| Author | Message | ||
| Foc355B (Foc355b)
New member Username: Foc355b Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2002 |
Congratulations on the sale. Spend a lot of time with the 288 GTO. | ||
| Mark PDX (Markpdx)
New member Username: Markpdx Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2003 |
When I was there for the tour last time they said Marconi paid ~650k for both of his F-50s. My face must have betrayed me because the tour guide (Angelina I believe) said that is the correct number though she didn't know any specifics on how he got such a smokin deal. Maybe Sultan of B??? | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 933 Registered: 12-2002 |
Cars depreciate. He might have payed that must several years ago, especially if his cars are concours condition. | ||
| G.Peters (Wfo_racer)
Junior Member Username: Wfo_racer Post Number: 104 Registered: 5-2002 |
Marconi has so many cars ,bikes and toys do you really think he can remember every detail of all his possesions. In my case I have to call a buddy of mine who is a absolute gun nut to remind me of what gun's I have and don't have when I attend a gun show.It's not that big of a deal . Marconi is a cool guy with a killer car collection ,how important is it to remember what he paid for what. | ||
| Patrick Denonville (Arizonaguy)
Junior Member Username: Arizonaguy Post Number: 57 Registered: 4-2003 |
http://www.fast-autos.net/features/marconi/index.html The sad thing is that •••• Marconi doesn't really know much about his cars...he told my friend Drew that his F50's were a million each,etc... http://www.fast-autos.net/features/claremont/index.html | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 546 Registered: 9-2002 |
Using a car collection for some tax benefits is fairly easy, but you obviously won't get anywhere near full write-offs. I had the same thought about taxes, Mark. --Dan | ||
| Tom RM (Tgitom)
Junior Member Username: Tgitom Post Number: 106 Registered: 8-2002 |
Armen, thanks for the reply and to get this thread back on topic.... great cars to keep and if you have any more pics, please show them.... thanks....tom | ||
| G.Peters (Wfo_racer)
Junior Member Username: Wfo_racer Post Number: 102 Registered: 5-2002 |
He was a supplier to HerbaLife among others. Marconi just happens to like sports cars and helping kids with his foundations. He also was and sometimes still competes in races. The collection is open by appointment only. WFO | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 364 Registered: 11-2002 |
Good question Faisal. I would be very curious to hear if there are any museum type tax shelters. What if you purchase a car and restore it and then put it up in a museum. Put a CA historic vehicle plate on it (if the vehicle qualifies). Would the restoration costs be tax deductible in any way? I am currently looking at the purchase and ensuing restoration of a 60s italian car. This would be a Godsend because the costs are starting to look like quite a lot. Cheers | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 94 Registered: 3-2003 |
I don't know that it's quite such a cynical setup. You pay sales tax on your purchase no matter what. And you don't pay registration if you don't register the cars and just keep them for racing/driving around on dealer plates. Any dealer or collector employs those tricks. You don't need to set up a museum to do that. He pays for the building, maintenance, etc. out of his pocket, too. All the conference facility rental fees, etc., are donated to the kids' charities. Are there any "museum tax shelters" ? | ||
| Mark PDX (Markpdx)
New member Username: Markpdx Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2003 |
If I remember correctly D1ck Marconi started Herbalife and then sold it. What he did with the Museum probably benefits all involved. Obviously it benefits childrens charities but I would suspect that is quite a nice tax shelter for someone who who buys lots of exotics. Darn California taxes! | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Junior Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 207 Registered: 2-2003 |
I just went on the Marconi Museum Website.....AMAZING....How rich is this genlemen. I had know idea this place even existed...it's a shame.....I spent 9 months in L.A. and never even knew...................  | ||
| Armen Gugasian (Ag512bbi)
New member Username: Ag512bbi Post Number: 32 Registered: 6-2002 |
Tom, I kept the GTO Have a 512BBI and looking at a some others. | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4435 Registered: 8-2002 |
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| Lucas Taratus (Karmavore)
Junior Member Username: Karmavore Post Number: 186 Registered: 12-2002 |
BTW... where can I get cool pics like the "Buckle Up" one? Oh, right, Google... never mind...  Luke. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 92 Registered: 3-2003 |
http://www.marconimuseum.org/ | ||
| Lucas Taratus (Karmavore)
Junior Member Username: Karmavore Post Number: 185 Registered: 12-2002 |
The website would be appreciated, honest. I could not locate it. Luke. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 91 Registered: 3-2003 |
OK, so what useful information do you want? I can't really think of anything else besides fees, opening hours, and directions. All of these (along with the phone numbers to contact the museum directly) can be found through their website or via Google. No offense intended, honest. What else do you want to know? Faisal. | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4434 Registered: 8-2002 |
 | ||
| Lucas Taratus (Karmavore)
Junior Member Username: Karmavore Post Number: 184 Registered: 12-2002 |
I looked, Faisal, but didn't find anything useful. Speaking of which, don't you have anything more useful to do than snap at me for asking a question? Luke. | ||
| Tom RM (Tgitom)
Junior Member Username: Tgitom Post Number: 105 Registered: 8-2002 |
Armen, any personal ferrari's in your collection that we would love to see or hear about? | ||
| Tom RM (Tgitom)
Junior Member Username: Tgitom Post Number: 103 Registered: 8-2002 |
Armen, any personal ferrari's in your collection that we would love to see or hear about? | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4429 Registered: 8-2002 |
Luke, the Marconi is about 10-15 miles from the airport which is about 20-30 minutes depending upon traffic. Matt | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 90 Registered: 3-2003 |
