Meet Roland Bertaud of North Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roland Bertaud.

Hi Roland, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Copperstate Classic Cars is located in sunny downtown Phoenix, Arizona. We have been operating here in the valley for close to 40 years, and have had thousands of vehicles passing through our doors. We do everything from small repairs, to full frame-off restorations.

Since we opened our business in Arizona in 1986 we have exported over 3000 cars and tens of thousands of parts to many countries all over the world

Originally created in 1986 and run by Bo Malefors whose reputation as a late 50s MOPAR reference preceeds him, Copperstate Classic Cars was taken over by Roland Bertaud in 2023 and the business has been focusing on providing maintenance, repair, upgrade and restoration services to classic cars all over the Phoenix and Tucson areas.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When Roland took over, the business was in bad shape and only one mechanic was left in the shop. We turned the company around and within a year, Copperstate Classic Cars went from one mechanic and three cars in the shop to doubling the shop space in Phoenix, adding another 7 mechanics to the team and opening a second shop in Tucson.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Originally from France, I had been wanted to come live in Arizona for 18 years but couldn’t find a company to sponsor me for a work visa. I had an opportunity to move to the UK in 2012 and work for a big aerospace company and thought it would be a good stepping stone while I found a way to get a visa to move to the US. It took another 8 years before I finally found that company that accepted to hire me and “import” me into the US and this is how I moved to Pennsylvania in 2020 in the middle of the Covid pandemic. Fast forward 3 years, I obtained my permanent residency in the US and was able to acquire my first business in Phoenix and finally moved to Arizona 18 years after having started to look for a way to live here. I have worked for big multinational companies and travelled a lot, I have had a few businesses of my own in the UK and now am doing the same thing in the US.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have been tremendously lucky to have my wife Ruth by my side all this time to support me in this project. With all the ups and downs and all the setbacks, I couldn’t have done it without her. The company who sponsored me for a work visa in the US was also a huge help. It took me 15 years to find it but this was a part of the process I couldn’t have done without so I owe them that.
And finally all the customers who trusted us after I took over Copperstate Classic Cars. The company wouldn’t have had the very fast growth rate that it has without them so I am very grateful for their trust and my team and I are working very hard to keep that trust and build on it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.copperstateclassiccars.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealcopperstateclassiccars
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copperstateclassiccars
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/copperstateclassiccars
• Other: info@copperstateclassiccars.com