A Collision Legacy: Farrish of Fairfax Goes WAY Back with WMABA

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

As one of the oldest collision repair associations in the country, it’s no surprise that WMABA boasts many longstanding members, but few shops have been around since the very beginning. Farrish of Fairfax Auto Body (Fairfax, VA) is a rare exception.

In fact, shop founder Lee Farrish was a founding member and the first vice president of WMABA when it first got off the ground over 50 years ago!

Current shop owner Kevin Farrish is incredibly proud of the legacy his parents established in the industry. “My parents believed in this industry, but they recognized its challenges and wanted to make it better for all collision repairers. They helped establish the association to combat some of those problems and help shops take charge of their businesses.”

In addition to being a founding member of WMABA, Lee Farrish was also the first publisher of the association’s official publication, a regional newsletter entitled “The Hammer & Dolly,” which would evolve into the national magazine you’re currently reading! Every time Kevin picks up a copy of Hammer & Dolly, he’s reminded of everything his father accomplished. “This is something that is read by shops across the country, and it’s amazing to realize that a group of shop owners started this.”

Lee’s legacy also persists in the business he created. He got his start in 1956 when he purchased a small three-bay shop, building his business until he could afford to relocate to his current facility on Roanoke Street. But that facility couldn’t contain his dreams. “Dad always wanted to own car dealerships, and he worked hard to accomplish that goal,” Kevin shares. “It’s really uncommon for a dealership group to evolve from a body shop – it typically works the other way around – but in 1965, he became a Jeep dealer, later adding Oldsmobile and Subaru dealerships.”

After Lee tragically passed away in 1980, his family was determined to continue that legacy, adding Chrysler, Dodge and Ram vehicles to their repertoire. Yet, as the dealership aspect of the business grew, Kevin never forgot where it all started: with his father and his body shop. “Our body shop is a vital component of our organization and offers great value to our dealerships as well as local consumers.

“We have established a positive reputation in our market, partially because we’ve been part of it for so long,” he notes, but the shop’s 4.8 Google review rating also comes from the fact that, despite its long history, it never loses its focus on the future.

As advancing technology demanded changes to the way collision repairers operate, Farrish of Fairfax Auto Body kept pace, investing in OEM certifications to best serve all of their dealerships, as well as certifications for Honda/Acura, Hyundai, Kia, General Motors (GM), Mazda and Nissan/Infiniti. The facility is also an OEC Collision Performance Network shop and is recognized as I-CAR Gold Class. Their dedication to training and investing in the future has also resulted in a positive work culture that retains employees; most of the shop’s 16 employees have enjoyed a long, ongoing tenure with the company.

That commitment to excellence has also inspired loyalty from customers who return to Farrish of Fairfax Auto Body whenever the need arises. Kevin largely credits shop manager Mike Graziano for ensuring the shop continues to be a shop of choice in its market, yet Graziano insists the most unique and beneficial thing for the business originates with its founder. “Normally, a dealership decides they need a body shop, so they open a collision repair facility, but they don’t really understand this side of the business. In our case, we really understand how to repair a damaged vehicle. We know what we’re doing and why we need to do it.”

 Of course, the “how” of vehicle repair has changed drastically over the past half century, and that means repairers have to change, too. “Repairs that used to be normal cannot happen now, and ongoing training was rarely necessary,” Graziano reflects, noting that the biggest challenge Farrish of Fairfax Auto Body faces – like many shops – is the “complexity of repairs and keeping up with the requirements and training to make sure that vehicles are fixed properly and safely. Instead of simply repairing a bumper, we have to worry about all the ADAS under the bumper which needs to be considered in every job we do.”

Those challenges are exacerbated by the fact that, while so much has changed, so much has remained the same. Fortunately, that’s exactly why WMABA exists. “The association acts as a voice of reason with legislators and does its best to help body shops, adding fairness to the system and acting in ways to support the industry’s interests,” he believes. “Organizations like WMABA give us a fair chance to make change and leave a legacy that others will be talking about 50 years in the future.”

Want more? Check out the October 2025 issue of Hammer & Dolly!