356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI

356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#1 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Guys, to send us off on our Memorial day weekend I thought I'd share a photo of what's in my Rennstatt shop today. While it is not uncommon for us to service 356s we don't always have multiples of them in at once.

Happy Holiday Weekend!
IMG-1781.JPG
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Phil Planck
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Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#2 Post by Phil Planck »

Nice patina on the sunroof coupe.
Phil Planck

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#3 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Phil Planck wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 4:29 pm Nice patina on the sunroof coupe.
Let me nip this in the bud before anyone comments. That will NOT buff out :D
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Adam Wright
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Tag: KTF

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#4 Post by Adam Wright »

Every year there are fewer trusted wrenches who can work on these, I would expect you will get more business like this as time goes on.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.

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C J Murray
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Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#5 Post by C J Murray »

Very nice professional looking shop!

The sunroof coupe must be the lightweight version.
'57 Speedster
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Porsche Race Car
'63 Cabriolet "Norm"
'67 911 S Original Owner
'03 Ferrari 575M
'09 Smart Passion

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#6 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Thanks Cliff, here is the main shop where we have 14 more hoists plus an alignment rack. This is where we do all other Euro cars.
main shop.JPG
But my favorite place to be is the Rennstatt area where we have a dedicated Porsche tech with 4 hoists and all the cars and equipment he needs!
IMG_5967.jpg
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Wes Bender
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Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:54 am
Location: Somewhere in the Gadsden Purchase, USA

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#7 Post by Wes Bender »

Sebastian, that shop puts most other ones I've seen to shame. What a wonderful atmosphere in which to work. Pretty hard not to do a first class job when you work in those surroundings. Congratulations!
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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Greg Bryan
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Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#8 Post by Greg Bryan »

Sebastian - nicer that some new car dealerships I've been in - actually, nicer than a lot of dealerships I've been in ...
Greg Bryan

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#9 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Thanks so much for the kind words guys. As an owner of a shop that knows his technical limitations (when I work on my own cars I tend to either break more than I fix or somehow turn a 2 hour job into an entire weekend odyssey) but does know what the guys need to get their work done and be successful, I have really concentrated on a few things: First and foremost....NO DRAMA in the shop. If you ask any of my employees what my only rule is they will chuckle and say "no drama". In exchange for that they get: modern, correctly operating shop tools, all the computing power they need (desktop with dual monitors, tablets, laptops), all of the technical software and subscriptions available, all the proper diagnostic scan tools for the vehicles we specialize in, twice monthly training sessions, excellent front end staff that properly writes work orders and sets realistic expectations for our customers, 3 weeks paid vacation, a well lit and clean shop and all the work they can handle. :D
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Trevor Gates
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Location: San Clemente, CA

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#10 Post by Trevor Gates »

No drama! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘ Words to live by.
https://www.instagram.com/trevorcgates/

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#11 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Trevor Gates wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 7:20 pm No drama! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘ Words to live by.
Yup, makes for a happy and productive workplace. The last thing I want to do is walk into a hornets nest every day, I want to love what I do!
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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John Clarke
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Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#12 Post by John Clarke »

Hi Seb
It looks fantastic. Your Team are very lucky, with all the support and equipment they will ever need. πŸ₯°
Will You 'Create' the said hornets nest, if and when you start trying to look after all the different electric cars cascading on to the market?
The guys in Ann Arbor are very lucky to have a superb facility , You provide
Regards Jay
Β 

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#13 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

John Clarke wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 11:50 pm
Will You 'Create' the said hornets nest, if and when you start trying to look after all the different electric cars cascading on to the market?
Thanks for the kind words Jay. No, I don't believe it will create any sort of kerfuffle because it will happen gradually. It's not like we are going to show up one day and there will be a parking lot full of EVs.

There are a lot of independent shop owners shouting at the moon about EVs, saying they will retire/close down/sell when it happens. I am taking a different track and figuring out how to be able to service them profitably. I hear a lot about EVs needing little service but don't be fooled, no manufacturer is capable of building a vehicle that does not break, they punishment they take is just too severe. I belong to a peer group of similar independent shops around the country and two of our members have Hybrid/EV only shops. They will be a big help to others in getting things figured out as far as operating an independent shop that services EVs, plus the advantage we always have had in that the dealerships service vehicles first while under warranty, so a lot of unforeseen issues get identified and remedies get figured out by them before we even start working on them. Sometime being on the trailing edge is best.

While a lot of the common jobs go away with the loss of an engine and transmission, the vehicles still have brakes, suspension and steering plus the telematics get even more complicated which means more things to service. With the EVs having virtually no fluids, servicing them becomes more of a lab type atmosphere with ultra clean work bays and a lot of computer powered work needed to be done. This may well entice the computer generations of kids to go into auto repair since it's not as dirty and even more electronically oriented.

Either way they are coming and we will be ready.
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Adam Wright
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Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:00 am
Tag: KTF

Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#14 Post by Adam Wright »

C J Murray wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 6:09 pm Very nice professional looking shop!

The sunroof coupe must be the lightweight version.
It was a hit at the BBQ and swap. But it was probably the hubcaps on the trailer setting it off.
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www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.

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John Clarke
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Location: East Sussex, England
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Re: 356 Invasion in Ann Arbor!!

#15 Post by John Clarke »

Was that 'Free Beer Tomorrow' Adam ?
😊☹️ Cheers Jay
Β 

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