Meanwhile, in Eugene, Oregon:

[Chad C.]

I’d heard of a restoration shop owned by an acquaintance of mine, and I’ve meant to check it out for many months.

Yesterday I was passing by it in my way to complete a very dull errand, and the front wheels just turned themselves into the parking lot of the shop.

I was amazed at what I could see through the front bay door, and then a staff member took the time to give me an impromptu tour.

All vintage Euro, all makes. I’ll list as many of the Italians as I can recall:

*Two perfect Panteras side by side
*Three Lancia Aurelias
*Fiat 600/850TC w/PBS head
*Ferrari 330
*Ferrari 250
*Abarth Scorpione 1300/124
*Fiat Lombardi
*Abarth Double Bubble being fab’d
Abarth 1000 Coupe
*Abarth Record Monza 1000
*Alfa Alfetta Coupe
*Fiat 124 Spider full resto project
*Zagato bodied Hillman Imp, 1 of 3

The Double Bubble Zagato was being entirely created at the shop, which had a full wooden buck for the panels and a working full-scale clay model of the body. They weren’t keen to have those photo’d.

Ya never know what’s hiding out in the industrial park until you look!

Vintage Underground in Eugene, Oregon. Can do anything for your Fiat.

 

[bruakeman]

WOW Thanks for sharing.

 

[kmead]

Some amazing hardware there. Great pics.

Does Ditchdigger still work there? His 850 Sedan thread is frankly epic in scope and experience. As well as very sad. http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/70073

Ditchdigger is an amazing maker. Really amazing maker.

 

[Frank L. Di Gioia]

I thought Bob at the Sports Car garage on I think 6th Street had the European vintage stuff tied up in Eugene. Neat place! Thanks for sharing pics!

 

[Chad C.]

I've met Ditchdigger a few times over the years, very humble & helpful guy considering his skills. I've kept up with his RR thread for years now. He either works for this shop or the shop of the owner's good friend Bob here in town, likely a bit of both.

The Sports Car Shop at 6th & Lincoln in Eugene is mostly sales & service, with a smaller restoration shop a few miles west of downtown. The owners are friends of mine who took a shine to my six year old son who's been visiting their shop & showroom almost weekly for the past six years. I think it was young George who got us the invite to pit crew with the shop at PIR over the summer, we were flattered & had a great time.

If Eugene is known for any type of car culture, it'd be old Volkswagen busses. But there's certainly some world class craftsmen, collectors, and mover/shakers around here who I'm very flattered to be acquainted with.