With a distinctive beige and baby blue color palette and the words “SERVICE,” “LUBRICATION,” and “ALINEMENT” [sic] displayed on its north facade, Zip Auto is a difficult building to miss when cruising through downtown Missoula, Montana. But without the preservation efforts of its owner, turning a blind eye to the Art Moderne-style auto repair shop might have become all too easy.

Zip Auto was constructed in 1937, just as the automobile craze was sweeping through Missoula. Car enthusiasts began offering automobile tours of western Montana based out of Missoula, and according to Paul Filicetti, project architect of the Zip Auto renovation, Missoula’s Main Street became something of an “Automobile Row,” with dealerships and repair shops springing up at a remarkable rate.

Rick Nash was acutely aware of Zip Auto’s historical significance when he acquired the building, and decided in 2006 to restore the deteriorating structure to its former glory. Above all, Nash was determined to retain its historic usage.

“[Nash] really wanted to keep the building as an auto body shop, so based on that, we thought about what we could do to make sure this building retained as much historic character as it could,” says Filicetti.

The result was a subtle, sensitive restoration that, despite its seeming modesty, has guaranteed Zip Auto’s future. Filicetti’s plan included replacing the repair shop’s entire concrete floor, bringing its mechanical and electrical systems up to date, repairing skylights, and making the front desk and bathrooms accessible according to ADA standards.

The most challenging aspect of the renovation, however, was replacing the building’s three broad, wooden garage doors. Few companies were capable of replicating the doors’ intricate detailing or handling a project of such magnitude. Fortunately, Filicetti successfully located a Montana-based company that could build the in-kind replacements they were looking for.

Renovations were completed in late 2007. All told, the project carried an $850,000 price tag. But thanks to federal and state Historic Tax Credits (HTCs), the numbers turned out much more favorably for Nash. About a quarter of the project’s total cost was supported through HTCs.