Films: Dominick's European Car Repair Is A Living Legacy
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Made To Drive | S08 E22

Dominick’s European Car Repair Is A Living Legacy

Dominick European Car Repair is the cornerstone of the New York Classic Community.
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Edward Levin
Edward Levin
8 years ago

Nice film. Domenick’s is legendary in American Lancia circles. And as is becoming more and more rare these days, the second generation is really doing justice to the first.

Robert in LA
Robert in LA
8 years ago

Can anyone identify this car?
This is the tiny red coupe on the scissors lift in frame 0:58. The car is bright red, with a black roof & pillars, black wheels that may be pressed steel, and quite narrow tires. There is no front bumper, and the front grill has lateral bars. The body may be a one-off. Give the placement of the cabin towards the rear of the car, it is almost certainly front engined. A windshield wiper is visible, indicating that this was a fully featured build, and not a car stripped of every spare kilogram for racing. Any thoughts out there? For just about everything in the film I think that I understand at least the make of the car I am viewing. This is coupe is different. My guess is that it is a very rare car, built in single digits. Does anyone have any idea as to who built this tiny coupe? Just prior to this image we get a glimpse of a Fiat-Abarth 750 Zagato in frame 0:43. It took me a while to see it, but the car is there on the left. You can see the roof profile sufficiently to spot the double-bubble profile.

Edward Levin
Edward Levin
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert in LA

It’s a Moretti 750 Gran Sport. Produced in small numbers (to match its very small size…), but far from a one-off.
http://avtomobile.cc/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Moretti-750-GS-2.jpg

Robert in LA
Robert in LA
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert in LA

Thanks for spotting that Ed. The car is new to me. Here is more information for anyone following along . .

Moretti Grand Sport.
71 bhp, 748 cc dual overhead-cam four-cylinder engine, four-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with transverse semi-elliptical leaf springs, live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 78 in. Approximately 10 examples delivered to the United States. Nice examples sell for well over 100,000 USD.

Robert in LA
Robert in LA
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert in LA

More details following up on Edward Levin’s correct identification of this car: This specific car is from the Skip Barber collection. It is a 1953 Moretti 750 Gran Sport Berlinetta, chassis no. 1290S and engine no. 1294S. The Spadaros were preparing the car for sale at Monterey last August 2016. Moretti was primarily an engine builder, and the carrosserie for this series of chassis was done by others, notably Michelotti or Zagato. This body is a Michelotti design & build. This ‘Berlinetta’ coupe shares design elements with the Ferrari 212 coupe that Michelotti designed a year or two before this Morretti.

clambe5347@aol.com
clambe5347@aol.com
8 years ago

Wonderful story, more about a family than an auto repair shop. Bravo!

Biker Joe
Biker Joe
8 years ago

Bravo Domenico, BRAVO!!!

Alexandre Goncalves
Alexandre Goncalves
8 years ago

What a great (and different) short-film- the garage looks just like one you would find if you travelled through deep Portugal –

I really can relate to this garage – no clean floor, grease and oil everywhere, lots of parts from European /Italian cars piled up! I wonder if there’s a calendar on the wall with a naked girl on it …

Nice going Petrolicious!

Gioel Molinari
Gioel Molinari
8 years ago

good movie – unfortunately you typoed the Spadaro surname incorrectly a whole bunch of times .. attention to detail

Mark St Clair
Mark St Clair
8 years ago

Yes, yet another very nicely turned out film and yes, yet again no credit to whoever did the camera, sound or editing. What’s wrong with you Petrolicious? 10 or 15 seconds of credits wouldnt hurt. You subject us to the cheezy ads at the end but no credit where it is due.

Erik Larson
Erik Larson
8 years ago
Reply to  Mark St Clair

Totally agree but I’m biased: my son was the filmmaker.

jack c
jack c
8 years ago

More films like this, please! Sure I want to hear from Rod Emory on his latest creation. And, yes.. I do dream of a Singer – still awaiting my lottery win. And, fotos of post-war Ferraris are always welcome. But, keep films like this in the mix. These are real people with a real love of sports cars and they are keeping a family tradition alive by keeping cars running for normal people like us.

Fingers
Fingers
8 years ago

That is just magic, what a fantastic story. My favourite video of yours so far….I would love to work somewhere like that.

Steve Visek
Steve Visek
8 years ago

This is an absolutely marvelous piece! I liked it so much I immediately watched it again and have book marked it for future viewing.

Thank you Petrolicious!

Robert in LA
Robert in LA
8 years ago

Fun to see the Cisitalia barchetta sitting up on jack-stands, and so many others. This is a lovely little film. The Spadaros are so just so soaked in the business; so knowledgeable; so schooled in the work.

