You won’t believe dC Automotive’s Collection

Republished with permission from the January 2016 issue of Fourteener Motoring Magazine.

Hidden in eastern North Carolina is a stash of Porsche parts. Rob Zampardi of dC Automotive, in the town of Rocky Mount, has been collecting Porsche parts for decades. And he has a cache unlike any other you will find, anywhere. Many die hard professionals in the Porsche community know it is there. But, casual enthusiast, as well as new comers, frequently aren’t familiar with the collection.

Engines, hoods, bumpers, seats (I have never seen so many seats), you name it. Everything from early 911s to modern P-cars. And, yes, even 914s. 140,000 square feet of indoor Porsche heaven, and over a mile of parts shelves, to be exact. All full of Porsche cars and parts. There are so many cars inside, that more than 80 Porsches have to be stored around the building outdoors.

It is often said that you can’t own just one 914. With that in mind, Rob’s story, and how he assembled the largest indoor collection of used Porsche parts in the U.S., might hit close to home. In fact, it all started with a 914.

In the early 1990s Rob owned and operated a computer networking and equipment company in New York City. Having bought his first Porsche when he was 18 years old, and needing to fix it up, Rob saw an unmet need for used parts. Although the internet was in its infancy, it was clear that it would change how people bought parts for their cars. Since parts sellers didn’t make photos of their parts available online back then, honest and objective descriptions of what was being sold was very important. Rob combined his knowledge of the internet, and his desire to provide good parts, to create his business.

“It isn’t enough to know what part someone needs,” says Rob. “I want to know why.” Based on this philosophy, Rob made it his business to make sure that he met his customers’ expectation.

With this approach, his business, and collection of Porsches, grew. One 914 led to two, then three, then a 911, and so on. Over time he spent more and more time on parts sales. He eventually got out of the computer networking business, and hasn’t slowed down since. “What you see today is simply the result of continuous reinvesting,” says Rob.

Today, Rob sells used parts for nearly every Porsche ever made. He has also started importing reproduction parts directly from Germany. He carries hard-to-find reproduction parts such as calipers, chrome, door handles, anti-roll bars, and the list goes on.

Rob is also a wealth of knoweldge. Having dissembled more Porsches over the years than perhaps anyone in the world, he knows his parts. And he is always ready to help customers locate what they need.

dC Automotive, www.dcauto.com, 800-579-2410