It was the early 1980s, and Mike Lorentz was driving through Lewisville on his way to Dallas for a job when he spotted the famous water tower with the Lewisville High School Fighting Farmers logo emblazoned on it for all passersby to see.
For Mike, it wasn't just another sign on the side of the highway. It gave him a sense of community, and he felt at home.
"It made him feel like this was an area that embodied true values and good people," said his wife, Renae Lorentz. "Rather than keep going to Dallas to take a job he already had, Mike stopped and talked to some people in Old Town. He went to work for a local muffler shop for about a year and then eventually started his own shop, which is where we've been ever since."
Mike passed away 15 years ago, but not before creating Lorentz Automotive, an old-school family-owned and operated repair shop that has more than carried the torch for a city rooted in integrity, knowledge, honesty - and family values. A staple since 1982, Lorentz Automotive services Lewisville and the surrounding communities and is now co-owned by Renae and their son, Cole, a fourth-generation of auto excellence. They are the go-to professionals to ensure you, your children, your parents, and grandparents travel the roads of Denton County and beyond safely and with confidence.
"We have customers who have grandchildren who have grown up and now bring their cars to us," Renae added.
With that type of longevity in your corner, why would you trust your vehicle with anyone else? Lorentz Automotive's team of ASE certified technicians can repair all make and model vehicle, whether foreign or domestic, and their list of services is as comprehensive as it gets. From something as standard as an oil change, tire rotation service, or uncovering why that pesky check engine light keeps turning on and off to more specialized areas of care such as electrical diagnostics, transmission rebuilds, exhaust system service, mufflers, and more, they can do it all.
They offer the best warranties in the industry, including a 36 months, 36,000 miles coast-to-coast warranty, a complimentary shuttle service, and have been voted Best of Denton County in each of the last four years.
"Our goal is to make the auto industry a professional industry like any other industry," Cole said. "I think there are so many other little shops out there that don't carry that same professionalism, but it's something we have always strived to do. We want to be that professional and well-respected business everyone knows."
The only person who is at the shop more than Renae is Cole, who has been around cars since he was a baby. He's got plenty of help, too. Team leader Shane Matthews has been with the shop for more than 30 years and represents a solid staff with little to no turnover.
It's the type of business Mike Lorentz set out to create all those years ago, and it's something he'd still be proud of today. As he always used to say, "Our success is measured by your happiness and satisfaction."
"We are a family, and we take the time to get to know our customers," Cole added. "When we shuttle our customers around, we love getting to know them one on one and asking what we can do better the next time we see them. It's our way of saying we want to be the best we can possibly be ... for them."