Welcome to Autosport Bodyworks
Better, Faster Repairs Since 1979
The Autosport Bodyworks story begins in 1979. When we started our shop, we mostly focused on restoring Ford Mustangs, although we also worked on the occasional Jaguar and even a 1969 Ferrari Dino. Then, in 1985, a hail storm rolled into town and transformed our shop into what it is today: Opelika’s leading automotive/RV collision repair shop.
After operating in the same location for 33 years, we moved a block away from our original shop in 2012, upgrading to a newly remodeled facility that allowed us to complete even better, faster repairs.
Our Team
Shey Knight, Co-Owner
Shey, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, began his professional journey in 1985 at Autosport where he worked during breaks, writing estimates and learning his current trade. After graduating from Jacksonville State University in 1989 with a degree in Business and a minor in Real Estate, he worked for CKM Realty and was the youngest Broker/Realtor in Birmingham, AL. He worked for Southtrust Bank in downtown Birmingham before he was recruited back to Autosport in 1990.
Married to Terri Knight, who teaches at Auburn University, Shey shares his life with their two children, Corey and Morgan. Together, they are active members of Auburn Community Church and participants in various community initiatives such as the Lee County Master Gardeners Association and CCRE. Shey's commitment to service extends through his roles as an Opelika Rotarian, former Opelika Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman, and disaster relief efforts with the Lee County Red Cross.
He co-owns Autosport Bodyworks and Vinyl Guys in Opelika, alongside serving as a P&C insurance advisor for Insurance Solutions Group. As a professional sand sculptor, Shey has left his mark on various projects along the Gulf Coast. He and Terri cherish their time outdoors, indulging in activities like camping, traveling, and gardening, while also enjoying moments with their granddaughter, Amelia.
Jeff Bryant, Co-Owner
Jeff is a lifelong resident of Lee County since 1969 graduating from Opelika High School in 1988. Jeff attended Southern Union Community College immediately afterwards. Jeff married Steffani Bryant in 1997. They have one son, Brenden. Jeff and Steffani are members of First Baptist Church of Opelika.
Jeff grew up with a fascination for all things mechanical which led to his love of cars, boats and motorcycles.Jeff started work at Autosport in 1986, working after school and summers learning the trade. Passionate about this field of work, he quickly became the lead refinish technician in 1989 until 2001 when he took a management position that allowed him to learn the business side of the collision repair industry. In 2003 Autosport opened the Valley location where Jeff served as the general manager leading to co-ownership of the business.
Jeff has supported workforce development by serving on the advisory boards for Southern Union and Trenholm Tech auto body programs. He has been involved in consumer advocacy campaigns and industry associations such as the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence, where he serves on the board, and Collision Repairers for Consumer Choice. He is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Auburn and Director of Sandlot Baseball. Jeff spends his spare time watching his son pitch at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.
Steffani Bryant, Office Manager
Steffani Bryant, originally from Pensacola, Florida, now calls the Opelika/Auburn area home since 1994 when she moved here to care for her grandparents. After a decade in the invigorating, fast-paced restaurant industry, she transitioned to an administration position, showcasing her quick learning and organizational skills. After 10 years, she was offered the President's position at the same plumbing supplier company, although she declined to focus on family as she and her husband, Jeff, awaited the arrival of their son Brenden.
Following the birth of her and Jeff’s son, Brenden, Steffani became a stay-at-home wife and mother; volunteering at church, working part-time at a local preschool, and volunteering at Auburn Classical Academy where their son attended school. In 2015 Steffani accepted an Administrator role at Auburn Classical Academy until she retired.
In September 2021, Steffani came out of retirement to join our team as Office Manager, bringing over 30 years of guest service expertise. When not at work, Steffani enjoys reading, cooking, crocheting for the Women’s Hope Medical Clinic, and supporting Brenden's baseball games at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.
Serving Lee County and beyond
Although our shop is in Opelika, we’ve served people from all over Alabama, including – but absolutely not limited to – Auburn, Salem, Beulah, Tuskegee, Lake Martin, Smiths Station, Phenix City, Alexander City, Camp Hill, Waverly, Jacksons Gap, Dadeville, Beulah, Lanett, Hurtsboro, Valley, and Hurtsboro. We have also had customers come all the way over to see us from areas of Georgia including West Point, Pine Mountain, and Columbus.
In the years since we started, we’re proud to have done repairs for illustrious individuals such as Bill Kazmaier, Bo Jackson, Pat Sullivan, Jason Campbell, Jimbo Fisher, Chuck Persons, Ace Atkins, Theo Gantt, Heath Evans, David Marsh, Sherill Baker, and Rock Killough. We’ve done repairs for the family of Pat Dye, as well as the Gogue family. Our customers also include Dr. Jane Moore and Lauren Bradford, who was first runner-up for Miss Alabama in 2022. We look forward to offering the same top-quality service to you!
Why Choose Autosport Bodyworks
There are many factors that set Autosport Bodyworks apart from other auto body and collision repair shops in the area. We’re the only non DRP shop in the market within the Twin Cities, which means that we work for – and advocate for – our customers. Our shop is clean and organized, and our I-CAR certified mechanics work quickly and systematically to finish the job when it’s due. We know that our market is diverse and that speed is important to the people who come in to see us, and we also believe in providing repairs in a way that puts transparency above all else. We’ll never keep you in the dark: we’ll be honest about the cost of repairs and we’ll send you updates over text or email while your car is in our shop. We’ve been voted Best Body Shop in Lee County numerous times and are proud to offer a unique collision repair experience.