Building Time Machines: Jeff Barr on Custom Cars in Naples
If there’s one thing Jeff Barr understands, it’s how to turn a lifelong passion into a full-time operation. As the owner of BPR Automotive Engineering , a shop based in Naples, Florida, Barr has built a business around what he calls "a hobby that has grown into something quite a bit more than a hobby.” What began as a side hustle has now expanded to around 20 employees and 16,000 square feet of space. Plus, BPR is one of the most trusted names in custom automotive work on Florida’s Paradise Coast.
a lifelong obsession becomes a career
Barr’s background in cars goes back to his earliest memories. “I was born involved with cars. We’ve always had muscle cars, race cars, and every sort of car you can imagine.” His father owned shops in St. Petersburg, and by the time Barr was a toddler, he was already riding in race cars being trailered to the track.
Barr worked on his own cars for years and did custom jobs for friends. But in 2006, when his corporate job came to an end, he took the leap and went all-in. Nowadays, he describes his business as “about six different things.” It includes a custom shop that does heavy fabrication, a paint and body shop, a general maintenance department, and even a car sales arm.
the collector community
Barr has worked on everything from custom Corvettes to Moslers. His client base is loyal, and, as he puts it, “a pretty tight stereotype.” He explains, “Generally, people are in the process of retiring or have just retired.” Most started with very little, worked hard for decades, and are now ready to enjoy what they couldn’t afford when they were younger. “That’s where I come into play.”
The result? Cars that are both personal and performance-driven. “To do it right, it costs a lot of money,” he admits. “That’s why we stay here—because there is a customer base here who appreciates this.”
Naples is ideal for collectors, thanks in part to a climate that supports year-round driving. “I think the weather is the main thing,” Barr says. “Six or seven months out of the year, you can even drive cars without AC in a pleasant way.” And Barr knows the Naples community better than most: “I’ve lived here since 1979.”
garage culture and the allure of privacy
We meet Barr at Ultimate Garages , a unique facility in Naples that’s made up of condo-style car storage units. Some owners have turned their spaces into hangouts or even second offices. “The really interesting stuff is in people’s garages,” Barr says.
He gestures toward a Mosler nearby. “It’s a race car that somebody made street legal. It’s an animal. It has no driver aid whatsoever, no traction control.” Then he points out a sleek ‘66 Corvette. “We actually built that. It doesn’t look very custom, and that’s the design. That’s the way we try to build most of our cars.”
“Most of my customers want an old car, but they don't want the problems that are inherent with an old car,” he explains. For example, pointing back to the Corvette, he says, “It still feels, smells, and looks like a ’66 Corvette, but it’s all computerized.”
For Barr, this approach is about preserving the soul of a car while bringing it into the present. “This is the closest thing to a time machine that I think anybody’s built.”
5th avenue south and the naples scene
Drive down 5th Avenue South or Gulf Shore Boulevard on any given day, and you’ll see what makes Naples a car lover’s destination. “It’s almost like a rolling car show,” Barr says. “Porsches are literally Volkswagens here,” he jokes.
One of his favorite places to sit and watch the cars go by? Chops on 5th Avenue South. “You’ll see multiple Ferraris, so many Porsches you can’t count, McLarens, Lamborghinis...magazine-worthy cars that most people don’t see in America ever…and that’s just a normal Saturday.”
And then there’s the biggest event of the year: “Cars on 5th is the pinnacle,” Barr says. “It’s becoming bigger and bigger and bigger as time goes on. It’s the biggest display of wealth you will ever see on a couple of blocks of street. Any kind of car you could ever imagine.”
the track and the thrill of it all
Display is only part of the story for Barr. He’s just as interested in what happens when the pedal hits the floor. “My all-time favorite thing is to get into a Z06 Corvette or a Turbo 911 S and go to Sebring,” he says. “I’m an adrenaline junkie.”
Naples offers the perfect setting for those who want to push the limits. “Fortunately, we have three world-class racetracks within no more than four hours of us.”
From custom garages and car clubs to world-class racetracks and shows, Naples has built a lifestyle around car culture. For truly impressive rides, ONLY Paradise will do.