Today we’d like to introduce you to Cleveland Shinn.
Hi Cleveland, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a toddler in diapers, I was intrigued by anything that was automotive or that had an engine or wheels. As a child, I would collect all the car magazines, hot wheels and build all the model cars I could afford to. As a pre-teen, I seized an opportunity to work for 10 dollars a day at a local automotive shop. The owner thought I was there just to clean up oil spills and wipe up 20 years of grime off the walls. Little did he know I had a passion to turn a wrench and I used that job to get my start in experience with everything that was automotive. I was almost 15 when I purchased my first car and drove it home much to the surprise of my parents. At that time, it was 1994. My car was a 1976, and boy did that car teach me a lot. I started customizing my cars in ways that people my age never thought of, suicide hoods, customized headlights, anything to make my cars stand out. By the age of 17, I had two cars and by 18, I had three cars and it never stopped from there. Fast forward to now, I have never stopped my love of the automobile. In 2017, I opened an automotive repair and customization shop called Oddball Kustom Garage in South Austin. It was named Oddball because I always like to think outside the box and spelled with a K because….well I’m an oddball. I take on customers vehicle projects for their distinctive aspects and not the mainstream world. Whether it’s chopping the roof off a SUV to turn it into a Safari vehicle or putting a huge suspension lift on something thats not normally lifted, if it’s an oddball job, I’m all in. Clients trust me to bring the curb appeal that they are seeking for their vehicles and it’s a very labor-intensive but fun experience all the way around. I’ve also expanded back into buying old forgotten cars and trucks out of fields and barns and bringing them back to life. Saving old classics and rare vehicles is a reborn passion of mine. They are staples of our history that hold classic memories of someone’s grandmother or grandfather, someone’s dad hot-rodding down the boulevard in the 70s, etc. I try to keep those memories alive by digging these cars out and putting them back on the road for all to see.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say it has been relatively smooth. My customers have become friends over time and that’s just beautiful. I’ve faced a few struggles with a couple of my personal vehicles being stolen years ago from a shop that I was renting. That was a tough situation but I managed to make it through. For many years I would just take on jobs because I thought I had to and that took the joy away. Now I only take on work that I want to do and that has helped my peace dramatically.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Oddball Kustom Garage is an automotive shop that specializes in basic automotive repair but also dives deep into specialty automotive customization. Since Covid, we have slimmed down on big builds but we still do custom suspension work, custom lighting, drivetrain and chassis upgrades, classic car maintenance and improvements. Oddball is known as the auto shop that’s just crazy enough to do it. Some customers have crazy ideas but shops will not touch it. Well Oddball is always down for the challenge.
How do you think about happiness?
A happy customer makes me happy, helping my customers get the most for their money makes me happy. Seeing my customers get high fives, thumbs up and recognition online from the community with their newly customized Oddball Kustom vehicle makes me happy. The car culture is a way of life and being able to share my skills to fulfill car enthusiasts dreams is monumental.
Pricing:
- Truck Lift or Level Kits $599 – up
- Air Suspension Kits with install $3,000 – up
- Custom Headlight & Taillight Installs $299 – up
- Brake Pads/Rotors Front & Rear $499 – up
- Led Lighting Installation $250 – up
Contact Info:
- Email: Oddballkustomgarage@gmail.com
- Website: Oddballkustomgarage.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/oddballkustomgarage
- Facebook: Facebook.com/oddballkustom/
