A Legacy of Excellence in Santee
Hello, I’m Phil Thearle, and I’ve been involved in the collision repair industry since I was a young boy. After several early jobs, I eventually landed a position with a local Mercedes-Benz dealer as a painter. I was fortunate to gain exposure to the factory MBNA training program and work with some of the finest equipment available in the industry.
Within a few years, I decided to strike out on my own and founded this company in early 1983, specializing in restoring Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwings, roadsters, and other post-war classics to Pebble Beach-level standards. As our business grew, we noticed more and more late-model vehicles suffering from clear coat failure. German automakers had yet to provide a solution for cars exposed to Southern California’s intense UV climate, and finishes were deteriorating just a few years after purchase. While we completed dozens of restorations on these spectacular vehicles, we gradually incorporated collision repair as an essential part of our services, thus beginning a new chapter in our story.
I had wondered if there was a market for superior quality in this arena and developed a model we called “Collision Restoration” to test our theory. I have always believed that our clients truly deserved virtually undetectable repairs. By applying the principles and techniques perfected in our restoration model to collision repair, we raised the bar in this industry at least a dozen notches—and we’ve never looked back. We must have struck the right chord because our business began to grow exponentially, year after year, as word of our work spread throughout the county.
We purchased our first building in an industrial park in “Deep Santee” in 1987, and over New Year’s in 2005, we moved into our current 50,000 sq. ft., purpose-built facility here on Mission Gorge Rd. at Highway 52. The trials and tribulations of under-capitalization, rapid growth, long hours, a cyclical economic climate, and a dozen other challenges have made this no easy ride. But through the grace of God, the love and support of my family, guidance from many mentors, the dedication of the best staff in the industry, and the loyalty of over 60,000 satisfied customers, we are proud to confidently say that we have provided San Diego County with the very finest collision repair since 1983!
A Quality Company
In 2024, Philip Thearle’s Autowerks was acquired by Quality Collision Group, an OE-focused consortium of collision repair brands that share a similar approach to excellence. At Quality Collision Group, we don’t settle for being the best. We’re on a mission to redefine the collision repair industry, setting a new standard for exceptional customer care and a relentless commitment to perfection in every OEM-certified repair. Companies like Philip Thearle’s Autowerks help us create a world where safety and quality are never compromised.
As the nation’s premier OE-focused collision repair company, you can trust any QCG-owned collision center, no matter where you’re driving. All locations are equipped with industry-leading tools and certifications, and staffed by expert technicians dedicated to performing repairs the right way. After all, quality repairs are no accident.
Learn more about Quality Collision Group or Find a Location.
