As we venture across the U.S. on our Stateside Shop Tour, we’re focusing on shops in all 50 states that do work on Bow Tie cars and trucks. This week’s stop puts us in Mansfield, Ohio, at Brian Stitt’s BS Creations. Brian’s shop was contracted to complete this 1978 Chevrolet Malibu, owned by Anthony Mosley of Ashland, Ohio, and should hit the drag strips this summer.

The Malibu’s frame and rollcage is made entirely of chromoly, and was built by Pat Brewer and Zack Sikola at Thunder Road. Thunder Road specializes in custom frames, and BS Creations has done a number of projects with them. The Malibu is currently at Autobahn Auto in Plymouth, Ohio, having the custom-built 406 cubic-inch engine and Powerglide installed.

The ’78 Malibu is close to final prep before applying color.

Aside from the body (which has been stripped of anything that isn’t structural), all of the removable panels are fiberglass. BS Creations fitted all of the body panels and trimmed almost 6 inches from the bumper, and completely reshaped it. It’s estimated the car will weigh approximately 2,200 pounds when finished.

The owner gave BS Creations a couple suggestions about color options, but, Cory Solinger (Brian’s right-hand man) added, “We did a number of rough concepts, but ultimately the finished look came from Brian and I bouncing ideas off each other. Overall there are more than 20 separate steps/layers in the final product.

Once the paint started flowing, Brian and I worked more than 24 hours straight on it.” The body is medium silver, and the pinstripe is neon green. A toolbox mat was used to create a marbleized-look base under the custom mixed blue candy paint. The racing stripe and Chevy emblem were done with Metajouls (from House of Color, which is very close to metal flake), and are accented by a drop shadow to create depth. The grill, headlights and marker lights are vinyl, and were created at 419 Graphix in Mansfield, Ohio.

Twenty separate steps were utilized before the paint was complete.

When asked about their shop, Cory said, “We consider ourselves a hot rod studio. If it’s custom, we can probably do it. We do frame-off restos, custom fabrication, custom paint, hydro dipping, and a ton more.”

BS Creations designed the vinyl grille, lights, and lettering on the car.

Cory continued, “BS Creations was founded by Brian 13 years ago, after he graduated from Wyotech. He’s been building cars ever since. His cars have won numerous awards, and his skills in custom metal fab are nothing short of amazing. Brain and I have been friends since high school, and we’ve worked on cars together long before either of us knew what we were doing. Initially, we both took our own unique path, but they eventually crossed again, and here it is four years later.”

Rounding out the team is Jon Baker, who walked into the shop a little over a year ago, and has become invaluable. According to Cory, not only does he have experience in bodywork and painting, but he is also an amazing airbrush artist and pinstriper.

If you’re in the Midwest and have a project that needs special attention, maybe BS Creations can help you finish your project.