History of Dixie
Four Generations of Auto Body Excellence Serving Tampa, FL Since 1926
Our Story Begins in Tampa, 1926
When Italian immigrant Giuseppe Traina from Sicily opened Dixie Paint & Body Shop in Tampa in 1926 with his sons, Tampa was a very different place. There were only 5 or 6 auto body shops in the entire city of Tampa, and every vehicle was painstakingly painted by hand with brushes. What started as a small family auto body business in Tampa has grown into Tampa Bay’s most trusted name in auto body repair and collision repair — nearly 100 years later and still going strong.
Three Generations of Tampa Auto Body Expertise, One Commitment
Today, Dixie Paint & Body Shop is proudly run by third-generation owner Angelo Traina Jr., who literally grew up in our Tampa auto body shop. Angelo started working at Dixie at just 10 years old, learning the collision repair and auto painting trade from his father and grandfather right here in Tampa, FL. Over the years, all of his children and nephews have worked here too. When we say “Your Family in the Auto Body Shop Business in Tampa,” we truly mean it — this isn’t just our slogan, it’s our heritage and our legacy to the Tampa community.
Keeping Tampa Family Traditions Alive
Some things never change at Tampa’s most beloved auto body shop, and we wouldn’t want them to. Angelo Sr. started the tradition of beginning each workday with coffee and Cuban bread from La Segunda Bakery — a Tampa institution — for his staff, and today Angelo Jr. carries on this same cherished Tampa tradition. It’s these personal touches that make Dixie feel like home to Tampa drivers — because for the Traina family and the Tampa Bay community, it truly is.
Mary Traina, Angelo Jr.’s mother, dedicated over 50 years of her life to Dixie Paint & Body Shop here in Tampa, FL, embodying the work ethic and family values that define who we are and why Tampa drivers have trusted us for generations.
What Makes Dixie Different From Other Tampa Auto Body Shops
In a Tampa auto body market full of corporate collision chains and fly-by-night operations, we remain the family-owned auto body shop where quality craftsmanship and personal service always come first. We are successful because we do good work, we keep our promises, our auto body repair prices are fair for Tampa families, and every single job is personally inspected by Angelo himself before your vehicle leaves our Tampa shop.
Our Promise to You:
Personal attention
Angelo personally inspects every job
Fair pricing
No corporate overhead, just honest value for Tampa customers
Quality work
ASE certified Tampa shop with guaranteed repairs
Keeping promises
Your estimate is our commitment
Family treatment
Tampa drivers aren’t just customers, you’re part of our extended family
Nearly 100 Years Strong
From hand-painting cars with brushes in 1926 Tampa to today’s advanced collision repair and auto body techniques, Dixie Paint & Body Shop has evolved with the times while never losing sight of what matters most — treating every Tampa driver like family and delivering exceptional auto body repair results.
From downtown Tampa and Ybor City to Hillsborough County, Brandon, Riverview, and Temple Terrace, generations of Tampa Bay families have trusted Dixie Paint & Body Shop with their vehicles. That trust is something we earn every single day.
Experience the difference that four generations of Tampa auto body dedication makes.