Cox Auto, South Melbourne, VIC

When Cox Auto opened their first workshop on Montague St in South Melbourne in 1981, family owned Cox Auto had just one technician. From those humble beginnings, 35 years on their team of 20 outgrew the Montague St workshop, relocating to a new bigger premises just down the road at 88 Buckhurst Street. Since then, the prestige car specialists have continued to grow and owner Ashley Cox has been quietly renovating their original Montague St location. The workshop where it all started reopened in August 2016 as 'Cox Auto Original’.

Subverting expectations, the restored workshop features exposed brick walls, black-framed windows and polished concrete floors. An attention to detail that will have you believe that you've stumbled across Melbourne’s latest café offering. Inside, rather than baristas pouring flat whites (though they provide those too) you will find specialist technicians with state-of-the-art equipment servicing a full range of European cars.