The POs

You are VERY VERY lucky! I only know my car's history into the 90s. Nothing more.

Jedi

 

Actually I do.....

Each of mine has it's own story to tell with the names a long the way......one of them is even now an Fchatter!

I was lucky to be only the third owner of one of mine, so it was easier...

One of them is missing the Original Sales info, I'll run it down, one day...

 

I have the name (and address) of the last two owners of my Mondial. The last owner (before me) owned a law firm and had an employee sell the car for him -- the employee knew nothing about the car. I never spoke to the owner. (The car was actually in the company's name.)

The previous owner before that lived (lives?) in Illinois and, evidently, based upon some records that came with the car, first registered the vehicle in 1985. (My car is an 1984 model.) I've "Googled" the Illinois owner's name, but didn't get any relevant results. I would love to talk to him about the car.

 

I have my 1989 328's original owners name and the 2nd owner, who owned it from the time it was a little over a year old until I bought it from him last August. The original 1989 selling price was $84,780 and it was sold by Van Ness Auto Plaza in San Francisco. The first owner put 1400 miles on the car; the second owner drove it to Las Vegas and put on 23,000 miles and I've put on 4k+ since buying it last Aug. I have all the maint records for the car from the delivery date forward. I talked a lot to the previous owner but have not tried to contact the original owner. I figure that he probably wouldn't remember much since he didn't have it that long anyway and the PO is the real authority on the car.

It appears to me that Van Ness went out of business or at least was involved in some sort of legal action in 89. Possible they went out of business or were involved in the action around the time the car was sold.

 

I got a nice bundle of records with my car and was able to identify all 3 previous owners of my 1980 GTBi. Of couse I had conversations with #3 because that's who I got it from. While trying to fill in a few blanks in the service history I contacted the 1st and 2nd owners after a little ground work with getting phone numbers. They were both very interested in knowing where the car was now and took plenty of time talking to a "Ferrari Rookie" about the car. Only four owners in 29 years? Guess I was lucky huh?

 

Since I am the second owner, it was easy. The first owner bought the 85' 308 new and had it for 17 years before selling it to me.

 

I tracked my original owner down only to find out that he is in jail for tax evasion and fraud. I figured I would not call.

 

My 85 came with the original service manual. In that it lists the original dealership that the prep work (Ramsey's old place in Monterey). Then the car went to a Ferrari dealership in Arlington, VA who made the first retail sale to a person listed in the service manual from Washington, DC. I did talk to the owner of that dealership (now they are only Mercedes) who gave me insight into how the car would have gone from a dealer in CA to him in VA. He did not remember the transaction or the buyer.

I tried finding anything on that person but was not successful. Have service records giving the name of the second owner, a Chrevrolet dealer in Katonah, New York. I left a message for him but he never called back.

The person I bought the car from acquired it in 1989. He I talked to and gave me some information on the person he bought the car from.

Jeff

 

I only have the name of the gentleman I bought my car from even though I'm the fourth owner. No books and very few service records.

 

I have the name of the original owner, who I tried to locate with no success. I tried to get records from the F dealer he bought it from (Chicago area), they were not only uncooperative, but unfriendly about it. I have the name of the owner just before me who I have not tried to contact. He bought it from a dealer in Missouri. Called them up and they had no records on the car. I therefore assumed nothing had been done to the car (it had its original tires for example), so after I bought it, I had it shipped directly to the mechanic to have a full service and fluids change done to set a new baseline. Flawlessly documented and maintained since then, so when I croak someone's going to get a folder full of service records, although they won't be able to talk to me.

Alberto

 

I'm also one of the lucky ones. Two binders came with my car that included the complete history right back to its purchase in 1979. I'm the sixth owner.

 

1981 GTSi. I am the fourth owner. I have the names of the previous 3. I have contacted the 2nd owner. He was interested to hear about the car.
Car was sold at WWoC and lived in Poughkeepsie, NY for 10 yrs. Then in PA, outside Phily, for another 10. Then Trenton, NJ for 7. Now on Long Island for 8 weeks.
I have limited records including the original odometer statement and warranty book.

Jim

 

This thread made me go back and look through all my paperwork and after almost 3 years of thinking I am the 4th owner of my car it turns out I am actually the 6th! I've looked through the records dozens of times and just noticed it.

