Why Choose Cobra Automotive Designs
Our Founder/CEO
Our General Manager
Our General Manager
Bob Bivens
Bob started his training for autobody when he was 16 years old. Bob was trained under Harry Shackle at the Elkhart Area Career Center.
After high school, he started working in a body shop.
After getting married and starting a family, the pay wasn’t enough, so Bob started doing “side jobs” out of his garage and then Bob’s Body shop was started in 1993. The pay at the main body shop still wasn’t sufficient, so an opportunity arose at a large truck and bus manufacturing plant, to work and be the second in charge under the paint shop manager. After working here for 10 years, another opportunity came to work as a paint rep for another large supply company alongside BASF. There were lots of training offered there. Bob got to go to the main paint lab in the US located in Ohio. By going to this training, he had acquired a certification in paint and color matching. He has also acquired knowledge in the chemistry of paint and products.
In 2014, Cobra Automotive Designs was established and moved to a facility in Mishawaka. This location ran until we outgrew this facility in 2021 and moved to our current location in Elkhart.
Bob’s Body Shop went from a very small team to Cobra Automotive with roughly 20 employees and is still growing.
Cobra Automotive is a paint shop that specializes in all phases of paint, RV, automobiles, motorcycles, boats and fleet painting.
God has blessed Bob and the company to where we are at today!
Our General Manager
Our General Manager
Our General Manager
Edgar Santiago
Edgar has been in the automotive paint industry for almost 15 years.
He has vast experience in all areas in the RV industry from prepping to final finish and everything in between.
He has been with Cobra Automotive since 2016 where he sharpened and took his automotive paint and bodywork skills to a higher level being under Bob's influence.
Edgar is a high-quality minded person and is cultivating such culture within the Cobra Automotive team members.
He believes in the simple principle of helping his partnerships and clients succeed, if he does just that,
Cobra Automotive succeeds as well!
Favorite Quote:
"Trials and Tribulations tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us, leaving the essence of what we really are and clarifying what we really yearn for."
Featured Employee
Ricardo Fernandez
Ricardo has been painting in the automotive industry for 7 years and has been with the Cobra team for almost 3 years. In his free time, Ricardo enjoys hiking and camping with his family.
Ricardo started here with us as a final finish worker and has been promoted to the paint booth. In the time that Ricardo has been with us, he has shown tremendous dedication, character, and work ethic.
We know we can always count on him. His quality mindset has made him one of the main pillars of the Cobra team! He is the guy that goes above and beyond in everything that he does. He always makes himself available to help other team members, regardless of what he has on his plate.
We definitely we wouldn't be as successful as we have been without him.
Services we offer
Custom Paint Matching
Custom Paint Matching
Our team of experienced paint mixers can help you decide what can make your vehicle stand out!
Quick Turnaround times
Custom Paint Matching
We understand the importance of getting your paint job completed at your convenience.
We can schedule months in advance and make sure it works for you! We will provide you a turnaround time prior to scheduling.
Custom Motorcycle/toy Painting
Want your bike to pop in the sunlight? We can custom pick the right paint for you! We can do any design or color based on your dreams!
Customize your RV
Customize your boat
Want a new design or need your current one cleaned up? No problem we'll talk you through the process and make it easy for you to get the job done right! You can come in and pick out custom new colors or we can match your paint design!
Customize your car
Customize your boat
Customize your boat
Want your car to stand out more? No problem we can custom match your paint or you can select a new color!
Customize your boat
Customize your boat
Customize your boat
Want your boat to shine in the water?
No problem we can custom match your paint or you can create your own new design.
Want extra paint for minor defects?
Want extra paint for minor defects?
Want extra paint for minor defects?
We understand that minor damages can happen. Whether it's from getting your car washed, bumping into something, or just noticed a small scratch. We provide our partners and customers with 2 oz touchup bottles once we complete your pant job, so you don't have to make a special trip!
Hear from our Partners & Clients
Irene Newcomer
Irene Newcomer
Irene Newcomer
"We recently had some damage to one of our vehicles (a large stone hit our vehicle from a lawnmower) and we were searching for a body shop. Supporting local businesses is important to us so we shopped around and found a locally owned and operated body shop. The work Cobra Automotive Designs completed on our vehicle was phenomenal. Not only were they pleasant, they treated us like family. We have a red vehicle and there are so many shades of red, but they blended it perfectly. You can't even tell that there had been any damage to our vehicle. I can't stress enough how important it is to our community to shop local. Cobra Automotive Designs comes highly recommended by us. We will use them in the future and if you need bodywork, please check them out.
Thank you Cobra Automotive Designs!!"
- Review Date 8/30/24
Barletta Boats
Irene Newcomer
Irene Newcomer
"Cobra has been an excellent business partner.
The communication has been excellent.
Cobra has a customer focused culture which not only reflects in the quality of their work, but also helps the overall process of parts to be prepped, painted, and delivered in a timely manner."
-Review Date 9/4/24
Check out their website!
Coachmen RV
Irene Newcomer
Coachmen RV
"Cobra Automotive Designs has been a very critical asset to our production output.
They listen to our needs and fulfill our requests in a timely manner.
They are very well educated with the products they use and are very detail oriented.
They make us extremely comfortable with their processes."
John Frey- Plant Manager
Kristie Alexander- Purchasing Manager
Coachmen Class B
-Review Date 9/5/24
A little more about us
Todd A Brown
Cobra Automotive Designs has been a part of our sponsorship team for Michiana Fight League since 2023.
We look forward to developing our relationship in the future, growing our businesses, and helping our community through fitness and Mixed Martial Arts.
-Todd Brown
Revolution Fitness Center
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Black Belt 3rd Degree
Muay Thai Kru
UFC Veteran
Some of us here at Cobra Automotive are passionate fans of mixed martial arts.
These are the two young part-time team members, Asael (middle left) and Ariel (middle right) who are actively training to fight and maybe pursue it as a career.
We would like to introduce you to one of our favorite fighters and phenomenal knockout artist,
Ben Wunder.
Ben Wunder
Ben is 26 years old, he started his training in Spring of 2021.
He is currently ranked #1 amateur in the US.
His record is 7-0, all wins by KO.
He is a diesel mechanic. Ben enjoys target/skeet shooting, the outdoors, and watching MMA & football.
Ricky Miller
Ricky "Mr. Snuggles" is a former employee and a dear friend of the company. He is 32 and has been training for 14 years.
He is also a professional fighter with a record of 4-2 with a 13-3 as an amateur. His hobbies are Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, MMA, powerlifting, paintball, comics, anime, video games, traveling, and cooking. Ricky currently works in construction and is going to school to be an EMT, and in the future a firefighter.
Teaching future generations
Ricardo and his son Emiliano
When Edgar first started at Cobra, back in 2016, he shared with Bob his desire to teach his kids the importance of hard and dedicated work, the blessing of knowing how to use tools and the great opportunities of knowing all of these skills. Teaching a trade is something very valuable for the future generations. After sharing that, Bob encouraged Edgar to bring his kids to work with him and use the shop as a tool to prepare them for their futures.
After Edgar became the General Manager, he wanted to give the same opportunity to other employees and their children.
Every so often we let our employees bring their kids so that they can have the same opportunity Bob shared with Edgar years ago.
Rusty's youngest son Logan learning how to prep
Rusty's youngest son Logan learning how to prep
Liam learning how to use a paint gun
Liam learning how to use a paint gun
Rusty's youngest son Logan learning how to prep
Rusty and his son Liam
Liam learning how to use a paint gun
Rusty and his son Liam
Mark and his son Ethan
Liam learning how to use a paint gun
Rusty and his son Liam