Automotive History of Mat McCoy and McCoy’s German Auto

I started working on bicycles when I was 12 years old and had a bike shop for friends’ eventually stepping up to mini bikes and go carts then to motorcycles. I started working on cars in 10th grade auto shop and have never stopped.

After high school I attended the SRJC automotive program taking math, electronics and auto repair classes. I received an AA and Honors from SRJC Auto Shop with Stan Virmiel. At age 20 I was hired at Veal Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Porsche as a mechanic. I also worked on cars in my spare time on weekends and evenings at my home based shop. During that same time I enjoyed hot rodding and detailing cars.

I still own and drive the ‘69 GMC pickup that I bought in 1978. The majority of my work history has been on German cars at Northern California dealerships – Veal Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Porsche / San Francisco Porsche and Audi / San Francisco Ferrari / back to Veal / a Santa Rosa Independent garage / Sonnen BMW / Weatherford BMW / Hansel Prestige BMW. In 2005 I quit the dealerships to focus my energy full time at McCoy’s German Auto (a business that I started in 1983 working from home on nights and weekends). Because of all the customers that have stuck with me throughout the years and word of mouth, my business grew enough that I could go full time. After realizing that my customers had more than just German cars, I added McCoy’s Foreign and Domestic Auto Repair and have broadened my work to include all makes and models.

And I still have my first customer all these years and cars later.