Two Classic-Car Owners Sue Jarit Johnson’s Restoration Shop, Claim $243K Missing

Two owners of rare Chevrolet classics have filed a civil complaint against a Troutman, North Carolina, restoration shop operated by Jarit Johnson, alleging unfinished work and roughly $243,000 in unaccounted payments. The suits, filed this week in Iredell County Civil Superior Court, follow a separate complaint from a U.K. Chevelle owner that sought at least $175,000 and named the same shop address — bringing alleged damages tied to one location to more than $400,000 across multiple customers.

Who’s Involved

Plaintiffs: Julia Tomko, who says she inherited a 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup from her grandfather, and Nicole Taylor, whose family connection runs through her father, Billy Taylor, and his 1957 Chevrolet Nomad. Tomko’s claim seeks nearly $143,000; Taylor’s contributes the remainder of the combined $243,000.

Defendants: The complaint names Jarit Johnson personally, his restoration business, and an employee as co-defendants. This mirrors the earlier Chevelle suit that accused the same shop of holding a customer’s funds without delivering completed work.

Why These Cars Matter

Neither vehicle is a common daily driver. The 1950 3100 is part of Chevrolet’s Advance-Design pickup generation (1947–1955). The 1957 Nomad belongs to the scarce, highly sought two-door Nomad run (1955–1957), with original trim, glass, and body panels often difficult or impossible to replace. Plaintiffs argue that a botched or abandoned restoration can therefore create losses far greater than the invoice amount.

Bigger Picture And Legal Context

When added to the earlier Chevelle claim, the three customers now allege more than $400,000 in damages tied to the same Troutman address. North Carolina plaintiffs often plead unfair-and-deceptive-trade-practices claims alongside breach-of-contract because the statute can allow enhanced remedies; Backfire previously explained that reasoning in the Chevelle case.

Multiple suits naming the same defendant and similar facts can be consolidated by a judge, but consolidation requires a court order and is not automatic. A class action is unlikely here because class certification typically requires many plaintiffs and commonality across claims; differences in vehicles, damages, and timelines work against a single class claim in this instance.

Collecting A Judgment Can Be Difficult

Even if plaintiffs win, recovering funds may be challenging. In North Carolina, a civil judgment becomes a lien against real property once docketed and lasts ten years — useful only if the defendant owns property with equity. Wage garnishment is generally limited to taxes, child support, and certain federal debts, so plaintiffs often must locate non-exempt bank accounts or business assets and employ a sheriff to execute against them, a slower and less certain process than a jury verdict might suggest.

About Jarit Johnson

Jarit Johnson is the younger brother of seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and has his own racing background, including a 2008 Nationwide Series start. That pedigree makes his shop attractive to long-distance clients who view a Johnson surname as a credibility signal. Johnson’s most public rebuild is personal: he helped restore “Butch,” the 1990 Chevy pickup Jimmie crashed during the 1995 Baja 1000 — a family project that did not involve customer contracts or third-party deadlines.

Practical Takeaways For Classic-Car Owners

Owners considering restoration work should:

• Check the county civil court portal where the shop operates for pending suits or judgments;
• Ask for written proof of garagekeepers legal liability coverage and the insurer’s name;
• Structure payments around inspectable milestones rather than paying a full lump sum up front;
• Include a firm completion date and specific remedies or penalties for missed deadlines in the written contract.

Where This Stands: These filings are plaintiffs’ allegations in pending civil complaints. No trial dates have been set in the Tomko or Taylor matters, and there is no verified public response from Jarit Johnson as of this writing. Backfire and other outlets say they will follow developments in Iredell County and update as the cases progress.