About The Swedish Garage
Independently operated, we believe in honest workmanship and fair prices. We only work at the highest level of integrity with our customers. Offering decades of hands-on-automobile experience, we believe in fixing your car right the first time.
We use the latest diagnostic tools, and Our ASE certified technicians are experienced in diagnosing, repairing, servicing and maintaining your SAAB, Mini, or European auto. Whether it’s a 1980 model or a current model we are prepared to address the proper needs for you and your car.
Meet The Swedish Garage Staff
The Swedish Garage is family owned and operated. Your faithful car will receive TLC while you are away. We are always happy to offer advice and to help you avoid an easily prevented disaster. We provide service with a personal touch.
We take our work to heart.
Jamie Cleaton
Owner / Parts Manager/ Technician
Shelby Richardson
Office Manager / Accounts Receivables
Peter Bowker
Service Manager
Matt Bowker
Lead Technician
Paul Shukes
Technician
THE SWEDISH GARAGE
Expert European Car ServiceFrom Our Owner
Jamie Cleaton
The Swedish Garage, Inc.We provide our customers with personalized attention and do everything in our power to make the maintenance of your vehicle our top priority.
We are Master Technicians and have all of the right tools to get your car back on the road quickly.
Our History
The Swedish Garage stands as a testament to the vision, passion, and unwavering dedication of its founders, Russ and Kathy Cleaton. High school sweethearts from Thornwood, New York, their love story began at Westlake High School and blossomed into a lifelong partnership that shaped not only their family but also a thriving business rooted in integrity and community. Together, they built The Swedish Garage in Charlotte, North Carolina, creating a haven for Saab and Mini owners and a place where customers became friends.
Kathy Cleaton
Born in Mount Kisco, New York, Kathy was a woman of adventure and warmth, always ready to embrace life’s next chapter. Russ shared her zest for life and her commitment to excellence. Their journey together took them across the country—from Russ’s service in the Navy, to Ohio where they discovered their love for Saabs while sailing on Lake Erie, to Myrtle Beach where they ran a catamaran business, before finally settling in Charlotte in 1985. In 1997, they founded The Swedish Garage in a modest one-room shop near uptown Charlotte, eventually moving to its current home on Remount Road in 2006.
Russ Cleaton
Russ was a master technician whose talent for explaining the intricacies of a Saab engine—often with vivid sound effects—made even the most daunting repairs feel manageable. His expertise and honesty earned the trust of countless customers, many of whom drove hundreds of miles to have their cars serviced by him. Kathy, the heart of the operation, was the gracious hostess who made every visitor feel like family. Her soothing voice and genuine care uplifted friends and customers alike, especially those navigating tough times.
Together, they turned The Swedish Garage into more than a repair shop—it became a community hub where loyalty, friendship, and exceptional service were the cornerstones. Their love for water and adventure was a constant thread in their lives. From their lake house gatherings to vacations in Cozumel, Russ and Kathy cherished moments with family and friends. They raised two children, Jennifer and Jamie, instilling in them the values of hard work and compassion. After Russ’s passing in December 2019 following a battle with cancer, Kathy carried on with grace, though her heart remained with her beloved husband. Her sudden passing in February 2022 left a profound void, but her legacy endures through the business they built and the lives they touched.
Today, their son Jamie Cleaton continues to run The Swedish Garage with the same commitment to quality and care that Russ and Kathy exemplified. Every repair, every customer interaction, and every smile shared in the shop is a tribute to their vision.
The Swedish Garage remains a place where Russ’s technical brilliance and Kathy’s warmth live on, reflected in the loyalty of customers who have trusted the shop for decades and in the community that continues to grow around it. In their memory, we strive to honor Russ and Kathy by upholding the standards they set—treating every car with precision and every person with kindness. Their love, laughter, and legacy will forever be the heartbeat of The Swedish Garage.
With eternal gratitude,
The Swedish Garage Family