Swedish Automotive completed the process of moving (though some unpacking remains) and celebrated the move to their new building at 35th s.w. and Kenyon with an open house on Sept. 25. Owner Dave Winters was not in his usual Swedish blue garb, "I had to give it a rest. I've been working so many hours lately that 8 to 8 was a short day," he quipped.

Touring the new facility were Todd Ainsworth, whose own shop West Seattle Autoworks will open October 1 and Tom Smith of Tom's Automotive with a 30 year employee John Bradley. The trio shared car repair stories and Smith pointed out that "This is a good business and Dave will do just fine here. He's been here for over twenty years. I think it's an investement in the West Seattle economy."

Ainsworth added that, "You can't really work on cars in the back yard with a crescent wrench anymore. There's just too much technology on cars these days. The more modern the shop and the more modern the equipment the more efficiently and accurately you can get your car repaired."

John L. Scott Real Estate Agent Mike Lindbloom set up the deal. Winters said, "We were already making plans in our old building to expand into the lot next door when Mike called me. We were pretty far along so I said, 'We're all set, I'm doing what I'm doing.', then I flew back east, slept on it and woke up the next morning, called him long distance and said put our name on it I want it."

The former property owner Eduardo Rodriguez, owner of the Puerto Vallarta Restaurant in the junction was there and said, "I'm very happy. When the offer came. I saw it on the table and Mike and I saw that this was the guy (Winters) who would do something beautiful."

Chas Redmond who lives nearby said, "This place looks almost like a new car dealer and I drive a Volvo so this works for me."

One of the mechanics, Paul Veldhuis said, "It's fantastic. It gives us more room, more light, it's more easy to move the tools around," and said it will make his job much easier, and possibly faster. "Faster, better stronger," he laughed.

With an eye on the environment Winters worked with the architects and builders to make the new facility as green as possible. Swedish Automotive will also re-use oil that comes from oil changes as the fuel for the facility heater.

On hand for the event were some classic Volvos and Saabs including a red 1960 3 cylinder Saab 93f 2 door coupe whose owner pointed out that it has a "top speed of 80 mph - downhill."

Also on display was Terry Ericson's 1971 Volvo 1800e. Winters said, "It was fuel injected, they started with fuel injection in 1969, it has probably 130 horsepower, a push rod motor, 4 speed with overdrive. I actually raced one of these for about ten years."

The facility now has equipment that will capture exhaust fumes from cars running during repair. The roof was designed to support solar electric panels but they are not yet installed. Winters hopes to add them in the future.

The Shed Boys, a Bluegrass band provided the entertainment, with food produced by Down Home Catering.

More photos will be added later.