Classic Coach, NJ...What a classy place! | FerrariChat

Classic Coach, NJ...What a classy place!

Discussion in '348/355' started by drbob101, May 4, 2013.

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  1. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    Bob Ferraris
    #1 drbob101, May 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    After joining FCA I received an invite to an open house and tech session at Classic Coach in Elizabeth, NJ. I had never heard of Classic Coach except from Barry Wolinsky on here. It was a perfect Saturday here in NJ, weather wise and up the Garden State Parkway in the New Jersey Turnpike I went to Elizabeth, NJ. I have lived in NJ all of my 60 years and I think that I can count the number of times I have been in Elizabeth on one had. For those who have ever landed at Newark Airport you have flown over Elizabeth every time and all of those container ships and car ships that deliver most of the Eastern seaboard foreign vehicle dock at Port Elizabeth. Elizabeth is not exactly the picture post card of the Garden State and I was scratching my head wondering what kind of Ferrari shop could there be in this blue collar, mostly commercial part of this great state. Well, I was in for a real slap upside this Jersey boys know it all head!!

    On a very urban street in Elizabeth, beyond a fence lies a piece of Ferrari regalia in every sense of the word. Those that obviously know this place, unlike a plebe like myself, are grinning reading this. Classic Coach Repair Inc.

    This place was jaw dropping from the minute I parked inside the fence. The staff was cordial, uniformed and friendly. I was in the cue for the complimentary tech check on a lift and walked around the grounds. A well appointed retail shop , clean, neat and a well organized shop with maybe 8 lifts in a semi circle and just an eye catching collection of Ferraris from vintage to modern. There was the TaxDR with his enzo on the lift and 360s, 430s, 384s right alongside by my count SIX Daytonas in various states of repair and refurb.

    A complete paint shop, frame shop, mechanical shop, upstairs an upholstery shop and a few dinos and some other vintage Ferraris that I dont even know.

    So my turn to get on the lift. I explain I'm a new owner and they ask if I have any concerns. They check tire pressure and tirque lug nuts and look around and I tell them of a coolant drip I have that I need to get fixed but havent done it yet. The head tech Carlos comes over and says well many dont do the water pump when they do the major and I tell them that is the case with me as the PO did not have it done. He says it could be the pump, Gulp.

    He starts looking around under the car, over the car, gets out his laproscopic camera etc. Pressurizes the tank, the car blows a wad of coolant. Carlos tells the tech on my car, Sal, take the cover off the coolant tank area and lets look at this. Next thing I know, Carlos and Sal are all over my car, prone on the engine, lights, pressure gauges, 4 eyes. It is two hose clamps that are not seated all the way on the male fittings and with a lot of pulling tugging, checking, etc, the fix my leak for free!! I had two tech on my car on a lift for almost 3 hours and during this time the Owner Frank came over and introduced himself and made me a fresh expresso, I had a fabulous lunch from the buffett, I met the Tax Dr and Barry Wolinksy and a bunch of friendly Ferrari owners!

    Barry took me on a tour of the place and I said thank you to every one I could and left just humbled by a place that knows how to treat people and do things right. If you are in this area, just take a drive to Elizabeth someday and take a tour.

    Here are some pics from the day and special thanks to Sal, Carlos, Rocco and Frank. I am a customer!!
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  2. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    #2 drbob101, May 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    Bob Ferraris
    #3 drbob101, May 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    #4 drbob101, May 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. MBFerrari

    MBFerrari F1 Veteran

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    #5 MBFerrari, May 4, 2013
    I had enquired about these guys because I am trying to decide where to get my car painted in a few years. Thoughts on that side of their operation?

    Thanks,
    MB
     
  6. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    #6 drbob101, May 4, 2013
    Based on what I saw of million plus cars there in various states of rrstorstion from partial to complete I think you are in very capable hands

    Take a ride there and look around for yourself. I am no expert ad I am a two months but I did mental math of over 15 million dollars in hardware being restored reprinted or repaired there and I dudnt even see the lab facility where they prep and test track stuff
     
  7. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
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    #7 ClydeM, May 4, 2013
    They are top-notch.
     
