Page 68 - Australian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2020
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BEST BOUTIQUE SHOP – VICTORIA
PAINT&PANEL NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
M1 AUTOBODY
PETE AND DIANNE RUGGERI WERE SO GOOD AT THEIR FIRST CAREER, THEY THOUGHT THEY’D DO IT ALL AGAIN.
ETE AND DIANNE RUGGERI WERE
so good at their first career, they
thought they’d do it all again. Af- ter wrapping up their first busi- ness, EuroPanels, and handing it over to their kids, the couple were at a loose end. Not being the type to take up golfing, and at age fifty-something far too young to begin playing bridge, the couple settled on a new hobby: repairing Mer-
cedes to a near-obsessive degree.
Thus M1 Autobody was born, metres across the way from EuroPanels, where the kids forge their own way on. The old shop is famous for its personality - its roof is painted with angels, and Pete will cut, weld, paint and polish any unused car
SHOP STATS
P
SHOP SIZE: 560m2 plus 300m2 STAFF: 8
TYPE OF WORK: All types OTHER SERVICES: Recalibration APPROX CARS PER WEEK: 4–8 OEM BADGES: Mercedes-Benz
ABOVE: Fastidious attention to detail and next level customer service are Ruggeri hallmarks.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Corporate branding everywhere, including the fridge in the lunchroom, dealership feel and meticulous repairs make a winning combination.
