The project not only showcases the incredible commitment and talent among Fix Network and its partners, but also what a great industry ours is to work in.

Fix Network has embarked upon a unique project—to restore and upgrade a classic second-generation Pontiac Firebird which will be auctioned off for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada. 

The idea came about when Mike Hall, from Rust Brothers and Rust Valley Restorers fame was driving his 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle from Tappen, B.C., to Toronto for the 2024 Motorama custom and classic car expo. In getting the car ready for the show, Fix Network offered to have the car tuned up and detailed at its training facility in Milton, Ontario.

“Mike Hall is a very interesting and generous individual,” explains Daryll O’ Keefe, Vice President, Strategic Business Development, North America, for Fix Network.

Strong relationship

O’Keefe notes that within a 12 hour-period the team at Fix Network was able to repair minor damage and get the car ready and off to Motorama. This event “really allowed us to forge a strong relationship with Mike and the team at Rust Brothers,” says O’Keefe.

“It also taught us the power of social media. Rust Brothers’ YouTube channel documented their journey to Motorama, including the stop at our Training Centre, which brought new visibility to the Fix Network brand. It was fascinating for us and underscored the influence of social media creators.”

Several months later, Mike announced he was attending the 2025 Motorama, though this time was choosing to travel to Toronto by train. He spoke to Daryll, having been encouraged by hearing about the efforts that Fix Network has put forward in encouraging young people to get into the automotive trade.

A new project

“We ended up meeting for breakfast,” says O’Keefe “and by the time we’d finished eating we’d come up with a plan which involved me flying out to Tappen and picking up one of the last of Mike’s 20 project cars that were being auctioned off. “I was looking to do a project with Mike, that would bring attention to our brand-new Fix Network Canada YouTube channel where we are highlighting our training and development competencies.”

Fast forward, and the Fix Network team ended up with a 1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am rolling chassis.

Major contributions

The car was shipped back east to the Fix Network Training Facility in Milton, Ont., ready for work to begin. The work required to restore and upgrade the car has been extensive, and Fix Network, it’s locations across Canada and industry partners have made major contributions to the project. A big acknowledgement goes to Nick Brown, Fix Network Technical Trainer, and Aziz Amnar, Speedy Auto Service Market Manager, who’ve essentially steered the project and put many hours into bringing the old Firebird back to life.

The car has been sandblasted and much of the original panels replaced, including the floorpans. “I have to say a big thank you to Derek Wiltshire and Paul Reichert from LKQ for supplying all of the replacement sheetmetal,” states “O’Keefe. LKQ’s ATK crate engines also supplied a brand new 355 cubic inch Chevy small block V8, and the car sports a Tremec TKX five-speed manual gearbox. Fix Network’s refinish partner, Axalta, sourced the primer and paint for the project, including specialty coatings to protect against rust and Cromax coatings to make the finished product really stand out.

Big supporters

Kent Automotive supplied more than 3,000 nuts and bolts required to put the Firebird back together, while Dttire supplied new rubber and 3M Canada supported the project not only in terms of providing adhesives and materials required to prep and paint the car, but also helped in sourcing parts for the project. “Our friends at UAP/NAPA were also big supporters and helped find some of the peculiar parts to this particular build.”

O’Keefe is quick to point out that the car, although starting off as a 1980 Trans Am, has ended up as something of a hybrid, with a front clip from a 1976 Firebird and the twin-scoop hood that was unique to the Formula trim level and not the Trans Am.

O’Keefe explains that the level of commitment everybody has shown for the project has been outstanding, with multiple Fix Auto, ProColor, Speedy Auto Service and NOVUS Glass locations getting involved. The prep and paint work alone were completed in 48 hours, by the team at Fix Auto Hamilton Mountain. “They blocked it, sanded it, masked and painted it and sent it back to us here at the training centre. ProColor Clairlea in Scarborough did the final body work prior to painting and what we’ve ended up with is a perfectly straight car.”

It takes a network

“Whenever we’ve hit a roadblock, somebody has stepped up to help get the project over the finish line, it’s been an incredible experience,” says O’Keefe. “They say it takes a village, but in this case, it’s taken an entire network to build this car—the level of participation and commitment has been outstanding.”

The completed Firebird was, following final assembly, test drives and safety inspection, driven from Milton all the way to Las Vegas and displayed at Fix Network’s reception event during Industry Week 2025, which includes the SEMA Show, Global Tire Expo and AAPEX.

Next year, in 2026, the Firebird will be auctioned off at Fix Network’s National Conference (May 6-9) in Banff, Alta., with the proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada.

The entire build is being documented on Fix Network Canada’s YouTube channel and a major goal is to showcase not only what an incredible project this is, but the passion and dedication of the people who are part of it.

“This really is about showing young people today what a great industry this is to work in,” says O’Keefe “and when we finally auction this vehicle off it is not only going to a culmination of all the effort we put in, but also the goodwill, knowing that all that blood, sweat and tears is going toward an incredible cause.”