Our History

History of Hewitt Hotrods & Customs

We can't tell the history of Hewitt Hotrods & Customs without the prequel of it's parent company.

For decades restoration and customization has been a part of Draxler's Service, Inc., started in 1950 by Raymond C. Draxler as a general repair shop for local farmers.

Over the years all seven of Ray's sons put in their time at "the shop" with dad each developing their own interests in the car world.

From customized paint jobs to maybe-not-so-smart engine and exhaust modifications "the shop" became a place for the local guys to bring their cars to. While this work was not considered "restorations" at that time, the reputation of quality and capability spread. The passion to preserve and the thrill of the drive withstood the changing of the guard, not only to a second generation, but also to a third generation.

This passion began to pose a challenge to the flow of the daily work at the original location, since old vehicles require more time and care than our daily driver's. A "simple brake job" may not end up being so simple. The vision to create a location where classics could be stored over winter and have their owner's "wish list" items checked off by Spring was born.

In 2018, Draxler's Service purchased the old Evergreen Manufacturing property, a quarter mile down the road to provide room for the expansion of our classic car division, now known as Hewitt Hotrods & Customs.

What started as a five-year-plan to outfit the building, changed very quickly to a five-month-plan once word spread. Today Hewitt Hotrods & Customs houses many pieces of history.

Some stay a day to have their annual oil change and some become "long-term residents" as they start the journey of a restoration, but each vehicle has their own story to tell. Our mission is to preserve that story and assist in creating the next chapter.