AVA!

[DUCeditor]

Some time ago I told the story of my having moved from Boston, where I'd had a wonderfully capable Fiat mechanic, to the Monadnocks in New Hampshire, where it seemed there were none.

Amazingly my little Spider went several years with no more attention that refreshing the oil and filter. But then, of course, it happened. One Spring day she refused to start after Winter storage.

Now please understand that the Monadnocks, while by no means "the sticks" -- Peterborough is known for its fine arts and was for some years the center of the computer and high tech publishing business-- but it is hardly cosmopolitan. Want yoru Chevy or 'Yota fixed? No problem! But an Italian rarity like a Fiat or an Alfa? Forgetaboutit. Or so it seemed.

Finally desperate after a car-knowledgeable friend had no success in getting my Spider running I asked the only old-car specialty shop I knew of in the area if they'd work on my Spider. After all I'd seen everything from old Studebakers to the odd 'Deuce Coupe' in their small parking lot. "No" I was told, "but we'll tell you who can..." and thus I heard about AVA Restoration Services in Dublin New Hampshire.

Actually I'd seen that shop many times, driving past it on my way to and from Keene. The small parking area out front was always filled with wonderful (and wonderfully expensive) rarities. Mostly older BMWs with the occasional classic Alfa, Healey and Jag. Why hadn't I stopped there or even thought of stopping there? Cost. This, after all, was a true restoration shop and what they restored! Ooh la la! Couldn't be the place for me and my lowly Spider. Or so I thought.

Well it turned out totally otherwise. Alex, the proprietor, is known as a (possible "the") go to man for classic BMWs. But when I asked him about working on my Spider his answer was a succinct "Fiats don't scare me." And indeed they do not. Simply put my Spider has NEVER run like it has since Alex worked on it. More than that he is honest, conscientious, and not at all unreasonably priced.

Well my find is now getting to be everybody's. When I stopped in early this week to schedule some work (Replacing the gas tank, a new drive line 'donut', and the installation of a new top) Alex said he could fit her in. "I've got another 124 Spider scheduled to come in that same day." And in the shop was a beautiful Alfa coupe having, it seems, a full frame up restoration.

One thing I have learned (to my surprise and pleasure): No job is too big or too small for Alex and his team. They love classic foreign cars. Fiats included.

AVA is now on Facebook. Stop by and say "hello." And if you live in Southern New Hampshire AVA has got to be the place to go.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/page ... 3776436935

-don

[mdrburchette]

Isn't it great to find someone you can trust with your special car? I, too, have found an exceptional Fiat mechanic and have sent several people to him. It's just refreshing to know there are still people out there willing to do an honest day's work.

[donm]

I try to most of my own work and so far I've been lucky but when I do need some help there's this guy in Gloucester I go to who used to work at a Fiat dealership. He's real good, and, are you ready for this? His name is Tony!

[aj81spider]

Who was your mechanic in the Boston area?

I'm trying to do all my own work, but it would be good to have a resource if I get in over my head!

[DUCeditor]

Who was your mechanic in the Boston area?

I'm trying to do all my own work, but it would be good to have a resource if I get in over my head!

Tony Tramatozzi. His shop was in Newton.

I did a google and came up with this info: http://massachusetts.cityvoter.com/tony ... biz/147011

The shop apparently is at a new, larger, location and that's great. Tony is a 1st class mechanic and a great guy. Learned his trade in Italy and knows Fiat like the back of his hand.

Mention my name - Don Sucher - and say "hi" for me. We had a good relationship for many years.

-Don

[aj81spider]

Thanks - that's a big help.

A.J.

[DUCeditor]

Had AVA do some more work this week. Installed a new top, a new gas tank, replaced the rubber driveshaft "donut" and several smaller items. As always I could not be more pleased!

Here she is, so proud of her new top that she is busting buttons!




I took her for a long, back road, drive in a moderate rain. Not a drop entered the car. ))



And no gas smell! Yea!

-don

[mdrburchette]

Beautiful!!!

[baltobernie]

Here comes Spring! Enjoy!

[kmead]

Looks great. I miss living in the Keene area. We lived there back in the early to mid 80s. We worked at the Woodbound Inn and Harry Davids way back then. We lived down in Richmond on Morgan Road which was great, the road from Fitzwilliam to Richmond was always a fun run or over Mount Monadnock from Jaffrey to Keene.

A great place to live. Good to know there is a good place nearby. There is a great Fiat enthusiast in Keene by the name of Bob Brown, he owns an X1/9, and is a great guy to know. He lives in the northwest quadrant of Keene.

Envious of anyone who gets to live in that part of New England.

[DUCeditor]

Karl,

Ever come back this way? If so do please let me know!

-Don