Montana ECO
Charles Culver
Charles Culver & his wife Pat founded Culver’s Foreign Car Service in 1978, 3 years after moving to Missoula. Charles had begun his automotive career after graduating from high school in Santa Monica, California in 1971. His 1st stint being a line mechanic for a Lincoln – Mercury dealer where he performed automatic transmission rebuilds, this followed by working at an independent shop that worked on anything that would fit in the door. Charles’s education continued as he took a job opening with a Porsche specialty shop in West Hollywood, California. He worked at this location until the urge to get back to the mountains and away from the big city dictated moving to Montana in 1975.
With his 7 month old son Chris and wife Pat, they set off for Missoula driving a U-Haul towing their 1969 V.W. bug, arriving mid October, 1975 on the heels of 6 inches of new snow. Charles worked 2 + years for Sparr’s before starting his own shop. Since starting their business they have specialized in import vehicles. In 1973 Charles first became certified and continues to maintain all 9 automotive certifications granted by Automotive Service Excellence (A.S.E.) testing and is classified a Master Mechanic.
Charles’s away from work interests consist of hunting, fishing, horses, fruit trees, bees and spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Pat Culver
Pat, Charles’s wife, is the person that we count upon to do all the things we, the technicians don’t want to do, accounting; bill paying; filling out forms etc. Without her, Charles would be spending many late evenings doing such operations.
Riding horses; quilting; knitting; genealogy; history & helping with the grandkids are some of Pat’s off-work pursuits.
Bryan Gowen
Bryan Gowen is our resident Saab & Volvo technician. He has many years under his belt as a Saab tech, previously employed by Evergreen Engineering, a former Missoula Saab specialty shop. The Saab “Tech-2” & Volvo’s “Vida” are a integral part of Bryan’s tool inventory. F.Y.I. Bryan drives a 2002 Saab 9-3 SE.
Something to do with computers, his cat, Noodles, or watching hockey is usually in the realm of conversation when asked on Monday morning “What did you do last weekend?”
Chris Culver
Chris is our “all around man” assuming front office duties, ordering parts; staying in tune with the used car market; doing light mechanical work & keeping things running smoothly. If you have any question regarding the used car market, Chris may be able to assist you.
As the second generation “Culver,” Chris performs parenting duties to his two children, practices & occasionally helps teach Judo. He likes working out at Gold’s Gym, hiking & enjoying Missoula’s outdoor activies.
