How Many Ferrari Dealers In USA In 1977? | FerrariChat

How Many Ferrari Dealers In USA In 1977?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Jerome M., Nov 20, 2020.

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  1. Jerome M.

    Jerome M. Rookie

    Sep 30, 2019
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    Jerome Middione
    I do not have a 1977 Dealer's Directory. Factory Print #140/77. Can someone count up how many dealers are listed in 1977? I own a 1977 308 GTB and have always wondered.

    Thanks!
    Jerry
     
  2. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    43.

    Marcel Massini
     
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  3. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Interesting. I didn't think there were that many in the USA.
     
  4. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Rookie
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    Vern
    That must be a world number(43) there were only around 15 in the US at that time.
     
  5. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Rookie
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    There is a set of manuals(late 70s 308)for sale in the classified section with the dealer book in the set, maybe you could PM him and ask the seller to look up the US dealers.
     
  6. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Here:
    Marcel Massini

    1. Chinetti-Garthwaite, Paoli, PA

    2. Algar Enterprises, Paoli, PA

    3. Luigi Chinetti Motors, Greenwich, CT

    4. Cressman Baumgarten Foreign Cars, Fort Lauderdale, FL

    5. De Maria, Inc., Miami, FL

    6. FAF Motorcars, Inc., Tucker, GA

    7. Knauz International Autos, Inc., Lake Forest, IL

    8. Continental Motors, La Grange, IL

    9. Grand Prix Motors Inc., Harrods Creek, KY

    10. Autohaus, Inc., Cohasset, MA

    11. Atalntic Imported Cars Ltd., Cambridge, MA

    12. The Sports Car Exchange, Dearborn, MI

    13. International Motorcars Corp., Jackson, MI

    14. Luigi Chinetti Motors Inc., New York, NY

    15. Wide World of Cars, Inc., New York, NY

    16. Wide World of Cars, Inc., Nanuet, NY

    17. Grand Prix SSR Co., East Setauket, NY

    18. Madison Smith Naturally Inc., Nashville, TN

    19. Rudi’s Automotive Corp., Houston, TX

    20. The Automaster, South Burlington, VT

    21. Joe Heishman, Inc., Arlington, VA

    22. Modern Classic Motors, Reno, NV

    23. Grand Touring Cars, Inc., Phoenix, AZ

    24. Griswold Company, Berkeley, CA

    25. Trans Wold Motors Ltd., Goleta, CA

    26. Hollywood Sport Cars, Hollywood, CA

    27. Mesa Porsche-Audi Inc., La Mesa, C

    28. Ferrari of Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA

    29. Ramsey Motor Company, Monterey, CA

    30. Newport Sport Cars, Newport Beach, CA

    31. Ramsey Motors of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

    32. Ogner Porsche Audi, Woodland Hills, CA

    33. Wes Lasher Porsche Audi, Sacramento, CA

    34. Ferrari of San Diego, San Diego, CA

    35. Diagnosis & Service, Francisco Mir, Santa Monica, CA

    36. RAB Motors, San Rafael, CA

    37. S & A Italia Sport Cars, Van Nuys, CA

    38. Ferrari Denver, Denver, CO

    39. Love Thomas Motors, Honolulu, HI

    40. Classic Motors, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK

    41. Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo, Portland, OR

    42. Grand Prix Motors, Seattle, WA

    43. Precision Motors, Dallas, TX
     
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  7. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 Marcel Massini, Nov 21, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2020
    No.
    See post #6.
    Or get a copy of the below.

    Marcel Massini

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  8. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    See post #6.

    Marcel Massini
     
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  9. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Thanks. I had no idea. When did Risi get the Houston dealership?
     
  10. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
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    Some of those places resembled Jose’s “Buy Here/Pay Here” lot.
     
  11. Jerome M.

    Jerome M. Rookie

    Sep 30, 2019
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    Jerome Middione
     
  12. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    1980.

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  13. Challenge64

    Challenge64 F1 Veteran
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    Wasn't number 38 - Ferrari Denver actually called Roger Mauro Imports?
     
  14. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Not in 1977.

    Marcel Massini
     
  15. Jerome M.

    Jerome M. Rookie

    Sep 30, 2019
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    Jerome Middione
    Marcel...the list of all 43 USA dealers in 1977 is fantastic ! Thank you !

