Another sign of that history:  Five of the company's eight employees share the last name of "Downing" as the son and grandsons of the shop's founder.

"It was a mechanical shop when my grandfather owned it, and my dad, Roger, took it over in 1964 and turned it into autobody repair because that's the type of work he'd done in his younger days," said Dave Downing, who now manages the business along with his brother (and the shop's head painter), Mark.  "My dad is 74 but still comes in every day until about noon.  He's back there painting a car right now."

The shop's production staff includes two other Downing brothers:  Matt is a body technician, and Mike does prep work, light body work and detailing.  That family involvement is a strong selling point for the shop.

"It sparks people's interest that we've been around so long and that it is such a family business," Dave said.  "It seems to make customers feel comfortable.  I can just sense that in talking to some of them.  There are not a lot of true family businesses around any more."

Located just blocks from the 6,000-student Bradley University, Downing's Campustown Autobody is a 6,100-square-foot facility that the family said relies on no direct repair programs and very little advertising.

"Word of mouth, to be honest, is our biggest source of work," Dave said.  "Our work is our advertisement."

"We're independent and we're honest and fair and we do quality work that we have always stood behind," Mark said.  "We have a lot of repeat customers, including still some people who my grandfather did work for."

The Downings say their history of honesty and quality work results in referrals from some insurance companies even though the shop doesn't participate in direct repair programs.

"One of the biggest challenges but also one of the keys to making a business go in this industry is just getting along with the insurance people and adjusters," Dave said.

That type of positive relationship is also something the Downings said they look for in the vendors they choose.

"Keystone Automotive stands behind their parts very well," Dave cited as one example.  "They always back us up if we ever have any problems with any of their products.  Uftring Chrysler and Subaru have also treated us very well."

And we've bought from Ray Dennison Chevrolet since the 1970s," Mark said.  "They pull off some pretty amazing stuff as far as getting us the parts we need.  They stand out as far as doing their job and really going the extra mile to make things work for you."

The shop has also been a long-time user of PPG paint products, and was the first in the area to gain the PPG CertifiedFirst designation.

"It's a marketing tool to help get our name out there," Dave said.  "They do some advertising and it gives us that Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval that gives customers some comfort and reassurance."

The shop's PPG Deltron paint is sprayed inside a SprayBake booth the shop purchased in 1994, and three years ago, the Downings added a Clean Shop prep station to give the shop another place in which to prime or edge parts.

"We've been very happy with that," Dave said.  "It's a very nice piece of equipment."

In the body department, the shop had one Chassis Liner frame rack and a Blackhawk Shark electronic measuring system. Mark Downing said they had been considering getting a second rack, when a woman happened to call looking for buyer for a frame rack she and her husband were selling before moving out of the area.

"She was just calling shops in the phone book, and so it worked out great for us," Mark said.  "It was another Chassis Liner rack that was only five years old and was worth at least $6,000 by itself, and we got it along with all the measuring equipment for half that."

The Downings acknowledge that they don't always have the consistent flow of work coming into the shop that they would prefer.

"It's such a roller-coaster ride any more.  You sweat it one week because there's not a lot going on and then the following week you're so buried you can't see daylight," Dave said.  "But I think that's just how the industry has become the last few years."

To fill in during slower times, the shop got a dealers' license that allows them to repair and sell cars.  They estimate they repair and sell 25 to 30 cars a year.

"Some people hear the word 'rebuilt' and it scares them off," Dave said.  "But people who know us, and know we've been around for so many years, know that we'll stand behind our work. We even show them pictures of the vehicles prior to repairs so they get a sense of how it was damaged."

"I have people who have bought three cars from me over the years," Roger Downing said.

Looking to the future, the Downings say they may eventually convert some property they own into a small car sales lot, and Dave Downing said the company is just finishing up its Web site.  But for the most part, they don't foresee significant changes to the business, just carrying on the family tradition that one grandson of the company's founder summed up as he worked on a car in the shop.

"I've never been afraid to try anything, because my dad taught me how to do things well," Mike Downing said.