Author: Ray Marchica

COVID-19 has created challenges for all small businesses around the country, and Roadster Salon has not been immune to multiple outbreaks of the virus and mandated closures. Since the virus first appeared in February 2020, it quickly became apparent that our previous facility in Barrington Illinois was not properly set up to keep our technicians safe. It was simply too small to properly social distance, and in spite of our best efforts and an abundance of caution, we concluded the arrangement was unworkable.

Last Fall we began our search for a new home that could better accommodate our growing business and protect our staff. We concluded that it would be best to separate our shop from our offices, showroom, and storage. This search ended in November 2020, when we began our move. We now have three buildings rather than one, which will hopefully provide us the flexibility needed for future growth and efficiency.

Our administrative offices and showroom are open to the public by appointment and located at 4170 Winnetka Ave in Rolling Meadows Illinois. Service drop-off and shuttle service to our repair/restoration building are offered between our office and Palatine facility.

At this point, I am sure most of you have been touched personally by the COVID-19 outbreak. Unless you live in one of the few states with minimal exposure, you are probably sheltering in place like we are here in Chicago. We hope you are all taking advantage of this time home alone with your families, looking forward to when we can return to life as we remember.

While I wish the restoration business was considered to be essential, unfortunately Roadster Salon has been shuttered just like most small businesses. Obviously, the timing of this closure could not be worse, considering how heavily Roadster Salon depends upon our Spring and Summer market. Consequently, our delivery commitments have all been pushed back indefinitely. Regardless of when the all clear to return is finally given, it will be many months before our high-risk staffers feel comfortable enough to resume their full time schedules, and supply chains are replenished. It is simply too soon to make any determinations about future delivery dates, other than to say we will do our best. The quality of Roadster Salon projects will never be compromised, so we ask for your patience and support during these unprecedented events.

Our management team has been working from home, and planning for the future. Our interest in the electrification of several spider models is undeterred. We have been looking into ways to further develop this technology, by improving performance and expanding range. Roadster Salon is also hoping to offer our customers a third, more affordable all-electric spider in the years to come. We had planned to begin deliveries of our Spider America EV and EV Junior late this Summer or early Fall. However, with our development partners sharing the same predicament we face here in Chicago, that time line has been pushed back. We will also need to see the economy re-opened before we begin scaling production.

On a positive note, driving a classic car in nice weather is still one of the activities that you can enjoy with minimal risk. While the pandemic is likely to cause used car values to suffer, the classic car market has traditionally been a safe haven for investors. In volatile market downturns, like in 2001 and 2008, many classic cars prices remained stable. If your purchase is long term you should reasonably expect Roadster Salon Spiders to continue to be fun, reliable, worry free investments. We currently have a handful of previously completed projects and trade-ins available for your immediate purchase this Spring. I can be reached at our normal number (847.769.7880), as shop calls are being forwarded to my cell. Love to chat!

Ray Marchica

Finally! Our 124 Spider 2000 (1983 Pininfarina) has arrived. The word FINALLY is not meant to convey negative connotations, but is an expression of elation for a much-awaited car.

The final delivery of our 124 was delayed by a very harsh and long winter in the Chicago area in 2019, and the impossibility for Roadster Salon to get miles and iron out bugs on a nearly finished car. We have taken the last year to develop our impressions, and share them with your other customers.

We soon began to appreciate that Roadster Salon does not just rebuild cars but they make dreams happen and nothing leaves their facility unless it is perfect. The attention to the smallest detail is second to none. In fact, one may say that Ray Marchica and his team develop a sort of personal attachment to every project, as if this was their own piece of art.

From a customer viewpoint the process to build our car was very straightforward.
We spent some time computer modeling to get a rendering of what the finished car would look like. Then we agreed on the basic specs, colors and interior details and sit back for the final delivery. Later we made a quick visit to Roadster Salon facility towards the end of the build, which we believe was fundamental to meet the team and to iron out cosmetic details. These details that made the difference on the perfection of the final build.

Following the car’s arrival at my son’s house in California, one cannot express but admiration for the quality of the work from the paint, to the wood of the dash panel, the leather interior and to the state-of-the-art instruments. We knew this up front when we saw that the paint job was done by spraying each panel individually after meticulous disassembly– rather than on an assembled car. Every panel was sprayed vertically, so the paint could be the same thickness and the color would be consistent. This is quality workmanship rarely seen.

My son Andrea and I look forward to continue enjoying this Spider in the Los Angeles area, and as I live in Switzerland, I am already thinking of another one to take back to Europe. (Need to get approval from my wife though!!) The driving experience has been wonderful.

One last comment: I am sure there are many places that can rebuild a FIAT 124, but if one wants a true work of art car with meticulous attention to detail, then I believe Roadster Salon is the place to go. To the next one.

