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The Santa Clara chapter of the California Autobody Association (CAA) will host their annual Harding Park Golf Tournament at the Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco on October 19.

The event is a “Celebration of SF’s Municipal Golf” and will start at 9AM. The cost per player is $185.00 and includes a meal.

Registration form and payment is due by September 23, 2011. Please contact the CAA Santa Clara Chapter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

I-CAR has been emphasizing the importance of three-dimensional measuring since its founding in 1979, but is it really required to repair a vehicle? After all, three-dimensional measuring systems are considerably more expensive compared to the much more affordable tape measure or tram gauge (see Figure 1).

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

A Real Life Experience
Recently, our friend Sam (not his real name, but his story is), found himself having to get estimates for his collision damaged car. The first collision repair facility was chosen, and the vehicle was brought in for an estimate.

During the estimating process, Sam asked what type of three-dimensional measuring system the facility used. The estimator promptly replied “none.” Interesting. The car didn’t look structurally damaged, I’m sure the estimator was wondering why Sam even cared.

So, it was on to the next repair facility. While talking to the estimator, Sam inquired again, “What type of three-dimensional measuring do you use?”

In a too familiar response, the estimator replied, “We don’t really have one.”

The next stop was the last repair facility scheduled to write an estimate. Sam watches the estimate being written and asks the question, but this time, the answer is different, “We have a computerized measuring system.”

The quest was over. Sam knows who’s going to be repairing his vehicle.

Back in July’s Autobody News I wrote a shop showcase article about Nigro’s Auto Body in Philadelphia. (Go to www.autobodynews.com, and search “Nigro’s”)

A focus of my article was how the shop exemplifies the “city of brotherly love” motto by its exemplary contributions to charities and good causes in the region.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Now Nigros’ has gone beyond and has reached out to the online consumer in an unexpected yet useful way. With regard to society’s affinity toward technology, they have developed several smart phone applications to assist in accidents and promote safe driving.     The flagship app, Nigro’s Auto Body Assistance™ App, is a patent-pending car accident and emergency assistant smart phone app that provides consumers with instant access to everything they need if they are ever involved a car accident or driving emergency.

When I visited the shop in June 2011, co-owner Domenico Nigro explained that his goal is to improve the industry by helping people and disseminating information, and the release of Nigro’s Accident Assistance Application shows his dedication to this goal.

Several years ago, Domenico thought it would be a good idea to create an application to assist drivers in the instance of an accident. “At Nigro’s, our customers are our main concern, and I felt as though an app such as this could take a great deal of weigh off of the shoulders of drivers.” While researching the possibility of turning his dream into reality, Domenico came upon a company, Summit Software Solutions, that specializes in building smart phone applications, and with the help of this company, Nigro’s Accident Assistance App came into existence.

A survey conducted by Ducker Worldwide has found North American automakers are using more aluminum in their automobiles. Vehicles made with more aluminum should reduce the weight of vehicles and increase fuel economy.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Aluminum in 2012 North American Light Vehicles, conducted for The Aluminum Association, estimates North American automakers will increase their use of aluminum from 327 pounds per vehicle in 2009 to 550 pounds per vehicle in 2025.

The survey shows continued growth in overall use of aluminum reaching an all-time high of 343 pounds per vehicle in 2012—up five percent from 327 pounds per vehicle in 2009. The report predicts aluminum is expected to double its share of the average automotive materials mix to 16 percent by 2025, with future cars and light trucks reaching an expected average of 550 pounds per vehicle of automotive aluminum.

Randall Scheps, chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Aluminum Transportation Group and marketing director at Alcoa Inc., says, “We are fast-entering a transition stage to more holistic vehicle design approaches premised on greater use of lighter, stronger and more crash-absorbent aluminum alloys replacing less efficient iron and steel. Vehicles with their size maintained but down weighted with aluminum are inherently more efficient than heavier ones.”

It’s no secret that large numbers of recent immigrants now live in many areas in the United States. Most gather themselves into close-knit communities where their native language predominates. Fortunately, for quality collision shop owners, few of these immigrant communities have a quality body shop in their own ethnic area. If there is a shop, chances are it’s rather primitive and not up to insurance claim quality. This opens the door for an astute shop owner nearby who will put someone on the payroll who speaks their language and can help market the shop to that community.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

I’m familiar with a shop that opened in a community that had large numbers of Chinese families in the surrounding area. The shop owner hired an attractive Chinese lady who spoke fluent Mandarin and Cantonese for the front desk and he also hired a Chinese-speaking estimator and parts manager. For several years this combination served him well. His Chinese personnel changed a few times, but he always kept some at his shop and enjoyed a significant number of jobs from the Chinese community.

With an economic downturn, when one Chinese employee left, he didn’t replace her immediately. Gradually, as the economy continued to decline, he lost all of his Chinese employees. He intended to replace one or two but it didn’t happen and little by little his Chinese community business fell away. Employees are a shop’s biggest expense. It’s understandable that adding any new employee is costly, but I’m certain that a careful analysis of the situation would reveal that the benefits of reaching the Chinese community would have more than paid for a Chinese speaking employee for this shop owner.

“The Insider” is an auto insurance company executive who wishes to remain anonymous. This column reflects his opinion and not necessarily that of Autobody News’ staff or contributors.

