Performance Fabrication

The Performance Fabrication icon mark featuring a stylized checkered flag graphic in light blue and white without the company name.
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EST. 1981

Built Right. Raced Hard.

Four decades of metalwork, race engineering, and enough time at the track to know the difference between a build that looks right and one that holds up when it matters.
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400+

MPH Record Average

40+

Years in Business

13k+

Builds Engineered to Last

10+

Tracks We Call Home

SERVICE OVERVIEW

Metal, Machines, & Everything Between

An illustrated icon of a top fuel dragster or rail dragster in side profile with an elongated chassis and exposed engine.

Chassis Fabrication & Structural Builds

From roll cages and full tube-frame builds to targeted chassis stiffening — everything bent, welded, and finished in-house. Built to hold up under real-world performance demands.

An illustrated icon of a suspension component, showing a control arm or lateral link with mounting bushings at each end.

Suspension Setup, Geometry Tuning & System Integration

We build suspension geometry that actually works for your platform. Custom control arms, optimized coil-over placement, corrections to the weak points the factory left behind.

An illustrated icon of a digital prototype or 3D render displayed on a screen or frame, representing design visualization or prototype development.

Single-Unit & Prototype Component Manufacturing

Purpose-built components that integrate cleanly and hold up under pressure. Intercooler piping, intake manifolds, custom mounts — whatever the build needs, we'll craft it.

A pale yellow first-generation Chevrolet Camaro parked in front of a black iron gate reading "Performance Fabrication," with checkered racing flags displayed above.
ABOUT US

Performance Fabrication is a full-service shop built to take projects from concept to completion without compromise.

A fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area racing community since 1981, what started as one racer’s conviction that a car has to be right before it’s fast has grown into a shop that treats safety and performance as one standard, not two.

Four decades in, not much has changed about how we operate. The same standards, the same hands-on accountability, the same belief that the person responsible for the work should be the one doing it. That consistency is either old fashioned or exactly what you’re looking for. Usually it’s both.

SEE WHERE IT ALL STARTED →

Coverage At Speed

When your builds break records and push boundaries, people notice. Our projects have earned coverage in top automotive magazines and racing publications nationwide.

What Makes Our Builds Different

The work either holds up or it doesn't. Around here, we've never been okay with "doesn't".

At Performance Fabrication, the people working on your build are the same people who’ve had parts fail at speed and figured out why. Materials, geometry, load paths — none of it gets treated as an afterthought.

You can’t fake that kind of judgment, and you don’t develop it without putting in the time.

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Done Right, or Not Done

We don't consider a job finished until we'd put it on one of our own cars. That standard doesn't waver based on the size of the project or the complexity of the ask. If it leaves this shop, we believe in and stand behind it.

An illustrated icon of a bullseye target with a checkered racing flag planted in the center, representing goal-setting or race-focused objectives.

Straight Talk, Every time

We tell you what your build actually needs, not what's easiest to hear. If a part isn't right, we say so. If the approach won't work, we'll tell you that too. You deserve honest answers, and that's what you'll get here.

An illustrated icon of two crossed checkered flags above an orange sports car, representing a race finish or victory.

Racing alongside you

We're not outside the racing world looking in. We're at the events, on the circuits, and in the pits alongside the people we build for. That connection keeps us honest and keeps our work relevant.

An illustrated icon of a straight road or drag strip with dashed center lane markings converging toward a vanishing point.

Built for the Long Haul

A lot of our customers have been coming back for decades. Some brought us their first build and have been here for every one since. Our work and the relationships we form brings them back.

DIG INTO THE DETAILS →

Shop Standards

An illustrated icon of a full-face orange racing helmet with a dark visor.
Made By Racers. Informed by Results.
We've spent decades racing: breaking records, breaking parts, and learning what actually holds up under stress. The track has a way of exposing what works and what was just a good idea on paper. That experience shows up in every project we touch.​
An illustrated icon of a mechanical gear with a measurement or torque wrench overlaid, representing precision mechanical work or calibrated assembly.
Process Over Workarounds
Measure, model, machine, verify. We'd rather take the time to do it right than force something to fit. It's not about chasing perfection. It's about building parts that perform the way they're supposed to, every time they're supposed to.
An illustration of a CNC lathe or rotary machining setup, showing a cutting tool engaging with a cylindrical workpiece. The graphic represents precision lathe work, rotary machining, or turned component fabrication.
Not Just Built: Engineered
A custom bracket gets the same attention as a full cage build. Materials, clearances, load paths — we think through how a part will actually live in the real world. Good fabrication isn't just clean welds. It's knowing why you're making each cut before you make it.
TESTIMONIALS

Street Cred

Frank P.

I have a 1987 Corvette "driver" which I bought new and now has 143K fun miles. Several months back it needed its first really major repairs i.e. a new clutch and intake manifold gasket. From...

I have a 1987 Corvette "driver" which I bought new and now has 143K fun miles. Several months back it needed its first really major repairs i.e. a new clutch and intake manifold gasket. From the start Steve's team at Performance Fabrication was professional, patiently answered my questions, and offered me options as the work progressed. They kept me informed while sourcing parts from around the country for a 30 year old car. About a month later, I got the car back and was all grins driving back roads after picking it up. It shifts so easy I'm having to relearn to shift. Honest guys and a great experience!

