Top Dead Center

TDC is the place to find and review mechanics with expertise working on enthusiast cars. Whether you have a classic 4x4 or a new Mustang, find shops where fellow enthusiasts with similar cars have had good experiences so that the next time you hand over your keys you’re not left wondering whether it will come back worse than it was before.

Find: Search for shops that have experience working on YOUR car, not just cars in general. Filter for Services (ranging from basic maintenance to engine swaps), Vehicle Type (vintage Swedish through to new JDM), Ratings, and many other criteria so you’re sure you’re making the right choice

Review: Whether you had a great, terrible or fine experience at a shop, let the world know! Don’t just post to a niche forum, write a detailed review so that the next time someone needs to find a shop fast it’s at their fingertips (and not on pg. 187 of a thread). A simple rating out of five stars isn’t enough to get the full picture of how a mechanic does business, so we have multiple criteria, mandatory commentary and the ability to upload videos and photos to give you as much information as possible

Interact: Make a profile when you join, add your car(s!) to your Garage and message users who live in your area or who simply wrote a review you have questions on

Message from Gian (Chief Gearhead, Sole Employee): TDC was inspired after I made the rash decision to buy a swapped BMW wagon, which after a few weeks of ownership I decided to drive to Rhode Island from NYC for a weekend trip where it then developed a massive oil leak. I was nowhere near my go-to mechanic and needed someone (quickly) with expertise working on weird, custom BMWs. After many hours of forum hunting I found someone an hour away who took care of me, but in the weeks afterward I thought there has to be a better way of collecting all the great information on all the forums across the internet so that when you move to a new city, are on a road trip and something breaks, or have a bad experience with a shop you can find somewhere new easily and with confidence.

TDC is meant to be a place that makes owning a car that’s special to you easier, regardless of whether it’s a pristine E-Type Jaguar or a $3,000 Volvo you’ll never get rid of. In doing so, I hope you get to connect with some great people—both online and in real life. I really hope you enjoy it.