Souce: Author
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, I was in Calderino, a town in the hills of Bologna where I attended the opening of a workshop.
So far, nothing strange, except that this workshop takes care of the mechanics of all American carburetor-only cars, the Mitsubishi 3000 GT and the Dodge Stealth 3000.
This workshop, "Rose Motor Garage," is special because the owner is a woman. A beautiful girl in her late 30s you can see her grappling with all the problems there can be in a garage: from a blown head gasket to crossing and balancing tires.
Of course, Rose is not alone in running the workshop; she has a valuable helper Denis, her husband!
My friendship with Rose and Denis came about through a tuning club I attend; one evening we visited them in the workshop and a feeling was immediately established that over time became working together. Rose and Denis have seen me use tools and they trust me, so when I can I visit them and help them do small jobs: replacing spark plugs, topping up fluids assembling exhaust manifolds.
One evening with Denis we created the suspension assembly of an all-custom car!
Yes you got it right, in this workshop what doesn't exist they build!
Although American cars don't make my heart beat the way my trusty Alfa 75 does, the attraction to engines makes me savor those moments to the end.
But now I'll show you the workshop, then step by step I'll show you the work that Rose and Denis are able to accomplish.
First glimpse of the workshop: the red fireball is a 3000 GT, while the black one on the left everyone knows, Eleanor a Ford Mustang GT 500 Shelby.
Who hasn't seen the movie Out in 60 Seconds?
Ah, you haven't seen it? Well that's your homework: watch "Out in 60 seconds", the one with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie.
In the background didn't you recognize an icon of the 1980s?
Poncharello-doesn't the famous CHiPs series ring a bell?
The two cops on Harley Davidsons monitoring the California Highway. Well Ponch had a Pontiac like that in the background.
Another glimpse of the workshop
A Stingray on the left (which I also drove) and on the right a black Stealth rebuilt entirely by Denis: later I'll show you what engine he prepared for that fireball!
Last detail of the new workshop
A Cadillac Eldorado: a door weighs as much as a freight train car!
Here is the most beautiful part the works (yes because they are works and not pieces of cast iron that produce movement for the wheels) of Rose and Denis:
The Peacer's engine (it is used by the protagonist of "head spindles")
Tappet cover, oil pan and monobloc, strictly blue!
Same Small Block engine, but different coloring
Remember the black Stealth alongside the Stingray? Well, now meet the beating heart: a twin-turbo V6.
I am sure you were shocked at such precision and elegance, even cars can be beautiful, you just have to know who to give them to!
Like any self-respecting workshop, this one has its own mascot, here it is:
Dear old Lightning McQueen!!!
Now you see why a lot of the work on the 75 I can do myself: I had a good teacher, don't you think?
That's all for today, remember that if you have a problem on the car and you are near Bologna, the safest place is Rose Motor Garage, and say that "The one from the red 75" sent you!!!
This 75, by the way