Joe Urbano
Joe Urbano
8 years ago

EXCELLENT short! The owners, Santo and Frank and their sister Vera are easily threaded from the fabric that is their father. Absolutely one of my favorites – well done.

(BTW Pertolicious, love the classic header fonts throughout the site)

Bill Meyer
Bill Meyer
8 years ago

Splendid. It’s so great to hear about real mechanics in an era of parts-replacers. I also appreciated the remarks about Lancia. I had some first-hand experience with a Fulvia 1600 Hi Fi and it was a little jewel of a car.

john
john
8 years ago

A wonderful and inspiring film. A family that knows their place in life.

Dennis White
Dennis White
8 years ago

So there are Santos on both coasts taking care of our precious Italian metal!

Kayvan I
Kayvan I
8 years ago

Great Film! I can say as a visitor and future client of Dominick’s that the film scratches the surface on the passion that both Santo & Frank have for the shop, the cars and their customers.
Everyone is treated like family and you feel the comradery from the minute you walk in. Visiting the shop is a step back in time. The shop is a true time capsule, of cars, photos, memorabilia and a real tribute to Dominick.
Kudos to Petrolicious for capturing the magic of this shop.

JB21
JB21
8 years ago

A great story, man, totally enjoyed it. Among many fantastic films you have done, to me this one takes the cake so far. Thanks, it’s really wonderful.

Charles Michelet
Charles Michelet
8 years ago

Fantastic. What a wonderful story and film. Thanks again, Petrolicious. You made my Tuesday (and the rest of the week)!

Albert
Albert
8 years ago

Yes! This is why I come here every Tuesday. Great story, great car! There was a video a while back called “The Pumpkin” where a guy (CKK) interned for Dominick’s an built a wonderful 2002 BMW. One of my favorite videos that I go back and watch over and over. Was always left wondering what a magical shop Dominick’s must be. Now I know! Thank you! More of this!!!! Please!

Brompty
Brompty
8 years ago

Petrolicious seemed to have lost its way of late: too many videos about rich (it appears) car collectors and one particular car from their collection. The cars were interesting up to a point, but the story was absent. And then this video comes comes along – simply magical. Great story with an absolutely stunning and well engineered car. More of this please (and less car collectors).

Harv Falkenstine
Harv Falkenstine
8 years ago

Great job, nothing wrong with the hyperbole, the legacy left by the father that started this garage is immensely important in this context and the appreciation of that history by the next generation. The emotions and sensations portrayed in the video don’t need to be placed in context of “Post truth dumification of America”. I appreciate the video, the story and photography. The photography is great and the brothers coming back from their ride and backing the car into the bay shows an appreciation for the practical art of the old Lancia. “The car makes me sit up straighter…” love that line. Another great video, starts my Tuesday as a vehicle appraiser refocused!

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
8 years ago

Ahem .. having come from the area myself .. being a hard core dyed in the wool Joisey boy .. and still having extensive family/familia there .. though there’s no doubting Dominick’s legendary status the fact is there’s a whole host of ‘ legendary ‘ classic car garages in and thru out the greater North East area . Some of lesser status .. some much greater [ Hint ; the best Bugatti garage in North America or South America … is in southern VT ]

So suffice it to say Dominick’s garage … isn’t on everyones radar .. and doesn’t need to be !!!!!

FYI .. ever since Ben and Jerry sold their souls [ and the company ] Ben & Jerry’s .. much like Green Mountain Coffee [ since selling to McDonalds ] has lost their cache almost entirely .. my having lived in VT as well . Yeah B&J’s is still a tourist hot spot in the Disneyland scheme of things .. but their product has long gone the route of quantity over quality

So .. though this is a good video and a decent interview .. about a reasonably important man and garage .. unfortunately it is riddled with hyperbole , exaggerated facts and mis-information .. Something we definitely do not need in this Post Truth dumbification of America !!! Here or anywhere else !

testa daria
testa daria
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Ahem…. that would be “famiglia”

Dennis White
Dennis White
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Jeez, take a pill.

Christopher Cook
Christopher Cook
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Like cyanide

Frank Anigbo
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Where in southern Vermont is this Bugatti shop? I have ties in the area and will like to go visit. It wouldn’t be RPM, would it?

T. Daniel
T. Daniel
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Guitar Slinger,
Thankfully you don’t connect with history or vibe of Dominick’s. That status you are so concerned about, is not even a thought to the Spadaro’. They are just cool and their works speaks for itself. No polish or buffing required.

Kuroneko
Kuroneko
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

I saw and heard a great story, told in an honest manner. Not sure we need unfounded critisism in any world…

Alexandre Goncalves
Alexandre Goncalves
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

“Familia” – is Portuguese – right continent, wrong country

zeb
zeb
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Mr.Slinger

your replies in the main are rude and pointless so if thats what you set out to do …bravo…mission accomplished.

A wonderful film, more like that please.

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