Engine blocks fill the wooden shelves, rows upon rows of them. The bare walls and fluorescent lights remind you that this is a work area, not a hangout. The smell of fuel, oil, grease, rubber and metal will hit your nostrils and tickle that sense in your brain that you are at home, in a garage, that real work happens here. From the shiniest Dino to the thing in the corner half-covered with a tarp, it’s all about the cars here. This is Dominick’s European Car Repair, a White Plains, New York-based garage that was built up from the ground up by Dominick Spadro, an immigrant from Sicily who grew up spinning wrenches on cars. More or less self-taught, filled with ambition and a work ethic that couldn’t be broken, Dominick repaired and tuned cars his whole life, but the garage in New York was his own. Started in 1961 simply to fix cars, today it’s almost a mecca for enthusiasts. Dominick has passed on, but his two sons, Santo and Frank, and their sister Venera keep up the shop and the workload, and their appreciation not only for their family history, but the cars themselves, stands out. It is no surprise that Petrolicious paid the shop a visit…if you are a true gearhead, you have to appreciate the work and the passion that is provided to these classics here.
I know this place. You drive by there and never know what kind of one off million dollar beauty is going to be sitting outside. Plus he’s got a few Alfa racers inside and who knows what else!