About Godspeed Off-Road
Godspeed Off-Road is Sarasota’s specialist custom 4×4 shop, open since 2015. Three people, 80+ combined years of automotive and manufacturing experience, and one philosophy: build it right or don’t build it at all. We’re not the biggest shop in Southwest Florida — we’re the most particular.
The Team
Jason Prefontaine — Owner
35 years of entrepreneurship across industries. Founded Slayer Espresso in Seattle — designing and building bespoke espresso machines recognized as the world’s premier personalized machines. Built and scaled distribution networks, cafes, and manufacturing operations across North America. Brings the same obsession with craft and customer experience to Godspeed.
The discerning eye that ensures every build meets the standard.
Dan Marchiando — Owner & GM
33 years at Cummins Diesel Manufacturing overseeing quality, service, and production of critical engine components. Served as COO of a private equity company. 4 years as Global Operations Officer at Sun Hydraulics. Dan’s deep manufacturing background means he understands how Jeeps and Broncos are engineered from the factory — and how to properly modify them.
The engineering mind that ensures every component works together.
Daniel Capper — Senior Technician
26 years of hands-on automotive experience. Grew up on a 1,000-acre farm welding and working on tractors and heavy machinery. Lincoln Tech graduate in automotive and diesel high-performance. 6 years at Honda Manufacturing handling all tire and wheel production. 2 years at AJE building custom suspensions. 3 years with Godspeed.
The hands that turn plans into builds, with 26 years of precision behind every bolt.
Why Godspeed
Specialist, Not Generalist
We only work on trucks, SUVs, Jeeps, Broncos, and off-road vehicles. Not cars, not minivans, not sedans. Every hour of every day is spent thinking about, researching, and building off-road vehicles. This focus means we know the platforms inside and out — the common failure points, the best brands for each application, and the shortcuts to avoid.
Manufacturing-Grade Quality
Dan Marchiando spent 33 years in manufacturing environments where a failed component could shut down an assembly line. He brings that same zero-defect mentality to every Godspeed build. Every torque spec verified. Every electrical connection weatherproofed. Every alignment checked and double-checked.
Honest, Direct Communication
You’ll talk to the people who build your vehicle. Not a service writer, not a receptionist. Dan picks up the phone, discusses your build, and oversees every detail. When you pick up your vehicle, we walk you through every modification and answer every question.
We Build What We’d Drive
We’re enthusiasts who happen to run a shop, not a corporate chain following a playbook. If we wouldn’t bolt it onto our own Jeep, we won’t bolt it onto yours. We’ve talked customers out of cheap parts and recommended they wait until budget allows for the right components. That’s the kind of shop we want to be.
Visit the Shop
Location
2858 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34231
Located on Clark Road between Beneva and Swift, right behind the strip mall. Easy access from I-75 (Clark Road exit 205). We serve customers from Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and all of Southwest Florida.
Hours
Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Contact
Phone: (941) 343-7262 (Dan’s direct line)
Email: axel.godspeed@gmail.com
What to Expect
Walk-ins are welcome — you don’t need an appointment to come look around, ask questions, or talk about your build. The shop is open, clean, and you’ll see builds in progress. We’re happy to show you what we’re working on.
For build consultations, we recommend calling ahead so Dan can dedicate time to your project without interruptions. Build consultations are free and typically take 30-45 minutes.