We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nathan Cruz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nathan below.

Alright, Nathan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

When i was first getting started i wrote letters and emails to all the best coach-building shops in United States seeing if anyone would be willing to take me on as an apprentice and teach me this Craft. After many weeks somebody by the name of Steve Hogue reached out, his shop was located in Long Beach California. He said after reading my letter he would be willing to teach me and guide me in this trade and so that was the first moment I felt I was where I belonged and so began the journey of learning this lost art,

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Metal can be temperamental, resilient, and oddly beautiful all at the same time, metal is alive. This was one of the more peculiar lessons I learned from world renowned Metal Shaper and Coachbuilder Fay Butler during my apprenticeship. Whether it was his meditative lessons on metallurgy or the pragmatic instructions on shaping. I was also fortunate enough to have the opportunity during my time apprenticing under Steve Hogue to work alongside Kevin Mason, the Coachbuilder brought by Caroll Shelby himself to help teach Coachbuilding in America, I take lifetimes of passion and expertise from all those I’ve learned and continue to learn from, into every metal project.
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My name is Nathan Cruz. I am the owner of House of Noble. We specialize in coachbuilding, metal shaping | fabrication & auto restoration. Our automobile bodies, designs and concepts are tailor made to suit you and your lifestyle. I have made it my career and mandate to hand make only the finest of automobile bodies from sheet metal. We recently took first in class at Pebble Beach. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for your time and consideration

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Customers become like family during the process of these builds because of the time and constant communication it takes to see these rolling pieces of art restored to their former glory. During our time together they can see and feel my passion and it shows in the quality of the product itself. Proofs in the pudding so to say.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I first opened up my shop I didn’t have much money left in the bank in fact none really to be honest. The first customer I had didn’t have the funds necessary to see his project finished to the standard he had set so I went ahead and finished the vehicle at no cost and went on to win some events which lead to more success. That time and duration of not being paid but having faith that things will work out because of the quality you have put in is quite stressful in its own ways, I give a little piece of myself (life force, love call it what you will) with each one of these builds.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.houseofnoble.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/x_houseofnoble_x/

Image Credits

Me myself and Steve Hogue