Tri Koast Kustoms - Taylor

Tri Koast Kustoms - Taylor

Written by Patrick Brendel Friday, 10 October 2008

At one time, Art Dougherty thought he would spend most of his working life under water. Instead, he ended up in a Taylor garage installing Lambo doors and alligator skin seat cushions in his customers’ vehicles at Tri Koast Kustoms.

“I’ll do custom anything,” he said. “The weirder, the better.”

Growing up a Dallas auto junkie, Dougherty intended to pursue a lucrative but dangerous career as an underwater welder. He studied welding in college and became a certified scuba diver.

“I was hard up for it,” Dougherty said. “I was going.”

Then, a friend and fellow underwater welder died in a mishap caused by a negligent spotter, who was drinking beer when he was supposed to be monitoring the welder’s status. Though he loved the job and still dives when he has the opportunity, Dougherty did not feel comfortable leaving his life in the hands of another person. He quit underwater welding, gravitating toward the incredible spectacles held in Dallas arenas: monster truck shows and tractor pulls.

“I just liked the cars,” he said.

Dougherty embedded himself into the scene, first as a “grunt,” then carrying parts, working his way up because of his welding skills and passion for automobiles.

Several of the monster trucks Dougherty worked on have been enshrined in the form of Hot Wheels collectibles, he said.

Dougherty started his own custom car shop in Dallas about 15 years ago. About seven years later, he met a girl named Cindy Hopwood, whom he now calls his “better half” and his “boss,” and he moved with her back to her hometown of Thorndale, setting up his business in Round Rock.

Dougherty said his displacement from the “hustle bustle” of Dallas to the open spaces of Thorndale initially caused some culture shock.

“It’s more laid back, but Taylor won’t be laid back for long,” he said, alluding to the anticipated population boom that goes along with new highways.

Tri Koast opened at its current location on Second Street in Taylor three-and-a-half years ago. Already, the business has grown so much that Dougherty is looking for a new facility with extra space.

Dougherty said his reputation and friendships formed at auto shows all around attract people from places like Austin, Houston and San Angelo, creating his customer base. He said he has even worked on a couple of cars sent over from Iraq.

In addition to cars and trucks, Tri Koast often decks out boats with custom interiors, flashy paint jobs and large speakers (that can lead to noise ordinance violations on Lake Travis, for which Dougherty will not reimburse customers).

Cars and trucks remain his true love, as attested by the fact that he owns about nine vehicles, the last time Dougherty counted.

Tri Koast Kustoms, 1201 W. Second St., 365-8926, www.myspace.com/trikoastkustoms

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