I had a passion for gas fueled adrenaline from practically when I first learned to walk. Beginning with my first job as a paperboy with 5am and 5pm routes so I could buy my first dirt bike, go cart and snowmobile. I can recall being frustrated when my parents wouldn’t let me buy the next-door farmer’s 1959 Impala for $1,500 because I was only 14. Oh, how I wish I had that car today. My older brother also influenced my passion with his first car being a ‘52 Ford pickup followed by a lifted V8 ’48 Willys then a ’68 Camaro before he got into a ’77 280Z.

Growing up and graduating high school in the 80’s was a time of great cars from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. I started out with a mint 1980 Camaro then took over my parent’s shop with my first 240Z and tri-power 48mm Mikuni carbs, then another Z, a frame-off restored 1976 Chevy step side and a custom 1988 Mustang 5.0. Migrating into 4X4s and owning 3 different K5 Blazers, Bronco’s, Tahoe’s, Yukon’s, etc. My one regret was selling a 1968 RS convertible Camaro we bought from the original owner with only 70k miles on it. I can still remember her to this day and wish I would have owned it for life.

As I migrated into my career, we moved 6 times over 19 years buying and selling homes each time. I always purchased homes we could remodel and bring them back to life from the Northwest to California to Colorado and ultimately where we currently reside in the Missoula Montana area. I did have a period where I shifted gears into German vehicles and ultimately had owned more than 50 cars, trucks, boats and motorcycles over the years. However, the 60’s through mid-90’s cars always caught my eye and I started purchasing them again and bringing them back to life with a focus on OEM or restomod enhancements. I currently own nearly 20 vehicles and realized I was starting to build a business model.

During 2020 I reached the pinnacle of my Executive career as a VP within one of the largest media companies in the world. Traveling extensively across the country and managing $500MM in revenue goals for my team. But my love was being back in my shop working on projects. The focus and ability to see the completed restoration made me realize this is what I want to do. So, I resigned and started Bruno Classics to help keep the true great rides on the road. Cars you can actually wrench on vs. today’s vehicles where the manufacturers don’t want you under the hood since parts and service is where they generate their profits. Vehicles that are solid and searching for that ultimate “barn find” that’s a perfect candidate to bring back to its glory.

Time to relive your dream behind the wheel on a great back road or just cruising down the highway!