2024-04-01 23:06:59
Bolzano. Holy Milan, 75 years old, opens the sliding door of the body shop with putty-stained hands. He is busy with the upholstery of a car, in what seems like a normal afternoon at work. But from tomorrow (Saturday for those reading) she will officially leave the business that bears her surname, retiring after leading it for 58 years. «It was April 16, 1966, I still remember it», she says, «I was 16 years old, my brother was eight years older than me. We were already body shop builders, but we wanted to open our own business. We found an old stable in via San Giacomo, now Maso della Pieve, we fixed it up and the adventure began from there. We didn’t have much: a paint gun, a compressor, a grippo, four hammers… In short, what we could do at the time. Then we started adding some sheds outside, we rented a neighbor’s garage and the 30 square meter shop grew to 200 meters in a short time. The business was doing well and we grew quickly. From 1 October 1987 we moved to an industrial area in Bolzano.”
The evolution of the profession
In six decades they have seen generations of cars pass by: from the legendary 850, to the Fiat 127, the Alfetta, passing through the first Golfs. But the oldest model that Milan got his hands on is a 1939 Topolino. «Two years ago we completely renovated it», he says, showing the photograph, «I have seen practically all the cars of recent times, many have become era as the years pass.” Among the souvenir photos of this life in the workshop, there is one that immortalizes a blue 600 with a child in front. «It’s my son together with the old 600», he explains, «Classic ’56, we restored it and kept it for several years. Now I have sold it to my nephew.” In addition to the evolution of cars, Milan has witnessed the evolution of the profession. In particular the painter: his specialty from the beginning. «I started with paints and stuccos at Nitro, in those days there weren’t even ovens. Then came the new paints. The procedures have also changed: once we worked with water-based products, now dry, there is equipment with aspirators. When I started there weren’t even masks… But for now I’m fine”, he smiles.
Retirement
After continuing to help out in the body shop under the new management for two years, Milan decided to resign from what had been his shop for almost 60 years. «Now I’m old and it’s right to start a new phase», he explains. The Milan body shop leaves the family: «My children have taken other paths. One works in a bank and the other is a tour leader.” For two years the reins have passed into the hands of Rezart Alla, with whom Milan says: «There are good relations». What will he do now? «I will travel around Alto Adige. But I’ll leave the car aside: I’ve already done the ABO», he smiles, «Now it’s time to walk».
2024-04-01 23:06:59