[Brian]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kennedy

What is the story on Harrah getting the Western US? Did he get it directly from Enzo, Otto or was it an appointment from Luigi? How did Zipper come to give it up?

Jeff

More good questions for Tom.

I think Zipper never was an official distributor but who knows. Luigi probably did much on a handshake in those days.

I know in my early days in the business I always heard stories how warranty work was easier in the pre FNA days. A car was broken, a phone call was made to Reno, parts and a check for labor showed up a day or two later. We also had a mechainc we flew to Reno to drive the new cars down. Cheaper than trucking a single car.

[Jeff Kennedy]

Have gotten some on Zipper.

He was the official Western distributor. I take that to be west of the Mississippi but that may not be completely accurate. His cars first came into Chinetti before being sent onward though.

Otto got his distributorship and the Ferrari dealership as part of the post von Neumann divorce. That was the original "West" distributor.

Chic Vandagriff/Hollywood Sport Cars got his dealership originally from Otto then got re-upped as the first appointment made by Modern Classic Motors after they took over as distributor in 1964.

Through the 1950s there were some very significant Ferrari folks spending good money in California. Guess they were going through von Neumann to order but then again, maybe not. Back in those days Enzo needed all the money he could get from the wealthy Americans. Doheny, Paravanno, Arciero all come to mind as the ones getting front line comp cars. Doheny was even the first owner of Superfast I.

Jeff

Originally Posted by Brian

More good questions for Tom.

I think Zipper never was an official distributor but who knows. Luigi probably did much on a handshake in those days.

I know in my early days in the business I always heard stories how warranty work was easier in the pre FNA days. A car was broken, a phone call was made to Reno, parts and a check for labor showed up a day or two later. We also had a mechainc we flew to Reno to drive the new cars down. Cheaper than trucking a single car.

[Jeff Kennedy]

Just had an interesting conversation with Dick Merritt as part of my research for the FCA Annual Meet. Something that came out of the call was that Ferrari SpA had retained Texas, or at least a portion of Texas, as theirs for sales. This means that neither Chinetti or Modern Classic Motors (Bill Harrah) had it. The reason was so that Ferrari could make direct sales to special clients of their chosing. Don't know if this arrangement predates Harrah going back to Otto Zipper or not.

1. Anyone else that knows about this?

2. Anyone know what Ferrari dealer(s) there would have been in Texas in through the 1960s? Dick specifically mentioned Houston which would coincide with that being the Port of Entry.

Jeff

[tazandjan]

Jeff- Steve Forristall was a Ferrar dealer in Houston, but do not think he became a distributor until the 70s. It was Forristall's GT Cars back then. I sold my Euro 308 GTS to him in 1983. Might be worth tracking him down and seeing what he remembers about the early days. He was a nice guy when I met him after returning from the UK.

Risi might also be able to shed some light on the early days in Houston. He founded Ferrari of Houston in 1980 or so and there must have been some interesting stories about he and Forristall around that time.

[Jeff Kennedy]

Would Forristall have been a dealer back in the mid to late 60s?

Jeff

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Jeff- Steve Forristall was a Ferrar dealer in Houston, but do not think he became a distributor until the 70s. It was Forristall's GT Cars back then. I sold my Euro 308 GTS to him in 1983. Might be worth tracking him down and seeing what he remembers about the early days. He was a nice guy when I met him after returning from the UK.

Risi might also be able to shed some light on the early days in Houston. He founded Ferrari of Houston in 1980 or so and there must have been some interesting stories about he and Forristall around that time.

[tazandjan]

Jeff- I do not think so. More like the 70s, but he might know who preceded him.