To the average punter Ingham, about an hour north of Townsville, looks like a sleepy little village. However, while it might seem sleepy, it is in fact a thriving, car-loving community of motorsport lovers. Whether you are talking car shows or burnouts, the name Guido’s Panel and Paint will come up with the Giliberto family being one of the driving forces behind the passion for all things automotive in the region. Guido and Maria Gilberto, along with their son David, have been building Guido’s Panel and Paint for nearly 30 years.

Words & PHOTOS: Lara Wilde

What services are offered by Guido’s Panel and Paint?

MG: We do body repairs on every type of vehicle no matter what you drive, ride or tow. We provide all insurance-related accident repairs for customers. We also do a lot of private work for project cars including restorations, interior and exterior detailing, hood linings, custom refinishes, small dents and scratches, fitting accessories, and rust proofing. We also provide Juice Car Care products and we are an agent for Raptor – a spray-on tough coating which protects against rust, corrosion, damp and extreme temperatures. It is available in black and white and tintable formulas. There are many uses for the Raptor product not only in automotive but also in marine, commercial, agricultural, off road and industrial applications.

How did Guido’s Panel and Paint come to be?

MG: Guido and I established Guido’s Panel & Paint in July 1992. The business began as a two-man workshop with me working part-time on the business and part-time teaching. The business has grown from strength to strength over the years and in 2000 we saw the opening of the new workshop at its’ current location in Ingham.

What is Guido’s background in the automotive industry?

MG: Guido has been involved with smash repairs in Ingham since 1969 when he began a coach and motor painting apprenticeship. In the third year of his apprenticeship, he purchased a 1964 EH Holden sedan for $600 (wages for a third-year apprentice in those days was $75 per week). He repaired the damaged panels and re-sprayed the roof in Kashmere White while the remainder was painted in Spring Gold Super X acrylic. Interior was upholstered in red.

In 1977, Guido purchased a 1974 XB Panel van for $1000. He repaired and resprayed the vehicle in Black Watch Green Metallic. He and a friend worked on the engine and converted it from a 302 to a 351 V8. After a few quarter-mile races against other car enthusiasts, that panel van claimed the reputation of being the fastest car in Ingham until it was sold in 1980.

Back in the day when panel shops were part of motor dealerships, Guido worked in the panel repair department for the local Holden dealership for almost 20 years as refinisher and manager. In 1992, the dealership decided to close the panel shop – which was a common trend with dealerships around the country. That was when we opened the doors on Guido’s Panel and Paint.

Is Guido still hands on in the business today?

MG: Guido’s main job is quoting, scheduling jobs, maintaining good relationship with suppliers, insurers and their assessors, negotiating the best possible outcomes for our customers and for our business. Administration duties are largely handled by myself and Sheree. Guido is not afraid to get his hands dirty and occasionally he will be found assisting with a vehicle detail, sorting and checking parts and assisting tradesman when required. That’s what you do in a small rural business – everyone helps each other if the need arises.

Who is your current team?

MG: We have Guido, Sheree and myself in the office. In the workshop we have David (workshop manager/panel beater/spray painter), Ian (panel beater), Jason (spray painter), Damian (tradesperson assistant) and Andrew (apprentice panel beater).

Our son, David, found his way around the panel shop at an early age. It was in this environment that he gained extensive knowledge of the vehicle repair industry and completed his Automotive Body Repair apprenticeship in 2008. Recently David also gained accreditation in Automotive Refinish Technology through the MTA Institute.
David is super interested in motorsports, modifying and repairing vehicles. Multiskilling is typical of small rural businesses. David also quotes and ensures the correct repair methods are used.

Do you sponsor a lot of local motorsport and individual competitors?

MG: Guido’s Panel & Paint are involved in the Ingham community, providing schools and clubs with donations, sponsorship and voluntary hands-on help. We support the schoolwork experience program – 73 work experience placements in the last 27 years, from 1992 to 2019.

We are keen to sponsor local motorsport events and always offer to help out at the events. Both David and our painter Jason Smith always have a vehicle project in progress with a goal to competing in the next event. David is the President of the Ingham Motorsport and volunteers many hours to run their events.

In 2008 to 2010, David was involved as an apprentice with the NRMA Insurance Smash Repair Team which followed the V8 Supercar entourage. The Team helped repair the cars of famous Australian drivers at venues like Willowbank, Bathurst and Townsville. In 2010, David continued to support the Team as an instructor. This experience facilitated by NRMA was probably the beginning of his interest in motorsports.

What are your plans for the next few years?

MG: We have identified a need to further our knowledge and skills so I-Car training will be our focus. You can never stop learning – our painter has decided to extend his skills and undertake a part-time Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology apprenticeship.

We have a solid reputation in the community and we feel we have a future in the industry. We believe in passing on knowledge so apprentices are never recruited as a source of cheap labour and given menial tasks, but rather to learn the trade and be a valued part of the team. They are the future of our business.

What advice would you give to a young Guido starting out in the industry?

MG: Learn, learn, learn as much as you can! Learn about vehicle manufacturing trends in the industry, product options and costs. Learn about skill development and technology. Make contacts and establish a good rapport; don’t over capitalise and aim for value for money; and be genuine and trustworthy.

How much importance do you place on social media for your business?

MG: Social media is a great avenue to keep customers and the wider community interested in your business. It is also an excellent source for referrals and to share product and service information specific to our repair business.

What do you see as the greatest advancement in technology for your business?

MG: Insurance claims and assessments have become automated, taking away the personal touch as claims are usually made over the phone or internet. In saying that, we are fortunate in Ingham to still have insurance brokers where customers have the option to discuss their claims face to face. The claims process has become more efficient at the expense of face-to-face contact. In a world where we are time poor perhaps these more efficient practises are welcome. Personally, Guido and I miss the days when assessors would visit the workshop to inspect vehicles. However, our processes have changed in tune with industry changes, but we have always stayed true to our values and continue to turn out high-quality work.

Do you consider that the advancements in electric cars will have an impact on your business? If so, how so?

MG: As a business in a rural setting, we will always be a general body repair and paint shop in that we are able to meet our customers’ needs and repair most vehicle damage presented to us. With the advancement in electric cars comes more complex and expensive equipment and new technology which requires a different skill set. For Guido’s Panel & Paint, this is a challenge which we intend to meet with further training and close insurer/manufacturer/repairer relationships. I don’t expect too much change in the refinish side of the business as our paint reps do a good job keeping us updated with changes.

What has been the greatest benefit of your MTA Queensland membership?

MG: We have been a member of MTA Queensland since 1992 and, for us, the Association has been a point of reference and source of information and guidance mostly with wage and staff employment matters. It’s great to have an industry-focused organisation you can contact with any questions or concerns. Staff at MTA Queensland are always approachable and helpful.

MTA Institute is the registered training organisation we use. Shane Palmer regularly visits our workshop to deliver training to our apprentices and the Institute has always been reliable, flexible, supportive and thorough in delivering onsite training.

What do you do with your spare time?

MG: Operating a small family business in a rural farming town doesn’t leave much spare time, but what we have is usually spent with family and friends, catching up at home and attending local community events and festivals. Occasionally we get to have a short holiday!

Source: Motor Trader E-magazine (July 2020)

10 Jul 2020