MILLER’S CHOP SHOP
SPARKS, NV (March 19) – Miller’s Chop Shop is another small family owned and run business in our area that works in the automotive field. However there is a difference as it’s not the usual auto repair facility.
Robert Miller stands in his shop’s showroom with his 35 Chevy that he built.
The inspiration for owner Robert Miller to start the shop came from a local track closing down.
“It all began with stock car racing at T-Car Raceway,” he said. “We started racing cars then the track got torn down, then we started working on hot rods after working on regular cars then full time on antiques and hot rods.”
He added the biggest challenge starting the business was finishing a car so everyone could see it.
“Once I got that done it was easy because everyone wanted one,” he said. “It was a radical custom pick up that I picked up for $100. The marketing we did was to put the logo on the door”
The business began 31 years ago and for the first 26 years was located in Sun Valley. Now it has moved to 850 Watson Way in Sparks, Nevada.
“Now we’ve moved down here and Josh (His nephew) has a shop next door and all three of my brothers, Randy, Rick and Jerry as well as Josh, his wife and even my mom does paperwork for us sometimes,” he said.
Over the years the shop has won many awards.
The shop is truly a family-run operation and now that Josh has two children there are four generations of Millers are involved.
Asked what the shop offers Miller said, “Mainly what we offer is anything to do with an old vehicle to make it drive, to make it more fun, converting them into cars you can enjoy everyday and have some fun with. Also they are touchable cars because some of them aren’t finished all the way and others are, it all depends on what you want to do and your budget.”
This 1938 Dodge is getting not only a new motor but a redesigned front end that will allow it to drive much better than the stock version.
One example in the shop is a 38 Dodge that has a new front frame with independent suspension, rack and pinion steering and will soo have a new motor. After its finished this car will handle much better than the stock version.
Miller’s usual approach is to start from the bottom then once that is completed they carry on from there. Of course it depends on what the customer wants.
One example is his car in the showroom. Miller said the frame below is candy apple red but the body hasn’t had any paint so he doesn’t have to have to buy wax or worry about scratches or other things.
“You can do that for a couple of years and if you get tired of that you can put fiber or paint on it,” he said. “You can work your way into it and it makes it easier for the average guy to do. We’re trying to this for the average guy, not the guy that has a lot of money.”
Actually he does work for all income levels including a Dodge pick up that has been worked on sitting in the showroom.
“Every once in a while you run into someone that wants to do everything, paint, the running gear and then others don’t have that kind of money so I just do what their budget is,” he said. We’re trying to make this enjoyable for everyone.”
One challenge is the shop’s size as its on the small size, so they have to schedule cars to get them in and out. Now with his nephew’s shop joining the operation they have access to a paint booth that can be used to vehicles that need the service.
Maybe in the future they might consider moving to a larger facility.
When asked about advertising he said, “Now days advertising is free, it’s on your phone, it’s on the Internet. And pictures tell thousands of words.”
One wall in the showroom has a few before and after photos including his car that was basically a frame with a body on top of it when he got it.
Here is a before-and-after poster of Miller’s car. He began with only the body as the frame had to be replaces.
“When you see what’s been done to the car and what we started with, that’s the best kind of advertising you can get and it’s free,” he said. “People see the cars we have, see us driving them, see me driving my car all the time and they want to that too. I get people flagging me down, wondering if my car is for sale and what kind of car it is.
Another challenge for a small business like his is that he needs three licenses to operate. So an owner of this type of shop needs one from the State, County and DMV. He added it’s not that simple due to all the regulations that have to be followed.
Getting through the economic meltdown was a hard time and Miller had to see some of his cars.
“I had to see a car that I had a lot of money and time in and had to see it for a third or half of what I had into it so I could keep going,” he said. “Now I’ve had this car for quite a few years and haven’t had to sell it. Before I had to see a car or a truck before I could sell another one.”
