KUYOTH’S

KLASSICS

Childhood hobby grows into successful business

It might have taken Troy Kuyoth of Stratford a long time to restore the first vehicle he ever owned, a 1973 Mach 1 Mustang, but selling that car after the Stratford Heritage Days parade gave him the impetus to make a business out of restoring classic cars and selling them to people around the world.

Troy started restoring cars when he was only 14 years old, before he even had a driver’s license, in a small area located in the back of his parents’ vehicle repair shop in downtown Stratford. He absolutely loved Ford Mustang cars, and he collected Mustang parts and purchased a 1973 Mach 1 Mustang.

“I used money I borrowed from my dad and money I made working in my parents’ repair shop to buy my first car,” Troy said as he reminisced about his days growing up at his parents’ business, Kuyoth Repair Service on Larch Street in the village of Stratford.

Once it was fully restored, Troy drove his 1973 Mach 1 Mustang in the Stratford Heritage Days parade to help market his parents’ business. Little did he realize a man watching the parade route was interesting in buying the Mustang from him. Troy sold his car to the man immediately following the parade, and this sale gave Troy confidence that he could create his own business restoring vehicles and selling them to people.

Several years later, Kuyoth’s Klassics in Stratford restores all types of classic vehicles that are sold to people, including those who are famous, throughout the world. Troy said his business sold a 1966 Mustang convertible it restored to Israeli actress, producer and model Gal Gadot, who is the new Wonder Woman. Troy’s business sold a restored Shelby to the late Caroll Shelby, which was the last vehicle he personally used before he died in 2012. Kuyoth Klassics also sold custom chopper motorcycles for former Green Bay Packer football players Ahman Green and Gilbert Brown.

Troy’s success in restoring classic vehicles to sell wouldn’t have been possible without him gaining mechanic and auto body repair knowledge from his father. His parents, Dennis and Cheryl Kuyoth, purchased Schoultz Motors, which was the Ford dealership in Stratford, from Dick Schoultz in 1980. They named their business Kuyoth Repair Service. They repaired cars, trucks, farm tractors and a fleet of school buses that Dick Schoultz owned.

In 1984, Dennis and Cheryl expanded their business and added a used car dealership, which they named Kuyoth Auto Sales. In 1987, Dennis and Cheryl bought Schoulz School Bus Service from Dick Schoultz and they renamed their new addition Kuyoth Bus Service.

Dennis and Cheryl added a body shop to their business in 1988, and it was managed by their son Troy. In June of 1988, Dennis and Cheryl purchased Kann’s Service Station on STH 97 just south of the intersection with CTH 153, and they renamed it Water Works Car Wash. The building was remodeled and a car wash was added.

Today, Troy owns and operates Kuyoth’s Klassics and Kuyoth Body & Custom in the same location on STH 97. A little less than 10 years ago, Troy bought the same building in which his parents had their original repair shop on Larch Street. His mechanics now work on restoring vehicles inside this building.