My name is Carlo Di Marco, I am located in Danville, CA and have over 40 years’ experience in the Automotive Industry. My experience ranges from hands on diagnostics and repair, rebuilding, restoring, and inspecting all makes and models of foreign and domestic vehicles including hot rods. I began going into the shop with my father when I was very young. My father was a foreign car specialist from Italy. I learned the ins and outs from this man. When he came to the United States, he began working for San Francisco Toyota, then in a short time owned independent shops and gas stations, where I grew up.

Growing up in the shop I was required to learn all the tools and what they were used for, then spent countless hours in the solvent tank cleaning parts, learning their names and functions. Until I learned, I was not allowed to touch a vehicle. I started from the bottom up as my father’s apprentice, fixing tires, performing services, and assisting.  From classic American and foreign vehicles to building my first car at the age of 13, a 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400. This was my first opportunity to rebuild an engine, transmission, suspension, and brake system, along with having the body, paint, and interior completed and road ready by the age of 16. 

At 17, I finished high school and moved to Buenos Aires Argentina, where my mother is from, to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Buenos Aires. While attending school I worked for a long-time friend and partner of my father from Italy who owned an automotive repair shop. There I learned more than I ever thought I would about foreign cars and some American classics; Renaults, Peugeots, Citroens, Fiats, including the original 500s, Alfa Romeos, and Lancias, to name a few, then onto 1940s Cadillacs, 1960s Ford Falcons and Fairlanes, and Chevy Novas. We became quite creative with the American cars as parts were rarely ever available. Those experiences really helped me in the future to think before shooting from the hip when it came to automobiles.

I returned to the United States in the late 80s and enthusiastically rekindled the family name reopening independent repair shops. I labeled myself a Foreign Car Specialist, yet my love had always been American Classics and Muscle Cars. Over the years I worked on Rolls Royce’s belonging to the renowned Alioto family, Ferraris including an unforgettable barn find Dino, but the most memorable was rebuilding 1955, 56, 57 T-Birds, a 1962 Chevy II, a 1970 Barracuda, a 1970 Plymouth Superbird and numerous Fords from the 1960s.  

Some of my own vehicles over the years, partial to complete rebuilds or modifies were, a 1928 Dodge Fast Four, 1949 Ford Bullet Nose, 1964 El Camino, 1964 ½ Mustang, 1967 Mustang GT, 1967 Pontiac GTO, 1969 Buick Riviera, numerous 1967 to 1972 Mercedes Benz, and a modified 1959 Chevy Apache Fleetside long-bed. Most recently a traditional old-skool 1929 Ford Roadster Hot Rod sits in my garage, something I have wanted since I was about 10 years old.

I sold my last automotive shop in July of 2015. It was the largest I had owned over the years. It consisted of 10-12 employees, I was hands on, and trained many apprentices including my son.

I have now been appraising all types of vehicles since 2016 and am here to assist you. Feel free to call me directly or contact me online.

Direct: 925-208-9035

Email: carlothecarappraiser@gmail.com