Kicking off an overdue new series here at Mac’s Motor CIty Garage, we call on one of the Detroit area’s top specialty firms: Alternative Automotive Technologies.
Part of our motivation in launching Mac’s Motor City Garage in the first place was to tell the inside story of the Motor City car biz—the people and companies, many of them behind the scenes, that supply the auto industry and make it run. This region has the greatest assemblage of automotive talent in the world: designers, fabricators, machinists, you name it. When it comes to cars, there is nothing these artisans and engineers can’t do, and we have an army of them here.
Until they see for themselves, car enthusiasts can’t really grasp the capabilities that exist in this town. If only you could see the cool stuff these skilled men and women are building each day in the Motor City—well, we’d sure like to show you.
One of these shops is Alternative Automotive Technologies, and this outfit is all the more amazing for when it was launched: in 2008, when the industry was in total collapse. At that moment, it wasn’t clear there was going to be an auto industry tomorrow. The guys at AAT, led by president Bryan Chambers, weren’t just skilled and savvy; they were fearless.
The famed Wheel to Wheel, Inc. was one of many providers that bit the dust in those scary days, and AAT took over one of W2W’s vacant buildings. AAT not only survived but thrived in the challenging business conditions, and two years ago the company moved into much larger digs in the former Saleen facility in suburban Troy, Michigan. The 2005-2006 Ford GT was built in this 85,000 sq.ft. plant, where the special features include a state-of-the-art high-bake paint line.
Super Cobra Jet Mustang drag cars, a Ford factory program, are prepped for paint.
One of AAT’s numerous specialties is low-volume composite production. Shown here is the body line for the Gibbs Amphibian Quadski.
A Mustang Super Cobra Jet drag car rolls travels through AAT’s advanced high-bake paint line.
Another AAT assignment: building these specially reinforced crash sled rigs used in DOT safety testing.
AAT clients include the Detroit three and OEs around the world, their suppliers, aftermarket and specialty manufacturers, and the military. What can the 80 people at AAT do? Most anything automotive, but here’s a partial bullet list of the shop’s recent throughput:
+ Specialty and limited production vehicle design, engineering, and manufacturing
+ Concept and prototype car builds
+ Aftermarket component development and manufacturing
+ Chassis dyno tuning and calibration
+ Show cars, movie/television cars, corporate and promotional car builds
+ Rapid prototyping, CMM and Faro arm analysis, clay and foam model validation
+ Classic vehicle restoration and concours-level paint and trim; race cars and hot rods
And much more. Just for fun, here’s a little in-house video showing off a little of AAT’s capabilities. You can learn more here at the company’s website.
Alternative Automotive Technologies 1225 E. Maple Road Troy MI 48083
AAT is an amazing shop! The work that is produced showes true talent and skill. It’s businesses like this that help bring back the true meaning of “Motor City”
The Gibbs Amphibian is off the hook! I would love to tour these shops and see the wizardry in person.
Love this story MCG, let’s see more. I like the little California hot rod shops saying they “build cars.” They modify cars. We build cars.
Another interesting automotive fact about this location. This building was the former AMT Corporation model kit plant during their heydays of the 1960s-1970’s.
great info, thanks!
It used to be a Stanley tool plant. It was also the Saleen plant were the Ford GT body was built before it went to the Ford Wixom plant to be finished.
This is a great start to the series … looking forward to more!