You know it's near the airport. You know the name of the place. You know about Google. What other info do you want? | ||
| Lucas Taratus (Karmavore)
Junior Member Username: Karmavore Post Number: 183 Registered: 12-2002 |
I'll be at John Wane for a layover on the way to Vegas in a couple of weeks. Any info on the museum would be appreciated* Luke. *by me, not by my girlfriend who may have to endure it if I can bump our connecting flight back a couple of hours. | ||
| Armen Gugasian (Ag512bbi)
New member Username: Ag512bbi Post Number: 31 Registered: 6-2002 |
Eric, No N.A.S. and N.I. were never related. Newport Imports was an authorized dealer. We were not. Alot of the guy from N.I. now work at O.C. Ferrari. I always keep in touch with them. GOOD guys! | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 542 Registered: 9-2002 |
Is he related to the company? --Dan | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 787 Registered: 11-2001 |
Armen, it's a pleasure to have you here participating on this forum. Although I'd never had the opportunity to visit your dealership, I'd always considered it to be first class. You've done an incredible job building that establishment, and I truly admire your accomplishments! Thanks also for the pics...and please keep posting them! There's just nothing like the site of THREE F-40's lined up. The only connection that I've come close to having with a California F-Car dealership has been on two accounts. The first would be Newport Imports where my 308 was originally sold and serviced. In fact, was watching an old video from the mid 80's called "Supercar Showdown" featuring the Lambo C, the Porsche Turbo, and an early model Ferrari TR. The featured Ferrari dealership in the video was Newport Imports. In one of the scenes the mechanic is describing the service on the TR, and in the background is a Grigio / Tan '85 308 QV identical to mine....kind of makes me wonder if it really was . The other experience was when I met up with some old family friends from the 70's. Their parents came to visit, and the father noticed my collection of exotic models here at the office. He mentioned that his daughter Gwen Perez (whom I've known since age 8) was now in Hollywood, and had just landed a guest appearance in the Disney movie "The Princess Diaries" and plays the part of "Helga" (I think) who is one of the beauticians who assists Paolo (Larry Miller) in the "makeover" of the young Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) into the Princess of Genovia. At any rate, my friend Gwen was dating the son of a Ferrari dealership there in the Beverly Hills area. He said that when they visited her recently, he had the opportunity to sit in several of the F-cars. Just out of curiosity, was Newport Imports and Newport AutoSport ever related in any way? Apparently, N.I. is long gone, as I've never been succesfull in contacting them. Congratulations on the sale, and it's great to have you here! | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 89 Registered: 3-2003 |
Some pics from my trip to the musuem last summer. If you're ever in LA, it's a great way to kill a few hours. http://tvrfreak.com/Albums/Trips/2002%2007%2018%20Los%20Angeles%20Rich%20Marcnoi%20Museum/page_01.htm | ||
| G.Peters (Wfo_racer)
Junior Member Username: Wfo_racer Post Number: 101 Registered: 5-2002 |
I live about a mile from the Newport Autosport , it's great to drive by and see the collection sitting outside. We used to watch the F1 races from the Marconi facility. He installed a high end surround sound and big screen. Meals were catered in. This was during the Mercedes Ferrari battles. Ferrari guys on one side Benz guys on the other. My son is named after Senna and he had one of Ayrton's F1 cars on display which we took pictures of him in it. When Marconi got his F50's he had one covered because of a mishap. We were admiring one, we took it out and had some fun.Brought it back and parked it next to a covered car (before I knew he had another) took off the cover and showed us the second one . I looked at him with surprise and his response was " Sh_t anybody can have one of these". Very interesting guy. WFO | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 917 Registered: 12-2002 |
Mark Ive never heard of the Marconi collection. Can you please e-mail me more information? It sounds amazing! [email protected] | ||
| Mark PDX (Markpdx)
New member Username: Markpdx Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jordan if you live in OC I would highly recomend visiting the Marconi collection in Tustin, he has two F 50s and a load of other great cars. Some awesome cars to look at, they aren't for sale like Armen's were but then again most of us don't have $ for an F-50 anyway. | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 916 Registered: 12-2002 |
Great photos Armen. I go into your dealership almost every weekend...Great place! Its too bad you sold it but at least you own the property. I used to see you running around there every once in a while too...I just wish I had been there to see the 288 and F50. The only time Ive seen an F50 in person was when Paul Frame took delivery of his at the Texas Speedway. Gorgeous car! | ||
| Mark PDX (Markpdx)
New member Username: Markpdx Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thanks for the pics, I first heard about you through the NSX Files and the wild (in a good/entertaining way) tale Doug Hayashi had to tell about Wayne buying from you. I stopped in a few times to look at the cars. I noticed a little while back that the inventory mix had changed slightly and was wondering if the business model had changed. Congratulations on the sale and thanks for the update. | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 536 Registered: 9-2002 |
COngratulations on the sale. --Dan | ||
| Armen Gugasian (Ag512bbi)
New member Username: Ag512bbi Post Number: 29 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have recently sold Newport Autosport. The gentleman who purchased it is as professional if not more than I was. I am still the property owner and can't (don't want to) seem to get away from there! They kept the same quality but also they have more of a variety. (and there prices are cheaper too... HaHaHa). I would like to thank EVERYBODY who gave me an opportunity to help them with there Ferrari needs. I find I am more passionate about Ferraris now like I use to be before opening the dealership. Here are a few photos that I hope you enjoy.    |