Over time things have changed. Miller explained that to build his first car he had to find the cheapest parts he could but now he can buy what he needs for the work.
His car in the show room is an example of how things have changed as he bought chrome, had the frame powder coated and got everything he wanted.
“Now my brothers and nephew are helping me out so that way it’s not all on my back,” he said. “Josh has an upholstery guy and my youngest brother is cutting glass. There’s nobody in town that does that. And there’s nobody that does the style we have, our style is different than everybody in town.
“Our style is based around the 50’s and 60’s so I tell everybody if you’re doing your car in that era, because that what’s started all this, then your car will always be in.”
Keeping that style from a bygone era is very important to Miller due to what is happening now with social media and the Internet.
“I’m just trying to keep the history going and I’m trying to pass it on to the next generation because we’re losing them to computers and telephones. They don’t put 3,000 on a bicycle like we did as kids. As soon as they are home they go right into the phone or do their computer things,” he said. “I want to keep these things going so they’ll have something else besides that.”
He cited the example of Josh’s older boy and his own son, Robert Jr., a high school student that is building his own hot rod
One of the next generation Miller’s is Robert Junior, a 16-year-old high school student that is building his own hot rod.
“You’ve got to pass it on because if we don’t it’s going to go away, he said then added, “I’m keeping the history going into the future.”
For further information on Miller’s Chop Shop their website is www.millerschopshop.us and the phone number is, 775-674-2211.
Miller’s Chop Shop located at 850 Watson Way in Sparks, Nevada.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- NASCAR ended its western swing Sunday as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series visited the track at Fontana, California. Kyle Busch started second and ended up third while his brother Kurt started seventh and finished 14th.
• This weekend the Red Raiders of NNKC and Nevada Kart Sport journeyed through the weather to Redding, California to compete in the latest round of the KPX series.
Zach Rivera won his first KPX race in the Senior KA100 class at Redding.
Photo courtesy – Stephanie Callahan
Topping the list was Zachery Rivera, who won his first race in the Senior KA100 Class. Other finishers were:
P4 Jack Schrady Jr.1 206
P10 Cane Fredricks Jr. 2 206
P13 Matt Fecko Jr. 2 206
P16 Sarah Baker Jr. 2 206
P19 Katie Baker Jr. 2 206
P5 Nick Short Senior 206
P23 Stephanie Callahan Senior 206
DNF Brandon Apodaca Sr206 Hvy
P4 Steven Piggot Masters 206
P7 Brian Baker Masters 206.
The only negative was Brandon Apodace, who had a DNF in Senior 206 Heavy.
• This reporter will be on Teresa’s Garage Radio Show on Tuesday. The show is about all things automotive, runs from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. and my racing segment is right at 2:15.
Teresa’s Garage Radio Show graphic.
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Our newest is Big Valley Honda and is the first dealer we have as a sponsor. They sell everything from motorcycles, UTV’s, ATV’s and about anything else things one could want.
They are located at 2225 Market Street in Reno and their website is www.bigvalleyhonda.com and they have a Face Book page, www.facebook.com/bigvalleyhondareno.
Our first sponsor is a full service motorcycle shop, Reno Motorsports and they too have a full service shop as well as about anything a rider could want.
They are located at 964 Terminal way, by Mill Street and their website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
Sponsor PJ & Co Restaurant and Saloon located at 1590 Wells Avenue in Reno is familiar to most in the riding lifestyle.
Good food, great place and they have Bike Night every Wednesday. For further information please check their website at, www.pjandco.net.
Concours Body Shop, owned by racer and race supporter Gil Grieve, is a business doing quality repair work on cars and trucks.
The business is located at 240 Telegraph Street in Reno and their website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
If you are into karting or want the most cost effective way to start racing then check out Nevada Kart Sport, our only full service kart shop in this region.
The shop has moved to 894 Deming Way in Sparks and their website is, www.nevadakartsport.com.
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