Exclusive Body Werks
It takes skill to become the southern hemisphere’s only factory accredited Rolls Royce repairer but that’s the accolade given to Ron Goodman of Exclusive Body Werks in Granville, Sydney.
But Goodman hasn’t been resting on his laurels. He has cut his teeth on repairing Porsches, a specialisation driven by his days as a Nascar driver and his continuing race days using the iconic German brand.
His bodywork career began repairing Jeeps, Holdens and Porsches but his heart was mostly with Porsche. Eventually that was all he repaired. He bought an auto transmission factory and a towing company and gutted the place to make his Granville bodyshop.
“We cut holes in walls and installed surveillance equipment and alarm systems and with my reputation with Porsches we built the business,” he says.
Today he operates in an immaculate, well equipped shop with three spray painters, a labourer and six panel beaters. In addition there are three office staff, Goodman and Gary Bowyer - an experienced manager formerly with Sarinas in Sydney’s West. Sydney-siders may ask the question and the reply is hard to argue with: why Granville?
“Well, it’s the centre of Sydney,” Goodman replies. “We like it here and I have hundreds of customers who know I do a good job with their cars and that’s what matters.”
But apart from the modern shop and skilled technicians what sets this business apart from the others is its strategic plan.
“We want to be a skills export business, sending our skilled trades people to the US to show them how to repair prestige cars, especially Porsches. Americans do not have stand-alone shops like ours but logistics do pose a challenge,” Goodman says. “Having Gary and I over there and away from the shop is a problem, to say nothing of the cost of travel.”
The good thing about the plan is that Goodman’s Rolls Royce accreditation fits with the skills on Porsche, Aston and Lamborghini. Goodman has already gained a US training grant to carry out the work as well as a rebate from the US for the training he has provided. The new shop, if it goes-ahead, will be in California’s first city Los Angeles, amongst the downtown glitter.
But what about his Australian business? Above all, the Porsche work is outstanding, attracting customers from all over Sydney to exacting quality and a Glasurit finish. They also have the best equipment including some Globaljig and Celette benches.
“When Porsche runs training courses they borrow our jigs. Upstairs we also run training courses in our boardroom area,” Goodman says.
Goodman is excited about trying the US repair market. “It may be my ego but I think it’s worth it. After all, to export training is important.”
So as he gets up at midnight, runs 10kms and at 5pm is at the gym, you wonder when he sleeps. Probably after he’s done charity work for Westmead Children’s Hospital.