Dalessandro N.

Had an issue with my suspension, my bigger aftermarket rear sway bar had ripped out a hole in my 2012 Civic, Steve was very helpful informing on what needed to be done and even took...

Had an issue with my suspension, my bigger aftermarket rear sway bar had ripped out a hole in my 2012 Civic, Steve was very helpful informing on what needed to be done and even took a look on other suspension weak points and even reinforced the welding, amazing attention to detail and show of honesty and care. Couldn’t ask for a better crew to work on my car.

Francisco G.

I brought my ’83 Monte Carlo here a few months ago and before these top notch mechanics touched it, it was running worse than a geo metro! After I picked up my car from their...

I brought my ’83 Monte Carlo here a few months ago and before these top notch mechanics touched it, it was running worse than a geo metro! After I picked up my car from their shop, it like a nas car race car!! Nothing but good advice and help from these guys. They are my ONLY mechanics from now on!! They do it all, from installing a simple hose to full out race car, they will get the job done the first time and done right. No need to ask for any particular person, they ALL know their stuff!

Brett A.

I purchased an aluminum gas tank for my vintage pickup, but needed the mounts relocated on the tank to work in my truck's frame. Performance Fabrication did an amazing job at a solid price! I...

I purchased an aluminum gas tank for my vintage pickup, but needed the mounts relocated on the tank to work in my truck's frame. Performance Fabrication did an amazing job at a solid price! I will definitely utilize their services in the future, and I recommend you giving them a try.

David B.

I bought a '65 GTO 4spd HT last summer and have been working on it ever since to restore it's original factory condition together with period correct upgrades. I ended up bringing the goat to...

I bought a '65 GTO 4spd HT last summer and have been working on it ever since to restore it's original factory condition together with period correct upgrades. I ended up bringing the goat to Performance Fabrication on a referral from a trusted old friend of mine and man am I glad I did. PF replaced my front ball joints, suspension bushings, repainted the control arms, replaced all springs, and detailed & repainted my 12-bolt posi rear-end. In the end, I came away very satisfied with the final work completed particularly the quality and workmanship of the chassis detail work.

Chris L.

I love these guys. They are the only people around who actually want to keep the hot rod/race car culture alive. Every time they are excited to help with my one off projects that no...

I love these guys. They are the only people around who actually want to keep the hot rod/race car culture alive. Every time they are excited to help with my one off projects that no one else seems to be able to help me with. They work fast, they don't charge you a kidney and the knowledge they have is unmatched. Don't go anywhere else.

Tom M.

Steve and his guys have worked on two of my cars. Others have commented on their craftsmanship and engineering excellence so I'll just add that at Performance Fabrication doing what is right seems to be...

Steve and his guys have worked on two of my cars. Others have commented on their craftsmanship and engineering excellence so I'll just add that at Performance Fabrication doing what is right seems to be the only way. Not just technically, but ethically and personally. Steve and his crew are genuinely committed to helping each customer, big-buck or budget, with honest advice, beautiful work, and fair prices.

Dan W.

Highly skilled workers. This is the only place on the peninsula I would consider taking my classic cars or race cars.

Highly skilled workers. This is the only place on the peninsula I would consider taking my classic cars or race cars.

Linda B.

This is the only place I'd take my '78 Camaro to. The crew at Performance Fabrication has been taking terrific care of my Mom's '78 Z28 for over 15 years. Not only do they do...

This is the only place I'd take my '78 Camaro to. The crew at Performance Fabrication has been taking terrific care of my Mom's '78 Z28 for over 15 years. Not only do they do terrific work, but they're incredibly honest. They really know their way around older cars from the front grill to the exhaust pipe and everything in between. If your older car is running on the rough side, they'll have it purring again in no time!

John M.

xzSteve and his crew converted my '55 Chevy into a drag race car about 18 years ago. I still get comments on what a great roll cage they put in; and their rear suspension/differential install...

xzSteve and his crew converted my '55 Chevy into a drag race car about 18 years ago. I still get comments on what a great roll cage they put in; and their rear suspension/differential install (ladder bars with coil overs) was top notch. Great work by great people.

John M.

Steve and his crew converted my '55 Chevy into a drag race car about 18 years ago. I still get comments on what a great roll cage they put in; and their rear suspension/ differential...

Steve and his crew converted my '55 Chevy into a drag race car about 18 years ago. I still get comments on what a great roll cage they put in; and their rear suspension/ differential install (ladder bars with coil overs) was top notch. Great work by great people.

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CONTACT

Got a Project in Mind?

Whether it’s a quick fix or a major overhaul, every build starts with a conversation. Bring us your ideas and we’ll map out what’s possible.
Get in Touch

ADDRESS

1701 Industrial Rd. San Carlos, CA 94070

EMAIL

[email protected]

PHONE

(650) 595-3663

HOURS

M-F | 8AM to 5PM
WEEKENDS APPT ONLY