LaFayette Downtown Development Authority, or DDA, named Elite Custom Paint & Body LLC as July’s Downtown Business of the Month because of the business’ support for fundraising efforts by the LaFayette chapter of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance, according to the DDA Promotions Committee. ECPB built “Eleanor,” an Elite Custom Paint & Body reproduction 1965 Mustang for the group to sell tickets to win the car.

ECPB Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Geiger said, “It all came about one day when our good friend, Bruce Coker, came to us for a donation for the Vietnam Veterans. We wanted to help but wanted a better way than just handing them a check, so we decided to build Eleanor and raffle it off for them.”

ECPB built the car in six months, and 750 tickets were sold, he said. The drawing was held Feb. 28.

“We try to give as much as we can to our local sports teams, charities and events,” he added.

Mr. Geiger said he established the business on Sept. 1, 2003 and initially rented Thomas’ old body shop on Bandy Estates Road. The business grew and moved to its current location on West Patton Street in October 2006.

ECPB provides collision repair, restoration, custom paint, full exhaust system, audio and video, full service, engine rebuild and any other car related services, he said.

ECPB employees are good-hearted people who take the business’ mission to heart to provide complete, satisfaction-guaranteed automotive service to the community while maintaining a clean, professional appearance. He said employees are “truly passionate about their work and the cars they work on.”

“We name our customers cars as soon as they come into our clinic for restoration,” he said. “We feel like we adopted another child.”

ECPB posts photo albums of cars and motorcycles as they are being restored on the business’ website to allow owners to view progress on their vehicle. Employees enjoy sharing refreshments with visitors and client as they chat about project cars.

“We have many people who stop by just to look and ask questions or advice,” he said. “Some just need air in their tire. Whatever the reason may be, the guys at ECPB are more than happy to help.”

Mr. Geiger said he expects that as demand and sales increase for ECPB’s new proprietary-developed product, a vacuum to electric headlight conversion kit for C3 Corvettes, additional manufacturing space and staff will be needed locally. This aftermarket product will also be sold internationally.

ECPB’s location downtown is easy to find, and a steady flow of traffic travels by the shop every day, he said. Motorists often slow down as they drive by just to see what is in the showroom.

As a recipient of the DDA’s Fiscal Year 2009 façade grant program, Mr. Geiger said ECPB is proud to be part of the community, and he wants his business to do its part to keep downtown attractive to residents and visitors and keep crime off the downtown streets.

Mr. Geiger said he appreciates being selected for a $4,500 façade and exterior improvement grant through DDA to complete exterior work on the building, which will include stone work, landscaping and work on the front window and door. Materials and labor costs, much of which will be performed in-house, are expected to be nearly $20,000.

Mr. Geiger invites those interested in cars to “stop by and see what they can do for you … anything car related,” he said. “The employees love what they do, and it shows.”