New Shop Seeks to Change the Muscle Car Parts Industry

by Michael Satterfield

If you own a Porsche, Ferrari, BMW or other high-end sports car chances are the performance parts and accessories shops you visit are some of the nicest in the industry. However, if you drive a Camaro, Challenger, or Mustang the shops can range from junkyard like to cluttered and fitted with second-hand display racks from a 1970's drug store. Sure the people are nice, the parts are good, but it always leaves you with a feeling that you just need to get your parts and get out.

A few retailers are trying to change that, Mustang Shop of Concord, CJ Pony Parts, and right here in my own backyard Mustangs & Fast Fords O.C. that recently opened. Co-Owner Paul Gammerino, a long time car buff, and an all-around nice guy showed me around. "We wanted to create a place that Muscle Car enthusiasts would not just want to come to for parts and service, but as a destination." Paul Said. After seeing the place I think they have, this shop is impressive down to the details, everything screams Muscle Car Life Style, even the bathroom doors have Shelby stripes. The first thing you notice that is different than your average shop is the high-end retail displays that feature products from the leading aftermarket restoration parts companies, like California Pony Cars, Scott Drake, and TMI. Also featured prominently in the showroom is Paul's own Mustang Club Of America award-winning Mustang Coupe that he restored himself to concours standards.

There is a classic Ford Roadster project sitting in another corner of the clean and well-organized showroom, as well as a large roped off area that has a number of parts laid out. Paul explained that M&F will be building a classic Shelby GT350 (Clone) live in the showroom. This should be a very cool project to watch as customers will be able to see the M&F O.C. techs build the car live.

But unlike most retail parts stores serving the industry M&FF O.C. also has a full service shop that can handled everything from routine service to complete restorations. Paul also filled me on on the progress on adding a paint booth to the service department. We are currently still awaiting approval by the city, but we will be installing a state of the art paint booth that will allow us to truly provide full service for all classic Ford parts and restoration needs." he said. While I was there, the service departments two lifts were occupied by a late model Mustang, a classic F100, and the staff was working on tuning a classic Ford Fairlane.