felt necessary or comfortable; he always kept me in the driver seat, but advised against costly mistakes (e.g. an unnecessary big block swap). His work style is intense, so be prepared to answer his calls as a priority, so that the work gets done surprisingly fast (but never rushed). Overall I'm looking forward to working with him again soon. read more

Manny's Classic Auto Restorations & Customs - The El Camino before service (the front suspension was too low, Manny fixed it) - Auto Customization Near Me - Wildomar, California

I had a great initial phone call with Manny regarding my 1971 El Camino. We spoke for about 30 minutes, and I really appreciated how thoroughly he listened to my concerns. He asked thoughtful questions, and at no point did I feel rushed or pressured -- just a genuine conversation with someone who clearly knows classic cars. It's not easy finding a mechanic who makes you feel heard, especially with vintage vehicles, but Manny gave me confidence that my Elco is in good hands. I've booked a future appointment and am genuinely looking forward to working with him to get my car back on the road. Highly recommend reaching out if you've got a classic car that needs some expert attention. read more

Had lots of questions with a project car of mine. And Manny was awesome with informing me better details of what to do and what to look for and explaining everything to me to help me better understand. And also giving me different ideas and pointers that would help save me money in the long run. Super informative and was a huge help. read more

warning do not use this guy- i brought my car in for an electrical issue. i never gave manny a budget restriction. we never discussed it one way of the other. he fixes the electrical problem. he calls me and finds another problem. the belts are loose and need to be tightened. one of the belts is rubbing against my radiator hose. he fixes the belts and tells me my car is ready for pickup. he sends me a picture of of the radiator hose as i am coming over and the belt rubbing into the hose which will cause a leak. he says" we should replace it" in 3-4 weeks. i agreed but i wanted the day i was there . i said it would have been nice for you to fix the hose today. it was 3pm. he said, "i have a car arriving tomorrow i need to work on". replacing the hose is like a 60-90 minute job at most. can't you tell the guy to come in a little bit later the following day? i get a sarcastic text from him that the future can't be predicted. i am driving no more than 10 minutes from manny's house and the hose blows where the belt was rubbing. does manny offer to help do anything? does he feel bad or guilty letting me go when he saw an accident waiting to happen? no!! read more

At least have a the professional courtesy to call me back. I talked to you, sent you pictures and videos of the issue I was experiencing and things I wanted fixed and nada, no response back. At lease say "hey homies I cant do the work.." or "Chale I don't do Camaros cuz i like low riders.." but you just went missing in action on me dude. It was a good waste of my valuable time! But its cool I found a clean local shop that is excited to work on my car. :) read more

Mr. Manny is very knowledgeable and works ethically. He patiently guided me through the right course of action to get my late husband's 64 SS back to showcase condition. It was very refreshing to get good solid advice without any sales gimmicks. Mr. Manny has a true passion for classic cars and I look forward to the day that I can go to him with a future project. read more

Manny's Classic Auto Restorations & Customs - 1964 SS - Auto Customization Near Me - Wildomar, California

My story is simple. I bought a car from an ebay auction unaware of the problems. I don't know much about engines or transmissions, but I dreamed of a classic American car. And I got it. This is an AMC Ambassador 1967. Then I realized what a mistake I made, because this is a rather rare car and it is a big problem to repair it, contacting several senvises and spending a couple of thousand dollars, I settled down, because no one could do anything, but only spoiled it. I am, completely losing hope, I sent another request to Yelp and received several answers, but what surprised me, the Manny's answer. He did not give an estimate online and did not try to sell me something, he said that we need to talk, because he has questions. I left him my number and he called me back, his first words were that he would not take on a project if he was not sure of the result, this is very cool. He asked me a lot of questions and at the end he confirmed that he was ready to take on this project. I was delighted, plus the photo archive of Manny's Classic Auto Restorations was very impressive. And so I brought him a car, we took a ride, talked personally, Manny explained all the steps to me and I agreed to everything and was right. Within two days, Manny sent me the first estimate with a full description and photos. I confirmed and he started working, constantly sending me updates. Unfortunately my "new" car had a lot of problems, but I was already ready for it. After he finished the first stage, he moved on to the engine. He immediately warned me that the engine was in poor condition and we decided to upgrade it. Manny took care of it completely, removing the engine and sending it to the bulkhead and paint. Also sending me a photo and video report. Then it was time for the transmission, which was poorly repaired in the previous service, but here again Manny did everything on A +. The last stage was the suspension, which no one touched for 55 years and Manny replaced it completely, also welded all the holes in the bottom, replacing the plates. In addition to this, he did a lot of small details, put a new carpet, hemmed the seats, put new door and roof gaskets, and so on. Unfortunately there are some surprises during repairs, but that's normal, an old car, but Manny first explains all the risks and only then starts to do something. Most importantly, he double-checked everything several times and if he didn't like something, he redid everything, it's very professional and I appreciate it. In the end, when everything was ready, I returned and before leaving Manny spent an hour to explain and show me everything, as well as give a lot of useful tips. I am very happy, Manny made my dream come true, I got a classic American car. I am very grateful. I advise all classic car lovers Manny's Classic Auto Restorations, this is the man who will take care of your car completely and in the end you will have what you want. Thank you Manny, thank you bro!!!! read more

