Randolph Native Opens Auto

Sales and Service on Rt. 66

Three-year-old Grace Wiggett is the reason there is a new auto sales and repair business in Randolph Center.

Grace's father, Adam Wiggett, had spent five years working in semiconductors for Suss Microtech, for which he had prepared wth a mechanical engineering degree from VTC in 1998.

But Wiggett, a 1994 graduate of what was then the Randolph Area Vocational Center, felt that something was missing. Specifically he felt that because of his long hours, and more long hours on the road, his daughter Grace was missing too often from his life.

As a result, Wiggett went back to an early talent and fascination—cars. A 1973 Beetle had been his Tech Project at RAVC, and he had been rebuilding cars for the last couple of years, selling them to friends and acquaintances. He was good at it. He liked doing it.

So Adam made the plunge. He leased the former equipment rental shop owned by Perry Armstrong on Route 66 and received zoning permission to open an auto sales and service shop there.

He opened June 27, and he's open Tuesday-Saturday.

His sign is painted onto a beautifully restored automobile hood, hanging from a metal frame.

"It shows what I can do," Wiggett said last week. He meant that both both the steel framing and the spiffy paint job were his work.

More signs of his work are apparent in the lineup of cars for sale in front of the garage, with prices from under to $2000 to just over $10,000. Several of them were rebuilt by Wiggett, often with parts he has learned to find on the Internet.

Although he does deal in rebuilt cars, Wiggett is not making it a specialty. He has been buying cars at auction, as well, and is looking especially for Hondas, Toyota trucks, and Suburus. Since opening his business, he has sold three cars "for sure."

The son of Randolph native Craig Wiggett, one of the earliest employees of Vermont Castings, Adam also has full garage facilities and will take on most anything, he said.

He pointed to a van in the shop on which he had just performed a complete engine repair. The van was owned by Randolph National Bank President Steve Dimick and his wife Nancy.

"The Dimicks came to me because I used to wrestle with their kids," Wiggett confided. "I used to pound on them.

"Of course they were younger than I was. I couldn't do that now."

Probably not. The Dimick boys grew into state, New England, and even national champions.

As far as his qualifications are concerned, Wiggett stressed the personal. "I have a good reputation in town as an honest person—people definitely trust me. That's how my business is going to be successful."

He has brought his partner (and photographer) Jessica Martin into the business to help with "everything but fixing cars." Her dog Miller and his dog Tinker are likely to be around.

And the cause of all this, three-year-old Grace, likes to help wash cars and spends a lot of time in the spacious office.

"You're sitting at her desk right now," Wiggett pointed out with a grin.