Dealer PLEASURE CARS in Ft. Lauderdale in 1959 | FerrariChat

Dealer PLEASURE CARS in Ft. Lauderdale in 1959

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by wbaeumer, Jan 16, 2019.

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  1. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
    Consultant

    Mar 4, 2005
    8,826
    Has anybody more infos about PLEASURE CARS at Harbor Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, FL? They had beside a 250PF coupe a 2- and 3-liter TR on offer in February 1960.
    Who was the owner?
    Photos of this dealer?

    Ideas?
     
  2. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
    Robert (Bob) Publicker, born 23 April 1922, who raced a variety of front-engined Ferraris in the 1950s and was based in Fort Lauderdale/FL. Stirling Moss spent some of his time recuperating post-Goodwood at Publicker's house in Fort Lauderdale. Publicker passed away in 2000.

    Marcel Massini
     
    375+ likes this.
  3. John Vardanian

    John Vardanian F1 Rookie

    Jul 1, 2004
    3,043
    San Francisco Area
    Full Name:
    John Vardanian
    Is this affiliated with Don Fong? If so, my PF was supposedly on the showroom floor during that timeframe.

    john
     
  4. 328PWC

    328PWC Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 5, 2011
    679
    Naples, FL
    Full Name:
    Paul Cissell
    I remember visiting this dealership at the age of six with my father. Wasn’t the dealership Bob Cressman’s which later became Cressman/Baumgarten?
     
  5. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
    No, Don Fong was in Atlanta/GA, not in FL.

    Marcel Massini
     
  6. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
    Cressman later became Cressman Baumgarten and then Shelton and later Ferrari Fort Lauderdale.

    Marcel Massini
     
  7. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,043
    Moot Pointe
    I met Moss at Publicker's house. I was too young to have a driving license so a friend drove me there so that Stirling could autograph my copy of his autobiography, A Turn at the Wheel, which I still have.

    Almost unbelievably in today's world, there was an article in the local newspaper that Moss was at Publicker's home, and I found the address in the phone directory!
     
    Nembo1777 and 375+ like this.
  8. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,043
    Moot Pointe
    Phil Baumgarten had a rather eclectic collection including a 330GTS, Maserati Bora, I think he had one of the Daytonas with the stainless steel Targa bar, but his big interest was in antique and vintage fire trucks.
     
  9. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
    Consultant

    Mar 4, 2005
    8,826
    Marcel,
    many thank for your quick answer.
    Any photo of the dealership available?
     
  10. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,043
    Moot Pointe
    Walter,

    I will be staying with a former employee of Pleasure Cars next weekend. I'll ask if he has any pictures. Is there anything else you'd like to know?

    I lived in Ft. Lauderdale through all the various ownerships but only became aware of the dealership after Bob Cressman took control.

    Jack.
     
  11. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
    Consultant

    Mar 4, 2005
    8,826
    PM sent
     
  12. 328PWC

    328PWC Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 5, 2011
    679
    Naples, FL
    Full Name:
    Paul Cissell
    Regards
     
  13. CLIFFORD BLAIR

    Nov 9, 2019
    1
    Full Name:
    CLIFFORD BLAIR COHN
    I am Robert Publicker's nephew. I had never heard the story about Sterling Moss recuperating at his house. if there are any more stories about Robert...I would love to hear them. i will be happy to give you my personal email.
     
  14. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,043
    Moot Pointe
    I have sent you a private message.
     

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