I can still remember: 7819 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, Ca. I think I was his first Ferrari customer; he was a very good "seat of the pants" Alfa mechanic when I met him, and we learned about F-cars together. These pix are from 1960, I think Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
For you S/N chasers, my 250GT Cab 3093GT, my ATS, Marshal Lieb's 250MM 0316M, Lyle Tanner's 250GT Speciale 0407GT, maybe Marty Siedentop's 212, and I forget who had the GTO.
most likely it is 3765LM???? I just saw some pics of it when yellow in LA in late sixties when the 3 holes had been slotted into a "toaster slot" like the SP chiti 248/268 to 196SP dino retrofit of the cars for post chiti era.....???? Based solely on the tint of the yellow...
Twlight Zone... Thank you for the great photos when they were just "different cars"...no ropes or barriers, nice! Regards, Alberto
Niles, those are excellent photos! I was born 5 years after these were taken and my photos before I was 7 were b/w. Way ahead of your time in California. Thanks, David
Many moons ago I visited that shop...though not quite as many ago as when you photographed it, Ed. I had a 330 GTC and was there with a friend from Italy. We were on a scavenger hunt for parts. I don't recall the particulars, but I was impressed with the variety of Italian machines scattered about. That would have been in the mid-eighties; I don't remember if Salvatore and Anna were still the proprietors. On a side note, here's a bit of trivia. As can be seen in Ed's second picture, it was across the street from Western Bagel. A quote from their site: "In 1958, after a decade of serving customers on Pico Ave., Western Bagel® relocated to its current location at 7814 Sepulveda Blvd in Van Nuys, CA." For those interested in L.A. and Valley history, this'll bring a smile: http://www.westernbagel.com/our_story.php OK, a bit off topic, but some will enjoy the memory. Thank you, Ed Niles. Cheers, Coop
Make that +1. If ...I can trace back and relive even 1/100th of your footsteps, Ed, I think I can say I had a great time. Thanx, Ed. w/ smiles Jimmy
A typo: pix are from 1966. And for sure that's Lyle's 0407GT; it's like a standard 250GT Europa but with slightly different rear and a low nose. Some claim it is the first "low-nose" GT. For many years I tried to buy it from Bob Cremer, who held it as a restoration project for himself and his son. But one day Bob showed up at a Tillack open-house and Steve educated him on the cost of resto, with the result that after all those years of chasing it, Steve got it for one of his customers. Another "oh well" tale.
I was at first a Ferrari nut kid with a good camera and spent years it seemed, stopping by there and later became a customer. Sal would call me when he had some very special car there at times, including when Harrah's transporter showed up with a bunch !!!! of P Cars. Much more to follow when I get a chance including many Sal and Angelo stories that may bring a smile to Ed Niles and others faces. I tried with Sal's help to make some money by photographing cars for the customers and selling them prints etc. and a few of my shots hung there for years. The building is still there and many of the memories will live forever.
Your stories and details are amazing - as always! Thanks for hanging on and sharing those memories! Best wishes, Kare
No, this was not Mario Tosi's car, which had a number of differences that distinguished it from the car in the photo here. I, too, spent many hours at this shop though I was far from being a 'founding member' as was Ed. After Sal retired, the shop was taken over by Claudio Zampolli. I think that would have been by 1976.
Walter, there are additional photos (thanks to Ed) and discussion about Sal's shop here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=138593232&#post138593232
