For some reason I realized that as of 2026 I’ve been on this Imperial Journey for 10 years. Well, 10 years depending on how you count. I started thinking about tackling a restoration project around 2012-2013. Got serious about it and obtained preliminary authorization from the CFO around 2014. Started seriously looking for a car in 2015 and then found and purchased the Imperial much faster than expected.
Built the workshop in 2016 and started actually working on the car. As I write this in 2026 it is 10 years since the actual restoration started.
The poor car sat under a tarp for close to a year while the workshop went up. Being eager to get started, I rolled the Imperial into the workshop as soon as the construction crew left. No power to minimize cost, so everything was done with an extension cord for several months. Even with everything on an extension cord this was the best place for working on cars that I had ever had.
Having a concrete floor to work on, space to spread out, and a door to walk out and lock behind me were great luxuries!
The workshop grew. Had an electrician run power to the workshop and install the single outlet that let the inspector sign off. Did the rest of the electrical myself, starting with lighting and outlets. Oh, the incredible luxury of having a shop with plenty of lighting!
Installed outlets every 4′ around the entire shop. Installed even more outlets on the back wall where I planned to have tool chests and workbenches. Thinking ahead I ran wiring for 240V to each corner of the shop – a total of four. I anticipated using one, or perhaps two. All four are now in use and I have the ability to add a couple more.
The first couple of winters were a bit brutal. Despite a big 5,000 watt 240V electric heater the workshop dropped into the 40’s – even the 30’s – on cold days. Too cold to work on the car!
The CFO finally told me “stop stalling and get crews in to insulate and drywall.” I chose to follow orders. After lighting this change made the biggest difference in making the shop a nice place to work. The same electric heater could now bring the shop into the 60’s even on the coldest days.
As work on the Imperial proceeded the rest of the shop was slowly fitted out. Storage. Tool chests. More tool chests. A Steevo Bench for the tool chests. Cabinets on the wall. Task lighting.
And the big tools started working their way into the shop. A 60 gallon air compressor. A massive welding table. An industrial drill press – high torque, low rpm – for making big holes in thick steel. 20 ton press. Engine hoist and engine stand. And ultimately a lathe and a milling machine. Not to mention a Juki walking foot sewing machine.
Smaller tools also appeared: more complete sets of hand tools. An ongoing collection of specialty tools, purchased as I needed them for specific projects. A whole collection of tools for electrical work. An assortment of tools for working with sheet metal. Machinist tools, including precision measuring tools, cutters and bits for the lathe and mill, and toolholders for the lathe and mill. And a surface plate – you need one of those for precision machine work!
Can’t forget the various tools for paint and body work. I have tools for body repair, customization, fabricating parts out of sheet metal, finishing them, and painting them. Everything from single parts to an entire car. OK, an entire car is a massive stretch…
The arrival of the 3D printer was another huge addition, allowing me to build parts I could barely imagine. We’re just beginning to explore what can be done with this machine!
At some point the CFO told me to just go ahead and get a mini-split air conditioner/heater installed. Again, I followed orders. Warm in the winter and cool in the summer is so much better than the other way around!
The biggest recent change is the addition of a 2-post car lift. This is a game changer for working on cars! Especially since I don’t fit under cars as easily as I used to. Or get under a car as easily as I used to. Or get up as easily as I used to… And it doubled the car capacity of the workshop!
Over time the workshop has gone from an empty area in the yard to a pleasant place to work. It has grown into a reasonably well equipped general purpose fabrication and machine shop.
With this workshop you can do just about anything, limited only by your skills. I’ve learned how to do basic work with these tools. The future is limited only by my ability to learn and improve!