Handformed and built to last.

Since 2007

The foundation of the restoration: rust cut out, panels made by hand, every gap set before paint.

The metal under the paint.

Paint and upholstery are only as good as the metal under them. We are the first stop on a restoration: the rust repaired, the panels made right, every gap set, and the car handed on to your paint shop straight.

01Restoration metal workRust repaired, panels replaced and every gap set in bare metal, ready for the body shop.
02Custom and show carsCustom modifications and trick metal for cars meant to stand out at a show.
03Hand made partsPatch panels, braces and parts that cannot be bought, made by hand.
04Chassis and frameFrames and floors given their strength back, under the car where it counts.

The progress album

You see the metal go back in.

Customers keep saying the same thing in their reviews: Ryan sent pictures of the work. So here is a 1968 Mach 1 door the way its owner saw it. Tap through the stages.

The inside of a yellow Mustang door with rust along the bottom edge — 01The rotRust had eaten into the lower frame of the door, so a surface treatment would not do.

A new black steel corner section welded to the yellow door, the seam still raw — 02New section fittedThe rusted metal along the bottom edge and corner came out. A new section of steel went in.

The door bottom with the new black section, the weld seam ground to bright metal — 03Seam ground smoothThe seam is ground smooth so the new metal meets the old with very little filler.

1968 Ford Mustang Fastback Mach 1

A door bottom, cut out and remade.

01The rot02New section fitted03Seam ground smooth

More jobs, stage by stage

A 1973 Nova in primer on the shop floor, front three quarter view — On the floor, October 2026

In the shop now: a ’73 Nova Skyroof, down to bare steel.

Picked up on the trailer, onto the rotisserie, readied for media blasting. Four stages and Ryan’s own walk-around film, shot the first week.

See the album

Every review, five stars.

On Google, October 2026. Word for word, each one tied to the vehicle it is about.

A restoration projectMetal fabrication

“After finding my restoration project needed some precise metal fabrication work outside of my skill level I reached out to Handformed Hotrods… Ryan kept me informed along the way, even uploaded progress photos to an online album to view. Handformed Hotrods exceeded my expectations across the board…”

Paul GGoogle review

CorvetteRestoration and custom work

“Ryan and his team are true craftsmen focused on quality. they did just what I needed on my corvette. Some restoration and some custom work. I can’t recommend them enough”

mark rempeGoogle review

Jeep TJFrame

“…When it comes to understanding and repairing structural automotive parts, I don’t think there is anywhere better… his wheel house is getting the vehicles frames and supports rebuild/repaired and ready for the body shop.”

Michael GoellerGoogle review

Read them all

Other rust repair

A truck or a daily driver rusting out?

We still repair frames, floors, rockers and cab corners, including the work a Maryland safety inspection turns up. Give us a call and ask.

Call (443) 786-1368 Inspection repairs

A welder in a helmet TIG welding a panel at the Handformed Hotrods shop — At the bench, Cambridge

Ryan Kenton, owner

A torch in one hand, a lifetime of wrenching.

“I’m a craftsman with a torch in one hand and a lifetime of wrench-turning under my belt… I live for the challenge of bringing structurally compromised vehicles back to life and engineering custom hot rod visions from the ground up.”

About the shop For body and paint shops

Tell us about the car. Send a photo.

The year, the make, and where you want to take it. Photographs help more than anything.

(443) 786-1368Monday to Friday, 8 to 5 · 1001 Goodwill Avenue, Cambridge, Maryland

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