Since moving to St. Croix in the late 1990s, Dan Barron has built a reputation as an honest and efficient auto body repairman, someone who gets the job done quickly.
As residents in the Caribbean know, things are usually done on “island time,” but when it comes to Barron he doesn’t dilly dally, he knows people need to get a vehicle back on the road quickly.
At his recently opened body repair shop, which he and his wife Julie Barron named 180 Auto Body, you get in and out with complete service in a timely fashion. The name has a Christian meaning for the couple, who have both been saved.
“It is biblical, when you get saved you do a 180,” Dan Barron says.
Barron says he has been “tinkering” with cars since he was five-years-old, when he hung out in a California auto-body shop owned by his best friends’ dad.
“I have always loved doing body work,” Barron says. “I would like to have a garage at home and work on cars all the time.”
When he was 21 he had his first body shop in Reno, Nev., that he says he successfully ran for 15 years. The Barrons moved to Arkansas and owned and operated a restaurant and body shop.
“The body shop did better than the restaurant, where we served French and Italian food in catfish country,” Barron says as he laughs with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes.
They decided to move to the Caribbean to be surrounded by water, which they both love.
Dan says they moved here with the intention of opening their own body shop. People recommended that Dan work for someone else first to get a taste of what doing business on St. Croix is like. He managed the auto body shop at Caribbean Auto Mart, increasing profits over the 10 years he was there, he says.
Barron is certified in all aspects of collision and refinishing repairs including airbags and suspension.
He works closely with and is referred for estimates by several insurance claims adjusters on St. Croix. The estimates for parts and labor time are all done with standard body repair estimating computer software. Barron orders new factory parts directly from the manufacturer or after market parts for all makes and models of vehicles. The paint refinishing product he uses is made by BASF, the makers of the paint used on the Space Shuttle.
Barron is also licensed to have auctions of salvaged cars, boats and trailers that he will have stored in the back lot.
The shop is at 12A Lagrande Princess in the old Nissan Dealership building, with on-site engine repair. Those int43erested can call Julie or Dan Barron at 771-6451 to learn more about their services.
The Barrons also do sailing charters to the British Virgin Islands and around St. Croix on their 45-foot catamaran, the Kindred Spirit. Dan is the captain and head chef and Julie is the chief, cook and bottle washer. They also operate International Yacht Brokers located on the boardwalk in Christiansted.
