Just wanted to pass along the experience I had recently with Vinny Bedini of Bedini Motorsports in New Milford, CT.

I brought my 280Z to Vinny because I wanted to have new bushings installed and the brakes done. I had a short list of other annoyances and Vinny pointed out one needed fix that I wasn't even aware of.

So Vinny ordered the parts I needed in the form of the bushing kit and front and rear brake parts. After the car got into the shop it was readily apparent to Vinny what was needed:

Installed new slotted rotors and pads up front
New shoes and wheel cylinders in back
New master cylinder and complete flush of the brake system
Flushed the clutch system
New tie rod ends up front
New bushings all around
New shift lever bushings, which I didn't even realize I needed until I got in the car and felt how firm the lever is now

Bottom line is that Vinny is a true professional. His price on parts was very competitive, his hourly rate was more than competitive and I felt like he treated the car like it was his own.

If you are looking for an honest mechanic who specializes in the early Z's, Vinny is your man. Plus walking around his shop seeing the various projects that are in process was a lot of fun.

The last thing Vinny said to me as I was walking out the door was "let me know if you have a problem with anything I did and I'll fix it for free". When was the last time someone volunteered that statement after working on your vehicle?

I drove the car about 200 miles after picking it up from Vinny and had a smile on my face the entire time.

Guys like Vinny are becoming few and far between. One by one, these guys are closing up shop and when they're gone, god luck getting Nissan to do this work with any level of knowledge and care. So if you have stuff on your early-Z wish list, like I did, I strongly encourage you to get it done now, while we still have this gem of a mechanic in our back yard.

You can reach him at vinny.bedini@netzero.net or 860-355-1829.

Ross

PS:

Some other very positive threads on Vinny's work:

http://forums.ctzcc.com/viewtopic.php?t=6242

http://forums.ctzcc.com/viewtopic.php?t=6156

_________________
Ross Williams
1978 280Z Black Pearl Edition 38k Original Miles

and if you're a Z nut, his Garage is very impressive. (not sure if he moved yet, but the original place)

Pretty good stuff. I have to find me an S30 before he closes up shop!

Amen to everything Ross said, and then some. Vinny and I are both
Bob Sharp alumni, and since I have known him, he has always been
the consummate professional.

Vinny is one of those perfectionists whose credo seems to be, "If it
isn't done perfectly, it isn't done right." WOW! What a guy to have
in our Club as a friend and advisor. What a guy to have working on
my cars, and at a reasonable distance, yet! You see, Vinny has for-
gotten more about the care and maintenance of 510's and the early
Z Cars than most people ever knew. And when Vinny builds an
engine or a race car, does it ever FLY!!! His record of being on
numerous National Champion race teams, and of building engines
which propel vehicles to World records, will certainly attest to that.

I'm sure he would blush and hang his head if he were to read this
accolade. But that's our Vinny.

Nonetheless, Vinny does have one serious shortcoming. He tends
to UNDERCHARGE you for a job. When you argue about it, he-- in
his quiet, modest, unassuming manner, says "naw, that's okay..."
and won't take "No" for an answer. I have to use every bit of my
salesmanship skills to get him to take a little more.

Give him a try and see if what I have shared above isn't 110% true.

_________________
All Z Best,.......Kathy & Rick

1969 Z.CAR (#00013 10/69) 8/30/76
1969 ITSA.Z (#00171 11/69) 8/24/73
1970 OLD.Z (#06289 6/70) original owner
1971 510 2dr since 12/31/75
1969 1600 rdstr (our 160-Z)
1971 (#19851 1/71) sold
1975 75.Z (#01343 1/75)