Collision Partners, a collision-repair platform focused on acquiring and scaling independent collision-repair businesses, announced it has completed its first two acquisitions—Fantastic Finishes and Chassis Master—kicking off what the company described as a disciplined growth strategy across the Southeastern United States.
The company said its approach centers on partnering with established operators while preserving local brands, shop reputations, and existing customer and partner relationships. Collision Partners is led by co-founder and CEO Earl Johnson IV and co-founder and COO William Nicholson, and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As part of the Fantastic Finishes transaction, founder Russ Swift is joining Collision Partners as director of strategic operations and will also become a significant equity partner in the platform. Collision Partners also appointed Scott Woodard as vice president of integrations; Woodard has spent more than four decades in the collision-repair industry and is described by the company as having extensive OEM and dealership relationships.
Fantastic Finishes is positioned as a high-end operator recognized for craftsmanship and repeatable processes in ultra-luxury repair environments, with long-standing relationships across customers, OEM and dealership partners, and insurers. Chassis Master, described as a 75-year-old multi-generational family business, brings a portfolio of luxury OEM and dealership repair work and capabilities spanning structural and body repair, including framing, alignments, and complex collision restoration.
Collision Partners said the two deals form the foundation of a longer-term expansion plan, and that it intends to pursue additional partnerships selectively, prioritizing businesses aligned with its emphasis on quality, safety, and operational discipline.
KEY QUOTES:
“Collision Partners’ approach to Fantastic Finishes and Chassis Master is rooted in partnership – preserving the reputation, relationships, and operational strengths that make the businesses extraordinary, while bringing additional resources, expanded industry reach, and platform capabilities to support their next phase of growth. CP believes Fantastic Finishes and Chassis Master are exceptionally well positioned to thrive in a rapidly evolving collision-repair landscape.”
“Russ and Scott represent the caliber of leadership we want shaping this platform – experienced operators, disciplined business builders, and leaders who set the tone for operational excellence. These highly revered shops and industry leaders form an exceptional foundation for Collision Partners’ growth.”
Earl Johnson IV, CEO and Co-Founder, Collision Partners
“When I met the CP team, I knew they were the right partners to preserve what makes this business special – our standards, our commitment to team, and our reputation – and set a new benchmark for excellence, transforming quality and service across the industry. I’m excited to build something meaningful and lasting together.”
Russ Swift, Founder, Fantastic Finishes; Director of Strategic Operations, Collision Partners
“I’ve been in this industry for 41 years, and a lot of people have tried to build collision-repair platforms. Collision Partners is different – they’re doing it the right way. They are the first team I’ve seen that truly puts people, quality, and standards first.”
Scott Woodard, Vice President of Integrations, Collision Partners
