Body shop changes names, adds services

You may have noticed a sign change along Sixth Street last week, as Finishing Touches became the Hot Rod Station. But the sign is just something of a formality, as owner Dennis Leonhardt said for a year he ran under the Hot Rod Station but didn't have signs up.

"We changed the business," Leonhardt said. "We were going to do more old cars - hot rods, street rods, rat rods, modified vehicles and customs." He had previously been doing body and paint work, and just a few weeks prior to getting the signs up he started gearing up to do collision work again. "So now, we'll be doing both."

Leonhardt noted the shop has always been doing glass, but has done a lot more lately due to the hail damage. He's also allowing use of some space in the building for a hail damage repair company.

Among the customization vehicle work at the shop, Leonhardt said it all depends on what the customer wants and can afford. For instance, a 1930's Model A's cloth roof was replaced with a steel one, a 1954 carburetor was rebuilt and a 1937's Ford's doors were modified to open with a button push.

Leonhardt came to Thermopolis to work for Nels Vicklund in April of 2000, and took over on Labor Day, 2001. He leased the building from Vicklund for a bit until he purchased it in October of 2002. However, Leonhardt started his company in 1998 while still in tech school at WyoTech, working at body shops until he went into work for himself.

He said he didn't have a lot of experience, but had a good education with a Bachelor's in Business and his tech school learning in collision repair, refinishing and street rod building. "All of that stuff was in place, but I really hadn't had enough years to practice it. He later went back to tech school and earned an Outstanding Student award as he was totally focused on what he wanted to do. "My passion was in building these cars, and I was going to get it done."

It's been a long road, Leonhardt said, "and not necessarily a direct path. I can't complain; it's been good."