Art Castor isn’t just driven by the past—his whole life is driving the past for others! Born the same year as his beloved ’56 Ford F600 rig, Art grew up under the hoods of the cars that pulled into the three service bays of his father’s local garage. Located on the outskirts of Chicago, IL on the legendary Route 66, Castor’s Carb and Clutch got its start after Art Sr. came home from the war, and quickly made a name servicing both local farm trucks and highway passersby. Even after the Interstate came through business was brisk thanks to Castor’s reputation for being able to revive virtually anything on wheels and bring it back to pristine working order. Increasingly that reputation was built on the mechanical magic touch little Art had inherited.
By the time Art was 10 he would routinely spend his afternoons after school and all day Saturday elbow-deep in a customer car, setting points, adjusting valves, swapping water pumps, replacing clutches—jobs far beyond his years. As he reached high school at the height of the muscle car craze his skills had become a local legend; kids would come from towns around to have him tune their hot rods, and no one in a hundred miles won a street race without the help of Art’s magic wrench. But as fun as the fast stuff was, Art’s deepest passion was reserved for the classics he grew up around. Flathead Fords, pre-war Packards—Art’s greatest satisfaction was taking something old and worn out and making it shine and purr like new again!
Art Sr. recognized his son’s genius and handed the business over to him full-time on his 21st birthday—along with the keys to the ’56 Ford hauler. Art’s first restoration project was that ’56 F600. Sourcing parts from grain trucks, tow trucks, and any other place he could find in the wind-blown surroundings, he painstakingly brought the rig back to pristine. Anything he couldn’t find or fix he remade by hand, until every last inch of trim was 100% right. This brilliantly restored work truck has become Art’s calling card and best advertising for his business, which has gradually shifted from service and repair to acquisition, restoration, maintenance and transportation of classic machines.
Art and his big Ford rumble all over the midwest rescuing dilapidated classics from fields, barns, junkyards, garages or wherever a diamond in the rough may be hiding. If you are on the hunt for a specific make, model and year give Art a call. If it still exists he’ll find it, retrieve it, revive it, and deliver it to you. Whether it’s a casual cruiser or a concours competitor you seek to build, Art is your man. No matter how neglected the car may be, he can bring it back to life so it can bring you driving joy or bring you top dollar across the auction block.