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Regarding the negative review Manny recently received, unfortunately in the business world you have people who are unscrupulous, but i have found Manny to be reliable and trustworthy as a person/mechanic. Manny communicates, he tells customers expectation and gives on line updates regarding your vehicle. My endorsement is nothing short of excellent. I feel comfortable in sharing this positive review as to the negative review that was posted a few days ago, That review is contra to every experience I've had with Manny. I stand by Manny, knowing him and his family, which gave me a deeper insight into his character and business practice. I will continue to drive from Orange County to Windomar, approximately one hour thirty minutes, to have Manny service my 1941 Chev. read more

I purchased a 1966 Mustang convertible at a eBay auction. Over a period 3 years I replaced or upgraded the Fuel, Exhaust, Suspension, Differential, and Transmission doing the work myself. The final item was a crate engine from a builder in Arizona. Actually "the engine from hell". I had broke my leg when it arrived. By the time I was unable to install it the warranty had expired. The engine overheated immediately. Over the course of months I replaced or changed everything possible to get it to run cooler. Including taking it apart and having a machine shop check it out. Nothing was found wrong. This is where Manny comes into the picture. He was very patient as I described the problem and the items I replaced or tested. He asked me to list all the things I had done to it and send pictures. He told me he likes a challenge and would take a look at it. He said he would start at square one and run some test. As he preformed the test he would often send videos of what was happening. He also contacted the builder and after a bit of run around he found out they had put the wrong timing marks on the dampener. The timing got sorted out but the fuel stop flowing into the carburetor after a few minutes when he would run it . He skillfully started bypassing components to find the culprit. The engine builder even offered to replace the carburetor and called back to see if Manny had solved the problem. Manny would update me and forward videos as he tested different components . The mechanical engine mounted fuel pump was overheating the gas and vapor locking the fuel system. This was solved with an electric fuel pump and pressure regulator. It was a definite uphill battle but Manny won. I think he was getting attached to the car since it was such a challenge. He has also made suggestions of other item I can install or change myself. I was very happy with the results, quality, and would highly recommend him to service your classic car or truck. Once you have been there the car is like family to him. read more

Really opposite experience with my second car.. all bad! Do not trust this man with your car, thats all I say!

I took my 76 Cadillac to Manny as it wasn't running right. Two other mechanics couldn't fix it. One of them made it worse. Manny fixed it, sent me videos, kept in contact and did more than I would have guessed. He is really talented. I highly recommend him for any repair. He's honest , trustworthy and someone that I'll be bringing more work to. Thank you Manny ! read more

It's pretty amazing when you call a classic car place or person and that person makes you feel good about the decision you made to own a classic vehicle. But more importantly, they completely understand that owning a classic can also have troubles. Manny was so good to me as he provided a few things to check myself before recommending I bringing the car in (DIY) in order to save money. That said, I'd definitely recommend dealing with Manny's Classic car restoration. Honestly is important. One day, I know his shop will dropping or swapping my engine for an LS motor. read more

I wrote a review about Manny's a couple weeks ago and then I saw a terrible review and feel like I need to chime in. I don't know what Mike Z. is talking about. Manny has gone out of his way to help me save both money and time. He made a house call to get my '71 F-250 up and running, which he charged me very little for. Since then has been available for me to call for support and advice free of charge. I find Manny helpful, knowledgeable, honest and fair. I can't recommend him highly enough for your auto repair needs. read more

