Sport and Specialty

Sport and Specialty is a restoration shop in Durand, Illinois, a small town in the Rockford area, that concentrates on European sports cars from the 1950s through the 1970s. The shop says it has been expanding steadily since 1991, and its work centers on British marques alongside a few Italian and American projects.

History and ownership

According to the shop's about page, Mark and Kathy Baker founded the business in 1991 after leaving graphic design to restore British cars, and they converted farm property in Durand into both a home and a workshop. Mark Baker died unexpectedly in 2011. John Saccameno, a longtime friend of the family, helped keep the business running and bought it at the end of 2012. He is the current proprietor, and Kathy Baker remains as shop administrator. The shop lists a small staff of body, fabrication and mechanical technicians by name.

What the shop restores

The shop says its focus is European cars of the 1950s to the 1970s, including Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Austin-Healey, Triumph and Aston Martin models. It also takes on what it calls specialty projects, such as restomods and one-off fabrications. Its published portfolio mentions a 1961 Jaguar Series 1 E-Type, a 1965 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider and a custom 1937 Ford Indy racer, along with vintage race cars.

Work done in-house

Sport and Specialty says all work happens under one roof in a facility of more than 10,000 square feet. The listed services are engine and transmission rebuilding, differentials and rear axles, paint and bodywork, interior restoration, convertible top work, pre-purchase inspections, vintage racing preparation and transportation. The shop also encourages owners to drive their cars regularly rather than keep them as static displays.

Awards

The shop states that it has earned multiple awards for restoration quality, but it does not itemize them on the pages we reviewed, so we cannot list specific titles.

Working with the shop

The shop is candid that it turns away more than 40 percent of restoration inquiries, judging whether a project fits the owner's expectations and budget. If you are weighing several candidates, our guide on what a classic car restoration costs explains how budgets tend to add up before you request estimates.

Visiting and contact

The shop is at 9169 Forest Preserve Road, Durand, IL 61024. The phone number is (815) 629-2717. Business hours were not published on the pages we reviewed, so call ahead before visiting. Sport and Specialty is an independent business and has no affiliation with Classic Cars Arena. Owners comparing the cars these shops work on can also browse classic cars for sale in Illinois.

Reputation

We did not find a rating with at least ten reviews that we could verify directly on a review page, so none is quoted here. Ask the shop for client references and visit in person before committing a car.