TOM'S REFURB

The Man Behind the Wrench: Thomas Stauffer

"Tom's Refurb" is the brainchild of Thomas Stauffer, an automotive content creator and entrepreneur hailing from Rising Sun, Maryland. While the channel has grown into a powerhouse of automotive entertainment, its origins are humble. Stauffer’s journey began at the age of 13 when he opened a small engine repair shop under the name "Tom's Refurb," initially fixing lawnmowers and small machinery for his local community.^[1] This early entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured further during his time at the University of Delaware, where he graduated in 2024. As a student in the Horn Entrepreneurship program, Stauffer participated in the "Summer Founders" program, which provided him with the mentorship and resources to scale his content creation from a hobby into a multi-faceted business ecosystem.^[2] youtube famousbirthdays

Restoration, Fabrications, and "Noise Complaints"

The content on the Tom's Refurb channel has evolved significantly from small engine repair to ambitious, high-octane automotive builds. Stauffer is best known for his "Keep Hot Rodding Alive" motto, a philosophy that drives his unique approach to car culture.^[2] His videos often feature complex restoration projects, engine swaps, and fabrication challenges that blend technical skill with entertainment.famousbirthdays One of the channel's viral successes involves the controversial and technically intriguing "Masutangu" project, where Stauffer swapped a 1965 Ford Mustang body onto a Honda Civic chassis, a video that garnered millions of views.^[3] Other notable series include the "Daily Driver Challenge," where he and collaborators attempt to build or restore cars on a strict budget, such as building five cars for under $2,500.^[4] More recently, the channel has pushed boundaries with extreme engineering projects, such as installing a massive Hellephant engine into a Toyota Supra, demonstrating Stauffer's willingness to upset purists in the name of performance and entertainment.^[5]vidiq+1 youtube

Business Ecosystem and Growth

Beyond YouTube, Stauffer has leveraged his audience to build a diversified business portfolio. Recognizing that his original equipment business didn't fully align with his automotive audience, he pivoted to launch Speedy’s Equipment, an automotive performance parts business that complements his channel's content.^[6] Additionally, he operates a successful merchandise line and a Patreon community, "Tom's Refurb RAW," which offers exclusive behind-the-scenes content to thousands of paid members.^[7]horn.udel+1 As of January 2026, the Tom's Refurb channel has amassed approximately 932,000 subscribers and generated over 174 million lifetime views.^[8] The channel's consistent growth is a testament to Stauffer's ability to adapt his content, moving from simple repairs to high-stakes fabrication while maintaining a friendly, authentic connection with his audience. youtube

References

1. Summer Founders: Ahmad, Saviour and Tom - University of Delaware
2. Startup Spirit in Overdrive: Tom Stauffer's Story of Creativity & Growth
3. Famous Birthdays: Tom's Refurb Bio & Trivia
4. Building FIVE CARS For Under $2500! (Daily Driver Challenge Ep.2)
5. We Put A HELLEPHANT Engine In a Supra & Went RACING!
6. 2023 Summer Founders Pitch: Tom's Refurb, LLC
7. Graphtreon: TOM'S REFURB RAW Patreon Statistics
8. VidIQ: TOM'S REFURB YouTube Channel Stats (Jan 2026)