From Lot to Lab

When someone tells you everything is “jacked up” at the new state-of-the-art garage in Bartow, they aren’t kidding.

Walk inside and you’ll find a lift strong enough to hold a dually without breaking a sweat, shelves stocked with popular wheel kits, tires, hitches and more. And underfoot is a vibrant, high-gloss epoxy floor that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into an adventure rather than your typical old “repair shop.”

As Aftermarket Manager Nicole Wynn puts it, 1505 Customs at The Lab is the ultimate one-stop shop for vehicle enthusiasts, a place “merging the reputation of Bartow Ford with the custom world.”

*Ford Broncos and Ford F-150s are two of the more popular vehicles to upgrade at the new state-of-the-art shop in Bartow.*

For decades, the story went like this: Bartow Ford sold thousands of vehicles, and customers drove them straight to an aftermarket specialist for upgrades. That changed earlier this year. Now, drivers can pick their favorite ride off the lot of the 78-year-old dealership and know exactly what the custom work will cost, and how long it will take, thanks to the team at 1505 Hooker St., roughly four miles from the flagship location.

“It was a need we saw and something most stores don’t do. How can we separate ourselves from the competition?” says Benny Robles Jr., the former majority owner of Bartow Ford. “Nicole and her team have done an incredible job out of a rickety bay for years, so when this came available, we jumped on it!”

That old bay handled basic accessory installs just fine. But the vision for 1505 Customs at The Lab is anything but basic.

“We want to be seen as the Tony Stark of customizable vehicle upgrades,” Robles Jr. says with a grin, nodding to Iron Man, the iconic Marvel superhero. “We want to be known around the nation and state for this work.”

The shop tackles all makes and models, but Ford owners enjoy a built-in advantage. The team knows exactly how to upgrade these vehicles without voiding those all-important warranties.

That kind of care runs deep here, and it’s about to reach even further. This month, Bartow Ford joined Crossroads Automotive Group, a family-owned company that started back in 1996 as a single struggling Ford dealership in Cary, NC. Thirty years later, Crossroads has grown to 20 dealerships, and Bartow marks the group’s very first step into Florida. It’s a fitting match: two well established family heritages that revolve around serving people the right way.

Leading the charge at 1505 Customs is Wynn, who has been part of the Bartow Ford family since she was 16. She’s worn just about every hat along the way, from working the “key desk” to running the switchboard, joining the quality care team, and eventually stepping up to lead the aftermarket division.

“We’re big on giving customers a chance to customize a vehicle how they want instead of pre-loading the vehicles ahead of time,” she says, pointing to a fully loaded truck on the lot.

So, what’s it cost to make your ride your own? Whatever your budget looks like, 1505 can work with it. Big dreams, small budget, or somewhere in between—they will meet you right where you are.

Want to keep it simple? A basic lift and tires package can completely transform the look of your truck without breaking the bank. Ready to go all out? Load up on duallys, tinting, spray liner, the works—and their team can take that build as far as you want to go.

The relationship between 1505 and Bartow Ford is symbiotic. Sure, the custom shop will pull in customers from the dealership. But it doesn’t stop there. When people come to know and trust the crew at 1505 Customs, they’re a lot more likely to head back to Bartow Ford when it’s time to pick up their next ride.

“I’m a big believer that if you build it, they will come,” Robles said about taking the leap of faith into this new venture. “In Las Vegas, if they had built so-so hotels and restaurants, would anybody be visiting the desert?”

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