Manny was very knowledgeable and helpful even though my car is at another shop. I wanted to get a second opinion to make sure I'm not overpaying. He spent 30 mins on the phone with me and gave me some helpful pointers. I'll he taking my car to him moving forward. read more

Here is an update on my previous review. If you are going to buy a classic car, you need to have it inspected first. Manny was amazing. He helped me save a few thousand dollars due to finding issues that would have been huge safety issues. Manny is very honest, but most importantly very knowledgeable. It is so hard to find someone you can trust that does great work, all at the same time being very knowledgeable of their craft. Thank you Manny!!!!! read more

Spoke to Manny about a possible truck project. Throughout our conversation, Manny made several suggestions about the project that would either save me time or money. Very knowledgeable. I certainly appreciate it. Will call Manny once I'm ready to begin the project. read more

I have a 1955 Chevy 3100 truck that had been worked on at multiple repair shops. After bad experiences and my engine not running right and overheating I left my truck untouched for 2 years. Once I decided to try again, Manny has been able to upgrade and fix some of the shoddy work other mechanics did. A big help has been safety issues that he found in regards to my breaks, bench seat and seatbelts that were installed at a body shop improperly. read more

I was unfortunately able to work with Manny based on my timeline but he was extremely knowledgeable, gave me very insightful information and was patient with our call. He really knows what he is doing and I will be seeking him out in the future! read more

Talk to manny about my car gave me good info guided me in the right direction hilly recommend him read more

Manny's Classic Auto Restorations & Customs - Auto Customization Near Me - Wildomar, California

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My nightmare started approximately a year ago when my mechanic died. My vintage car was totally apart. Yes, engine, transmission, and clutch assembly. I was confronted with a situation that no mechanic wanted to take on, to put a antique car back together that someone took apart. I found Manny, the owner of Manny car repair in Wildomar, California. I want everyone to know that this is what being a mechanic is all about. He took the time to explain that this would be a true challenge but by working together we could get my car back to new. He took a few days to lay a plan and presented to me and explained step-by-step how he would complete the job. Manny kept me in the loop the entire time by giving me weekly updates and I truly felt that he cared for my car. At the end it was true, Manny did care for my car, he handed me the keys, he said have fun and you will be safe as I made sure you'll not break down. My car, my grandfathers' car, the car I learned to drive on will always be in the hands of Manny. read more

Manny is quick to respond, gave me different recommendations on the next steps, what to expect, estimated time it would take for work to be done. Definitely would continue to do business. read more

I am doing a complete restoration on my 1963 Impala and Manny is making my dream a reality! He has been professional, detailed and amazing through the process! Top notch service! read more

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I called Manny's business to find out if he could help me with my 74 Pontiac convertible top frame. I left a vm and he called me back and was extremely helpful. He was honest, telling me that he didn't specialize in convertible tops, but wanted to know what my problem was. After telling him my situation, he was very informative and suggested another company that does work on convertible top frames. It's nice to know that people want to help others, even when they won't receive any monetary gain. He was friendly and very helpful. If I ever need any custom or restoration work on my car, I will be sure to contact him. read more

I am very pleased with the work Manny did on my 1963 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall.  From the beginning, Manny took personal interest in the success of the project and he was very concerned that I was happy with the results throughout the project. Manny was very attentive to my concerns and provided his experienced input and opinions about the project and I was happy with the results. It was a pleasure to work with Manny and I consider Manny to be a friend as I know he is very trustworthy and dependable and I enjoyed getting to know Manny while working on this project. I will be seeing Manny again soon to help further with my truck as it develops. read more

Manny's Classic Auto Restorations & Customs - 1963 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall - Auto Customization Near Me - Wildomar, California

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I am in the market for a '60's chevy truck. I called Manny for tips and he was honest and great!

Manny is very professional, knowledgeable, personable, and has a deep passion for restoring classic cars and trucks. He goes above and beyond in his work. He could sell you whatever you want and complete whatever work you want done, but if he has another idea that will save you money and do your car right, that is what he does. You don't meet many mechanics and businessmen like manny. To most it's all about the money. If you want your classic car or truck done right you are looking at the mechanic for your restoration. read more

No warranty on his work! No receipt! Works from his backyard, very rude and unprofessional! your car is not safe in his house and he'll leave ur car worse!!! read more