1st owner lived in Colorado and bought the car in August 1988 from Cavallino Classics in Scottsdale.
2nd owner lived in Colorado and bought the car in October 1992.
3rd owner lived in Missouri and bought the car from Motorcars Int'l in August 1993 - don't know the owner's name
4th owner lived in Pennsylvania and bought the car in September 1999
5th owner lived in Illinois and bought the car in March 2003
I bought the car in September 2006

Never tried to contact any of the previous owners. Have no plans to try.

 

my PO designed this nifty chair and has a couple pieces in the San Francisco museum of modern art. I spoke with him a couple times and he is an interesting fellow. His first successful free-hand chair design proceeds were used to purchase this Ferrari. I communicate with the one and only mechanic who ever touched this car prior to me on a very regular basis and he is certainly a wealth of knowledge and of course knows every minor detail about this car.
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My car luckily had a decent amount of records when I bough it. Inside the papers I found the previous 2 owners (both in California) and actually called the person who had it before me. (I bought my car from a dealer). Well, he and his wife were very happy to hear from me and were glad to hear that the car was in good hands. His wife also told me that her husband really loved the car and cared for it, but had to sell it for various reasons. I thought that was cool. Now, the car is with me in NJ.

 

I know the POs of mine. I've had email correspondence with the two long-term owners, and a phone call with one of them. One of them is on FChat, so it was easy. The original owner of my 328 sold it with 1200 miles back in 1988 -- he was a collector and I'm not sure the car had much significance for him.

For the most part, it's all irrelevant now. I've had it for the last two big services.

 

I couldn't find any data on the first owner of my mondial 3.2, however, I did find out who the second owner was based upon some paperwork that came with the car (purchased the car from the second owner via a consignment place). I had trouble locating the second owner...after some more research I found out why: he was in jail on a very long sentence for securities fraud. Technically, the department of justice was the third owner of the car by way of a full value lien placed upon it (paid off when I bought it) upon convicting the guy. I read the court filings - he had run a fraudulent investment scheme (ponzi) similar to Bernie Madoff but for a mere $50,000,000 instead of billions. I also found out that his wife was convicted of the same securities fraud but was allowed to remain out on parole in order to take care of their two sons. She continued to be on all kinds of Boards of charities and various philanthropies - little did they know they had a convicted felon for massive fraud as a Board member. What a pathetic pair. I think they did all this charitable/high profile stuff to try to create the appearance of legitimacy (while running an enormous fraudulent scam) just like Bernie did. I feel sorry for the people that lost their retirement savings....and for the two boys who have to grow up with sheit bag parents.

So, you might find that the PO isn't too interested in your digging into the past of your car, or their backgrounds.....

 

The three previous owners of my car kept and passed on all service records and incidentals belonging to my car including the OEM thermoreactor muffler! My car is well-known at Algar being the first 308 GTB fiberglass they sold and serviced for the first two owners from 1976 to 1997. The third owner was the independent dealership owner where I purchased my car in 2002. He was equally fastidious about regular servicing.

I've never spoken with the first two owners, but was in touch with Algar several times early on regarding my car. I've spoken on occasion with its most previous owner who reluctantly sold me his car in order to buy a 246 Dino. He bought a beautiful car at the right time. We were both equally pleased with our purchases.

Barry

 

Hans Hugenholtz (Original Owner) --> http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Hans-Hugenholtz-NL.html and http://www.autoblog.com/tag/hans+hugenholtz/

I have been in contact with Hans, and he tells me my 308 looks almost the same as the day he first bought it. His father designed most of the World's Formula One Race Circuits of the day, and a few turns at various tracks are named after him. My car was also owned by Gold's Gym owner (JL), and the tags were GOLDS.

Here are a couple of websites where you can begin your own search...

http://www.r-design.net/308/

http://www.308qvregister.com/WebMainPages/Home%20page%202.htm
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My 82 Mondial 8 came without any docs books or tools ;-(
I have gotten the books and jack kit and carry Craftsman bag of tools.
From auto check and the multiple assignments on the old title when I got it it looks like po divorced and signed over to wife (purchase on title was 90 and he signed off in 99 then she signed in 07) and then it sat for a while (last emissions record was 01) before bouncing between 3-4 dealers before I got it from a dealer off ebay.
When I looked at and test drove it had the cosmetics great cosmetics including a good not great repaint, but the drive it stuff needed working out like wobbly mirror etc.
First owner(s) put 19500 miles on it between 82 and 90. 2nd owner got it up to 31000 by 07. And I have it at 40 000 now since sept 07--Showed it to wife on ebay and asked if i should go look at it and she said to go for it if I would drive it lol.