Company Information

The Coach Builders Limited Story
If you would have known Don McCullen as a boy you could have spotted his destiny early. A successful venture in his teens, racing Quarter Midgets and a never ending tinkering with cars through school and college, charted his direction and career. Shortly out of college, with a couple of successful business ventures under his belt, his tinkering soon led to a number of car restorations. Then with the news that Cadillac was about to cease production of the 1976 Eldorado Convertible, Don reasoned that there would be a market niche for convertible conversions.

Using existing top components, Don converted a 1977 Coupe deVille and displayed it at the New York Auto Show. The die was cast. Reaction to the full size convertible was ecstatic. A niche was born. Don began collecting top frames from previous models and built several other conversions. As interest in the product and resulting orders grew, it became apparent that a more efficient manufacturing method would be needed.

Don quickly recognized the need for complete in-house design and manufacturing capabilities. He acquired the machinery, fiberglass molding, and upholstery equipment necessary and began hiring and training people for the exacting skills needed in convertible conversion work. With the knowledge and skills gained from this effort, plus a natural eye for the "correct" lines for a convertible, Don developed a unique talent for quickly and correctly designing a convertible top, specifically for each car model. As the market demands rapidly changed through the years, Don was able to instantly design for the next product niche. Other conversion companies unable to react quickly, soon went out of business.

In 1982, Don bought a 40,000 sq. ft. facility on 5 acres in High Springs, Florida and moved the operation from Fort Lauderdale. With a solid understanding of CBL's niche in the market and a dedication solely to convertible conversions, the business grew to to include the entire United States and several foreign countries as well. The product line grew also, to include Jaguar XJS, Ferrari Testarossa, Mercedes 300CE and 560SEC, BMW 850i, Lincoln Mark VIII, Dodge Stealth, Buick Riviera, Cadillac Eldorado (Soft Boot and Hard Boot) and Cadillac DeVille Four Door Convertible.

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