By Julia Barcello
No one enjoys sitting at a red light; however, waiting at the red light on the corner of Prospect Street is a better experience than usual thanks to the Freccia Bros. Freccia Bros is a family-owned vintage car repair shop.
The garage was established in 1922 by Frank Freccias (The Third) great-grandfather Frank Freccia and his son. Frank worked alongside his great-grandfather, great-uncle, and father for many years.
“My father got out of the Marine Corps, and he joined his father, and he started working here in the ‘60s,” Frank recalled. Frank has harbored the tradition on to his daughter and son, Guinevere and Gene, along with numerous family members who are now skilled in mechanics.
Freccia Bros is known for its vintage aesthetic and a vast selection of antique cars. Freccia Bros’ specialties consist of working with air-cooled cars and restoring vintage treasures- predominantly Volkswagens. This year, they are celebrating the garage’s 100th anniversary.
The Freccia Bros’ began in the ‘20s by painting and repairing the classic and elegant horse-drawn carriages such as those featured in museums across the country.
It was not until the ‘30s when cars became more habitual that they started what they are known for today. In their early years, the Freccia Bros’ would travel during World War ll “up and down the East Coast and up to Washington DC” explained Frank in search of used cars to restore. During the 1960s, the family began restoring Volkswagens, which is now their specialty. Frank stated, “The Volkswagen business just never went away.”
Throughout the last century, “honesty, friendliness, and guaranteed work” is what has kept the garage running, explained Guinevere Freccia- Frank’s daughter. When walking into the shop, it is guaranteed that the vintage gem will look brand new without losing its aesthetic allure.
The Freccia family is exceptionally skilled in their craft, merely thanks to their passion for restoring pieces of history, “They’ll [customers] come just to say hello and say ‘Don’t change, stay here forever.’ That’s really fun, I mean that’s the goal, to make people happy. Yeah, it’s amazing… we love what we do, that’s for sure,” expressed Frank.
During these past few years of the COVID-19 virus, the Freccia Bros’ has remained strong, passionate, and successful- an accurate representation of their determination. When discussing the impacts of the pandemic, Frank explained that people were purchasing more vintage cars simply because they had more spare time. Frank noted, “I really thought that COVID was going to kill us… People are buying these things more than ever… this is just a good outlet for them to have fun.”
If you or someone you know is interested in having your vintage car repaired, you may call The Freccia Bros, direct message them on Instagram, or email them with details about your repair!
