R.I.P. Luigi Della Grotta

To think, it will now be 5 years that Luigi has passed on. It seems like yesterday.

 

Going through my archives, I came across an old article (in Italian) from when Gilles Villenueve`s car was at Luigi`s back in 91....or 92.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Luckily we have Ralph.

 

Wow, this has been a fantastic read.

 

Luigi was a character and a persona.
Back then, his MO was part of his style and was part of the Ferrari mystique.
Today, that style of sales and services, would not pass.

 

At least not in the current Ferrari corporate world...

 

Met him twice. First time when I completed high school. Chatted with the Italian mechanics. This was on St.Catherine street. Second time was with a friend who was looking after someone's 308 GTB. This was at his new location. He was an older gentleman around 70 and talked up a storm.
Amazing character.

 

No one left Luigi's place without a story.

 

A "Luigi" car spotted at our local dealership.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhhcfxDnRtX/?taken-by=ferrarimaseratiquebec

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Just listed at FoQ for $199,000

 

Granted that the color combo is rare, that the mileage is uber-low, that it is a GTB and a "Luigi" car.
But at 200K....it's a tad ambitious. I just checked their site....SOLD!

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-ferrari-testarossa-7/

The infamous Silver/burgundy Testarossa was on BAT.
110K USD bid, reserve not met.
Back on the shelf it goes.

 

Crossed paths with a gentleman on IG who owns an ex-Luigi car.
Luigi did say that most of the cars that he sold over the years, all wound up either in the US, Toronto or Europe.
In short...where all the money is. Few cars stayed in the province of Quebec.

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Bump.

A friend recently gave me a local magazine from 1983, with the following ad.
I believe that this car is still in Montreal, and often is kept at a popular local Ferrari independent shop.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I love the boxer lines.....

 

This may have been the car I saw when I first visited his place. It seemed like everytime I visited, there was a silver Boxer in the showroom...

 

Spotted this on a lovely 348TS during an FCA fun run this summer.
I couldn't resist snapping a photo.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Another relic from the Luigi days spotted at a local car show "Epicure Classics"

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

While visiting an old friend, I came across a Luigi bill of sale from 1988.
You gotta love the pedestrian simplicity of it all.
FYI, the name and signature of the purchaser have been erased.

Image Unavailable, Please Login .

 

Just read the whole thread.what a history. Does any one knows the whereabouts of the testarosa.

 

It was on BAT back on 2018.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-ferrari-testarossa-7/

 

Thanks Bernie. But does anyone knows the current whereabouts.

 

Good question. I think that shortly after the BAT auction, the car was for sale by an exotic car dealer in the Los Angeles area.
Since then, who knows?

 

Pretty sad we left that car get out of Canada.Has a such history.