    Let me try and explain what I am trying to do. I own a 1977 308 GTB. I purchased my car in October, 1980 (over 40 years ago) from The Sports Car Exchange in Dearborn, Michigan. The Sports Car Exchange was unwilling or unable to give me the history of my Ferrari for the 3 year period (June,1977 to October,1980). My car has a Blaupunkt (sp?) Berlin radio in it. One day I removed the center console to tidy up the radio wiring (dealer installed?) and I discovered 2 copper "coins". They have the inscription "TBTA" on them. It turns out that they are New York City Triborough Bridge tokens (75 cents each). "Triborough Bridge Transit Authority" = TBTA. That lead me to believe that the original dealer in 1977 was on Manhattan. Either Luigi Chinetti or Wide World of Cars. I will contact both dealers to see if they can help me.

    I was very surprised to see a 2nd Michigan dealer listed in 1977 (#13 on your list). International Motorcars Corp. in Jackson, Michigan. So....my next question is: can someone check a 1980 Dealer's Directory to see if International Motorcars Corp is listed in Michigan in 1980? Can someone check this for me? Could my car have gone through them as part of a "trade" in 1980? Thanks in advance.

    Jerry M.
    Michigan
     
  16. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 Marcel Massini, Nov 21, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2020
    Correction:
    I made a mistake in post #6 with the abbreviation of the state for dealer #13. I meant to write MS for Mississippi, rather than MI (Michigan).
    International Motorcars Corp. was in MS (Mississippi), not Michigan. Very sorry.
    1979/1980: The Sports Car Exchange in Dearborn/MI was no longer an authorized dealer but a service station only in 1980. See below.

    Marcel Massini

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  17. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Is the warranty book missing?
    I assume the serial number for your 308 GTB is somewhere between 20'757 (first 1977 car built) and 23'329 (first 1978 car built). The problem is that the factory system doesn't have information for cars below serial number 35'000. Otherwise you could have just asked your local Ferrari dealer to look it up in the system (warranty start date, dealer and name of first owner).

    Marcel Massini
     
  18. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
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    The Jackson, Mississippi dealership was co-owned by Charlie Kemp who became a well known IMSA GT racer.

    Marcel, the USPS abbreviations for some states are confusing due the similarity of some states’ names. I get tripped up on it frequently. When in doubt I revert to the traditional abbreviations....Miss, Mo, Md, Mich, Minn, Mont, etc....

    Jack.
     
  19. Jerome M.

    Jerome M. Rookie

    Sep 30, 2019
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    Jerome Middione
    Thank you again Marcel. My serial number is 21833. The Sports Car Exchange gave me a red 1977 owner's manual...that's all. They operated out of a small brick building and were "very shady" in my opinion. I knew that they had lost the franchise but I had always assumed that that occurred after I purchased my car from them. Apparently they lost the franchise before I purchased my car in October, 1980. Very interesting. I was very young at the time. :)

    Anyway...it appears that my car originated in Manhattan and somehow found its way to the Sports Car Exchange in Michigan in 1980. I will dig deeper. If you think of anything that can help my investigation...please let me know. Thanks so much. You're great.

    Best regards,
    Jerry M.
     
  20. Jerome M.

    Jerome M. Rookie

    Sep 30, 2019
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    Jerome Middione
     
  21. Jerome M.

    Jerome M. Rookie

    Sep 30, 2019
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    Full Name:
    Jerome Middione
    I'm convinced that my 1977 308 GTB came from either Chinetti (on 57th Street) or Wide World of Cars (on 72nd Street) both in Manhattan. What's puzzling to me is that there is only 1 mile separating these 2 dealers. Why would that be?? Was 1 dealer in the process of moving north while the other was moving in? Were both dealers still 1 mile apart in 1978? Or 1979? Or 1980? I'm trying to determine which dealer most likely sold my car new in 1977. I apologize if I'm beating this issue to death. Thanks so much for your help.

    Jerry
    S/N 21833
     
  22. ag512bbi

    ag512bbi F1 Veteran
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    I wonder what year #30 Turned into Newport Imports?
     
  23. the_dan

    the_dan Karting
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    Nov 6, 2016
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    The dealer name rang a bell. I purchased this replica tin sign for my study recently which seems to be based on a period ad from the dealer you mention.


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  24. Jerome M.

    Jerome M. Rookie

    Sep 30, 2019
    26
    Full Name:
    Jerome Middione
    Dan..WOW!! That's the dealer that I purchased my 308GTB from in October, 1980. I believe they went out of business a few years later. Where did you purchase it from? I'd love to have one as well. Please let me know. Thanks.

    Jerry
    Michigan
     
  25. