One month after Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) raided its shop and impounded its customers’ cars, Classic Recreations has settled with the government and is back in business.

According to a press release by Classic Recreations, a disgruntled ex-employee contacted the OSBI and started the month-long shut down of its facilities. During the OSBI’s inquiry the shop was found to be replacing some rusted or damaged sheetmetal on its restoration projects with aftermarket pieces, which the government argued means the shop must then re-title the car. Classic Recreations disagreed.

"Laws were created to protect people from car thieves, now the government is reinterpreting those laws to go after restoration shops,” said Classic Recreations Owner Jason Engel.

After a series of legal quarrels on the definition of restoration protocol, Classic Recreations has agreed to follow the current interpretations of the law while advocating and working with state legislatures to pass a more precise definition. Engel hopes his story will serve as a call to action for other restoration shops and hobbyists in the area. In the meantime, however, he is just glad to be back building his beautiful cars.

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