Roberto and Andrea Dionisio, April 2020

Roadster Salon will be making a major announcement through all media outlets at the end of the Summer. This dramatic news involves production plans for the first Spider built by Roadster Salon from the ground up with its own proprietary driveline and special features. There have been many rumors about these plans and this new direction. All we can say at this time is that it will be a radical departure from anything we have produced in the past, and will break new ground in terms of performance and overall driving experience. Stay tuned.

Every business has ways to cut corners. Car restorers are no different. Using cheap labor and materials are just one way to save money. Skip a step. Don’t check your work multiple times. Maybe don’t check it at all. Sacrifice long term durability for quick fixes. And if it takes too long, add it to the bill.

The best shops accept the fact that you can’t in good conscience charge a customer for your problems when things go wrong. In this business, slow and steady wins the race. You can either build your brand slowly with tight margins and be fair to everyone–or go in for the kill and be gone in a few years. The choice is clear.

This philosophy applies in every aspect of what we do. From mechanical work, crafting interiors, to pain refinishing. This means hundreds of man hours, and many months of sweating the most minute details.

When you get a call on an extremely rare, rust free California Alfa GTV you listen. You also have no one to blame but yourself if you don’t look the car over thoroughly before buying it. Just like a novice private party, we bought this lovely GTV on the advice of another dealer and some well-staged photos. Based on our purchase price, we expected the car to be showroom ready. When it arrived at Roadster Salon, our hearts sank.

While the car did run well as described, the photos we examined told a different story from what we saw in person. Why on earth would a customer—or dealer for that matter paint a $60,000 car with the skill set of a fifth grader. Runs, drips, fish-eyes and orange peel were in almost unlimited supply. Waves and misaligned body panels took center stage. And it wasn’t just the paint. We were also treated to mismatched tires, shoddy bright work, and worn out carpets (hidden by new floor mats) at no charge.

Anyone want to test drive a spider in this weather? It’s been barely a month since our last entry, and we are already looking at almost a foot of snow outside the showroom. A real gut punch for those of us hoping for decent driving conditions for a few more weeks. Obviously the Dioniso project will need to stay in the garage until Spring. Luckily our customer also lives in a seasonal environment overseas, so the urgency to ship has passed.

Most of the issues that required sorting in October have been resolved. Now it’s only a matter of waiting for clear roads and sunshine so we can put enough test miles on the car to be comfortable shipping it out.

While it may take nine months to have a baby, it takes longer to give birth to a custom Pininfarina spider. We thought we were close about a month ago, but the special instrument panel is fighting us. Other elements are dragging on a bit too. We have taken our first ride in the car, but it still feels like it needs additional sorting.

Our main concern at this point is the impending winter in Chicago, which will make further testing difficult if not impossible. It all comes down to customer direction, and if Mr. Dioniso will allow the car to be driven with snow/salt on the roads. My guess is that we will take it as far as we can this Fall, and wait for significant road time in March or April when the chill of the air is gone and the salt trucks are parked until next season.

As with any project, customer excitement and anticipation are difficult to balance with the reality of working on an almost forty-year-old chassis. Marrying new design elements with old technology is always a challenge. Hard to tell a patient customer the cake isn’t ready to come out of the oven.

The Dionisio project, which began some eight months ago is now in its final stages. Only fine details and build tweaks remain. A productive visit from the Dionisio family at our Barrington facility last week was all that was necessary to finalize some key elements of the build. Wood for the custom dash along with special order gauges will make a definitive statement in the interior. Real Borrani wheels and a custom exterior graphic will complete the overall look.

We have created something very unique for Mr. Dioniso and his son that we are extremely proud of—meeting the family in person was a great moment. It was a chance for us to all share in the efforts made to build this stunning automobile. It makes a huge difference when we get to meet the end user. Knowing the work is appreciated really makes it all worthwhile.

In an unexpected development, a Series One Roadster Salon Lusso built originally in 2010, took fourth place at the International Falls Annual Car Show against a field of muscle car entries. “We entered the show on a lark. Our Lusso was one of only three foreign cars at the show, so we were really surprised at the attention it received, considering the audience. The top three cars were a 1972 Mustang, a 1969 Chevy Z28 Camaro and a 1917 Dodge Touring, so we were in nice company.” Most people had no idea what the car really was, and assumed it was a 1960’s Ferrari.

This particular Lusso was production number 02/50. Over the years, the owner has upgraded the car each winter, as Roadster has developed new technology. Currently the car has received most S2 upgrades including our second-generation rack/pinion steering system. Unlike some Lusso models that are show ponies, this example has logged the most miles of any Roadster Salon Lusso sold to date. During the relatively short Northern Minnesota driving season, the car is used vigorously on a daily basis.

I am amazed at how nice the car still looks. The fit and finish has really held up over the years and the reliability has been comparable to our newer cars at home. My wife is the main driver, and she really enjoys the curves with the top down. If it isn’t snowing, the Lusso is first out of our garage.