Duncan's European Automotive

About Us

Craig, and Ben, Pete, Josh, and Ryan are experienced, ASE-certified master technicians who enjoy working on European cars. Read on to learn what makes each of them unique.

Craig Duncan, Owner	Craig Duncan grew up in Manchester NH and graduated from West High. In addition to his ASE certification he also has an L1 certification in advanced diagnostics. After many years working for other repair shops, Craig opened Duncan's European Automotive in January 2004. *How did you get into cars?* I was always a gearhead kid. I started with a '69 Mustang Mach 1 when I was 16. My parents got tired of me working on it in their garage, so I got a job working 5 nights a week at a gas station. I've been working on cars ever since. *Why do you specialize in European cars?* Most people who drive European cars hold their cars, themselves, and their professional dealings to a higher standard. That lets me repair cars to the standards that I want to repair them to, rather than "band-aid" something that's just good enough. *What type of cars are your favorites?* Of course I like European cars in general, and Swedish and German cars in particular. Swedish cars have the same level of mechanical and technological intricacy as German ones, but with a different approach to design. For example, Saab made airplanes before they made cars, and the first airplane they designed had the propeller on the back. I call that "Swedish logic." A lot of mechanics hate working on Swedish cars, but I find them fascinating. *Why did you start your own business?* To help customers in the way I thought they should be taken care of. To not have people be assigned a number like at a dealership, or be kept waiting hours for an oil change. Or be constantly upsold repairs with the sole idea of making a profit for the business establishment. I knew a business could be run better than that and I wanted to prove it. *What's it like having a business here in Derry/Londonderry?* My customers are very good to me, and I want to be here for them when they have issues with their cars. I like being able to see my customers not only here in the shop on a professional basis but also out and about the town. This is a great community and I'm happy to be part of it.

Ben Duncan, Technician	Ben Duncan graduated from Concord Regional Vocational School, then attended the Universal Technical Institute in Illinois for 1 year. Upon graduation, he was hired by Mercedes-Benz where he underwent 6 months of rigorous factory training. He worked for a dealership for 2 years, then spent 3 more at an independent repair shop. He joined his father Craig at Duncan's European Automotive in May 2005. *How did you decide to become a mechanic?* I've always been interested in how mechanical objects work. As a kid, I took apart stuff like the VCR and the lawnmower. (Ask his father about this one - Ben was only 3.) I also built go-carts. Most of my buddies were into cars, and my dad let us use our garage at home to work on them. By the time I was 15, I was pretty sure I wanted to be a mechanic. *Do you have any areas of specialty?* I especially like to work on Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and BMWs because of the quality of their engineering. I like the challenge of doing electronic diagnostics. I also enjoy restoration work, the large jobs where the entire car has to come apart. And I'm into alternative fuels – for years I drove a 1991 Mercedes 300D that I converted to run on used vegetable oil. Ben and Celeste’s daughter Drew was born in September 2008. Zoe - daughter number 2, was born in November 2010.

Pete Gelinas	Pete has been friends with Ben since their days as “the car guys” in high school. After graduating from Pembroke Academy, Pete went with Ben out to UTI in Illinois and completed their 1-year program, followed by 3 months of Volkswagen factory training. Pete worked at a VW dealership for several years before coming to our shop. *Why did you choose Volkswagen?* To be honest, it was because I was homesick and it was the shortest course. But the German cars really grew on me – VW, Audi, Porsche. Their engineering is fairly advanced for their more economical cars, and of course they make some really nice cars. They’re good to work on. I like to do diagnostic work and rebuild engines. *What’s it like working here?* Very laid back. Not like a dealership atmosphere where everyone’s looking out for themselves and not helping each other. We all work together and have a lot of fun. Pete and his wife Tori welcomed their son Cooper in February 2010.

Josh Mercer	Josh graduated from Nashua high school. He worked briefly for a moving company, then as a car porter at a Volvo dealership “where I met my beautiful wife.” After completing UTI’s program in Massachusetts, Josh joined us in 2008. *What got you into cars?* As a kid I was into music, and playing baseball and basketball. But I also liked working with my hands so I would fix things like broken VCRs. Once I started working around cars, I decided I wanted to be a tech so I went back to school. *Do you have a favorite type of car?* I’ve worked on Volvos the most, but I like working on all the European brands. Actually, what I like is working on cars that have been well maintained by people who care about them. It’s nice to have that close relationship with customers who want to know what’s going on with their cars. Josh and Melissa recently bought their first home in Nashua.

Ryan Hunt	A NH native, Ryan grew up helping his dad tinker with old cars. After high school, he worked at an independent repair shop. He started by sweeping floors, but soon he was fixing cars. Ryan then worked at a VW dealership where he completed certifications in Porsche and Audi repair. Ryan joined Duncan’s European Automotive in December 2010. How did you get into racing? The first guy I worked for was into Audis and Porsches, and I learned a lot from him. I built my first Porsche 914 from the ground up – it came in boxes – and I did everything myself including the paint, bodywork, and roll cage. I joined the Porsche Club of America and started racing at NH Speedway. I also do tech inspections for the PCA. What appealed to you about working here? I like the small shop atmosphere. It’s not cutthroat, but more like family. And the opportunity to work on high-end cars because I love the design of them, the way the engines are put together. In addition to racing, Ryan also enjoys bodybuilding and spending time with his two young sons.