  8. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

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    #8 jimmym, May 4, 2013
    Bob, nice pictures. I have seen Classic Coach at the La Bella Macchina in the Poconos before. You should check that event out. Coming up in June. All Italian marques are represented.
     
  9. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
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    #9 Dave rocks, May 5, 2013
    Great story and great pics Bob. Thanks for sharing.
     
  10. CRAIGF355

    CRAIGF355 Formula 3

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    #10 CRAIGF355, May 5, 2013
    I missed it!!!!
     
  11. RSO1091

    RSO1091 Formula 3

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    #11 RSO1091, May 5, 2013
    Great post Bob. It's refreshing to see a shop put its customers (or even potential customers) needs first. Unfortunately it's a bit of a drive from California, but if I'm ever in New Jersey, I will certainly stop by.

    Henry
     
  12. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
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    #12 308 GTB, May 5, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
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    #13 308 GTB, May 5, 2013
    It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday, Bob.

    Barry
     
  14. rmani

    rmani F1 Veteran
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    #14 rmani, May 5, 2013
    classic is a great place to be. that was nice of them to repair your coolant leak for free!
     
  15. PharmerReX

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    #15 PharmerReX, Oct 21, 2019
    You will not find a better place to have that done.
     
  16. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    #16 Ferrarium, Oct 21, 2019
    They don't normally do paint jobsmlile normal body shops. they do restorations. Expect 5x price wise.

    Sent using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  17. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    #17 Ferrarium, Oct 21, 2019
    They don't normally do paint jobs like normal body shops. They do restorations. Expect 5x price wise.

    Sent using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
    375+ likes this.
  18. steved033

    steved033 F1 Veteran
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    #18 steved033, Oct 21, 2019
    I don't think you could get more authentic than "Sal, Rocco, Carlos, and Frank"

    Great post!

    sjd
     
  19. blue90

    blue90 Formula Junior

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    #19 blue90, Oct 21, 2019
    Great shop! The upstairs upholstery shop is a hidden gem, and a few other corners with rare race cars.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
     
  20. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    #20 Ferrarium, Oct 21, 2019
    The re-did my door panels btw. It was .... expensive.
     
  21. ahsan127

    ahsan127 Karting

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    #21 ahsan127, Oct 21, 2019
    Don’t believe the hype. I’ve had my car serviced there. Now I go elsewhere.
     
  22. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    #22 Ferrarium, Oct 21, 2019
    I would not have the rest of my interior done there btw and its not the price which was excessive.

    if you need a deep 6 figure frame off rotiserie restoration I'd go there.



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  23. Challenge

    Challenge Formula 3

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    #23 Challenge, Oct 23, 2019
    What was excessive if not the price?
     
  24. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    #24 Ferrarium, Oct 23, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2019
    Not my door picture the picture below is random internet door picture for illustration. The price was high for just the top of door section shown in red, as in several thousand dollars.... and I need to have it redone. It's lumpy. And its not even on the hard parts its on the easy flat parts lol.

    Its better than the stock leather that was work over cleaned faded and shoe polished but at this price point and reputation I would have expected it to easily pass for OEM work. ehh... no it doesn't.

    No doubt others have had great luck I saw Daytona seats they were doing on 365's and they were amazing! I saw amazing work there no doubt. Let me be clear they do great work. ESPECIALLY if your dropping 200K and there were a dozen cars like that in work.

    But I figure at my spending levels I get the C team. It is a super high end shop no doubt there is service differentiation.

    Love the place, its amazing just not for what I need. But I will use Auto Elite and Gary Maucher in Penn for interior.

    My opinion and observation only YMMV.
    [​IMG]v
     
  25. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    #25 Ferrarium, Oct 23, 2019

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