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I had a dream along with my father and my uncle to build an automotive restoration, customizing and art gift shop. My father and I spent a lot of time together as I was growing up as he taught me a lot of carpentry, landscaping and other home improvement skills that I cherish to this day. I'm giving a lot of credit to him as I could have never have done all this work and expense on my own.
My father and I started the project of constructing the shop by moving rocks and cutting all the trees down in the planned area leading up to the site. With the help of a grading company and a bull dozer we cleared the area. The mason crew came in to work on the foundation followed by the carpenters and plumbers. I worked on cars in my parents two car garage & shed for friends and family while the construction of the shop began starting with the foundation followed by framing in the studs, rafters,floors, pipes and adding shingles to the roof. The skilled carpenters finished what parts of the building we wanted them to finish by 1980. Meanwhile after high-school and weekends I would spend time with my father continuing the construction of the new building, helping him with his own projects and self-sacrificing alot of my social life which was hard, but I kept my focus on the dream.
My uncle who is a certified license electrician helped us finished in the entire electrical wiring in building while my father and I installed all the fiberglass, sheet rock work upstairs and paneling downstairs. We installed the cabinets up on the walls and all the electrical fixtures for the new shop as well as for my home.
After I graduated community college and several continuing education courses at technical schools I worked in Chapel Hill as an auto mechanic for three years then after the construction was completed- Auto Fashions Restoration and Creations opened its doors in 1982. Settled & establish the business in 1986.
Then I Worked, Worked, Worked making customers happy and finishing jobs.....
In 1993 I met a guy named Kurt who had his own business. We worked together at his shop and we seemed to work well together, so I decided to have him rent out part of my building separated from Auto Fashions. I moved a lot of stuff around so I have space for him. While he was here I had some serious set backs among other sources connected to him at the my business. He had to go, but I kept on working and focusing on the dream after I had to move cars & clean up his mess after him.
Once again on my own I Worked, Worked, Worked making customers happy and finishing jobs.....
On September 5th, 1996
Hurricane Fran moved across North Carolina skies.
The trees started to fall and fall they did. I heard some big ones fall near by. Could not sleep at all through the storm. In the morning I lost two vehicles and a camper. The power went out for a full 9 days. We had to bury the food we could not keep. Luckily the shop survived, but it was another set back to clean up all the fallen trees on the property. It took us three full days with my fathers help with two chain saws to cut a 8 foot path out of our driveway down to the main road.
When the power came back on in the shop it was Work, Work, Work making customers happy and finishing jobs.....
In 1998 I got involved part time in Real-estate fixing up an old house in Hillsborough with someone who I thought would be my life time friend. I'm sure you know what happen with that and the market then...
In 2000
I got more involved with the internet I changed the business name to AUTOFASHIONS.COM. I started building web sites and establishing online progress reports while I worked at the shop.
Work, work, work, trying to get back on track...
In 2005
I needed to stop spending so much time alone and thought it was time to make some extra money with a part time job two days out of the week working at a wood working shop and that is where I met the new guy who I thought could be my friend.
We talked a lot as we worked together on a particular vehicle at that was at the job site and I found that we think a lot a like and we were both are very ambitious, so I asked him if he would like to work with me at my already established AUTOFASHIONS.COM shop and display our activity on AUTOFASHIONS.COM website and he agreed.
As we moved things and equipment we Worked, Worked, Worked, making customers happy and finishing jobs.....
In 2006
I thought it would only be nice to change my business name to Auto Fashions & Together Customs and so we decided to change my shops name verbally to A.F.T.C. , short name when we answer telephone calls here at the shop and on the shop car.
On May 30th, 2008
WE decided to go in business together so we incorporated a new business called
Carolina Auto Restorers, Inc...
In July 2008
we moved a lot of things to the new location then we had a private grand opening at the new location on 15-501 North. We hired our first secretary and and then an accountant.
We all Worked, Worked, Worked at both places trying to make customers happy while establish the main location on 15-501N. Things started to break down at AutoFashions, but I ignored them because my dream was to be a team at
Carolina Auto Restorers Inc.
02-06-2009
Carolina Auto Restorers, Inc is dissolving.
On February 6th 2009 my great ship of dreams hit an under minding, selfish and greedy ice berg North of 15-501 who I truly believe that was my friend. One who I admired, loved and respected has now shaken and buckle my ship.
He stole her rivets, took the silver platter and locked me out in the night. My ship started to slow down and leak. Nothing to stop my over whelming shock, sadness and effort I put into her, as I was forced back where I got started with no heat or fresh water to drink.
I started to drift and my ship started to sink. I stood tall watching over it all. My family and I have been struggling to make ends meet. I brought back all my life boats I invested to where I got started, so I could get back a float much faster only to be hit by an ordinance torpedo.
I am the captain of my ship with one bad leg I will add. I have a heart on my sleeve, but now a sword by my side! I will not give up, so please have patience with me as I am working as hard as I can to catch up, patch up my ship and continue to make dreams a reality.
God is counting the blessings of those who do good!
May karma do in the rest.
Daniel.
November 1st 2010
I gave up on renters and partnerships,so
Not looking back, what is the point of that!
So its work,work,work,rebuilding here I go.......
March 1st 2011
Thank you for those LOYAL individuals, local companies and customers for your ongoing support during these hard times. Looking forward to catching up and continue providing you quality workmanship and honest business!
Sincerely,
Daniel Salgado II
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