Since the arrival of the first non-OEM crash part from overseas a few decades ago, the debate has raged on over the value, safety and benefit of using these parts. It’s important to note that the rage hasn’t come from the consumer (you know, the person that actually has the parts installed on their vehicle). So if the consumer doesn’t seem to care, who does and why?

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

The people who seem to care the most are the companies trying to sell parts. The reason is pretty simple: money. So the next time you see a press release, a simulated crash or a reaction to test with a reciprocating saw involving crash parts, be advised that what you are witnessing is a demonstration of big business fighting for market share and profitability.

I’m sure there are some safety concerns that need to be addressed. But if there were a significant enough problem, I would surmise that a lawsuit involving a few high-powered attorneys illustrating the faultiness of non-OEM crash parts and the resulting death of a vehicle’s occupants would have happened at least once in the past few decades. If you are aware of one, please send it to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Lacking that, what we really have are two kids who can’t play in the same sandbox.

The end result is a lot of propaganda, rife with chest-puffing, staged testing, wasted money, name-calling and an increased cost of parts to the consumer in order to offset the needless expenses—despite the car manufacturers trying to lead you to believe that it’s all in the name of safety.

Ford Motor Company said that the recent report published by the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA), claiming Ford service parts are inferior to its production parts, is based on incomplete facts and only highlights the aftermarket parts industry’s lack of understanding about some aspects of the auto manufacturing process. The carmaker has issued a complete explanation. See coverage in Sept. issues of Autobody News, or online at autobodynews.com.

The ABPA report, published on September 9, cites engineering test results that show significant material differences between one Ford service part and the Ford production part it was designed to replace. Based on the result of that test, the ABPA concluded that Ford Genuine OEM Collision Replacement Parts are different than the original production components. The ABPA published the test results along with accusations that Ford was ‘grossly misrepresenting the truth’ when it claimed in a video that “Genuine Ford collision replacement parts are the same as those used to manufacture the vehicle.”

Ford, however—acknowledging that the parts tested by NSF were indeed different—said the conclusion drawn by the ABPA is based on incomplete facts and that the 2005-2009 Mustang front bumper isolators tested by ABPA (through NSF) were both used for vehicle manufacturing as well as service replacement.

The carmaker said, “The parts referenced [by the ABPA] were used for both manufacturing and service replacement, and were thoroughly tested and proven to meet Ford’s specifications for the Mustang. The statements in Ford’s YouTube video are true and accurate and Ford stands behind all of them, including Ford’s claim that collision replacement parts are the same as those used to manufacture the vehicle.

Carrillo and Sons Collision Center, a 15,000 square-foot collision repair shop in San Diego, CA, is all about customer satisfaction and family legacy.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Owner Maria Carrillo started the business in 1981 with her then-husband Tony at a small location off Adams Avenue in San Diego. Maria worked mostly in the office part of the business and the couple raised three sons in that shop; Tony Jr., David and Daniel, who quickly became interested in the business.

“When I was working in the office the kids were with me a lot of the time,” said Maria.

In 2000 the Carrillos opened a second, larger location on Old Cliffs Road in San Diego where Maria started spending most of her time.

The Old Cliffs location is able to see about 115 to 150 cars per month with 13 employees.

Then, as Maria says, “Life happened.” In 2008 Maria and Tony decided to get a divorce.

“I never wanted to divide the business, but that was the only option,” said Maria. Maria decided to buy her now ex-husband out for the Old Cliffs Rd location, chiefly due to her children’s interest in continuing the businesses now that they are adults.

Maria officially took over the business in July of 2010 and her three sons have been there every step of the way, ensuring that Carrillo and Sons continues to be a family-run business centered on quality and customer service.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 1 through 4. In gearing up for the upcoming show, the group has made several announcements regarding celebrity appearances and their expanded Repairer Driven Education (RDE) sessions provided by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Charley Hutton, formerly body shop supervisor at Boyd Coddington’s La Habra shop and known for his appearances on the TV shows American Hot Rod, Rides, and Overhaulin’, is regarded as one of the most popular painters in the custom car world. He will appear Wednesday, November 2, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. at the Collision Repair & Refinish Section Stage (North Hall #10873). Charley will do an onstage interview and a question and answer session.

Working out of his shop in Nampa, Idaho-Charley Hutton’s Color Studio-Hutton has produced an impressive number of automotive refinishing projects over his career, most recently through his work using PPG Automotive Refinish. He has garnered a number of prominent honors as a result.

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) also added award-winning painter, fabricator, television personality, and Autobody News Columnist Rich Evans to an already packed lineup of activities taking place this year in the north hall of the Show.

Greg’s Auto Body, with two locations in Whittier and Santa Fe Springs, CA, hosted a firefighter extrication class at their Whittier location back on May 7th.

To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.

Firefighters from the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department and the LA County Fire Department, which services the Whittier area, participated in the course which highlighted extrication techniques on newer vehicles made with Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) and hybrid electric vehicles.

The class of about 35 to 40 firefighters was taught by I-CAR instructor and Autobody News columnist Toby Chess.

“It worked out very well,” said Greg Gunter, owner of Greg’s Auto Body. “It kind of stopped traffic on our street.” Chess and Gunter had set up several crashed vehicles, including two cars turned on top of each other, the night before the class took place and it caused quite a bit of passerby attention.

Gunter decided to hold the class at his shop to give back to the local community.

“This is something that’s good for the community,” said Gunter, “I’m very involved in the local community.”

State Farm Insurance and Triple A sponsored this class.

For more information please visit www.gregsautobody.com.