In 1969, Larry Goff Sr. opened Ace Radiator Shop in a one-bay garage in Davenport, Iowa, focusing on radiator repair and heater and automotive cooling system work. Back then, the business consisted of Larry and one helper, but as the years passed, the business grew to two employees, and eventually the shop moved to a two-bay facility in Bettendorf. During this time, Larry’s son, Larry Jr., worked with his dad at the shop during summer breaks, before going on to become an automotive technician at an auto dealership after graduating from high school.
When Larry Sr. started looking toward retirement, he asked Larry Jr. if he was interested in taking over the business, and he was. So, in 1996, Larry Jr. came back to Ace to work with his father. Together, they started to take on general auto repair work to build that side of the business for the future. In the coming years, they also added two more bays, two hoists, and more employees to the shop. In 2001, Larry Sr. retired, and Larry Jr. took charge of daily operations.
By 2005, the business had outgrown its location once again, so the shop moved to a larger building with seven bays to accommodate seven mechanics and more customers. In 2009, Ace Auto & Radiator became Ace Auto Doctor & Repair, with all the same people, but with a name that better describes the shop’s proficiency in the field of automotive repair.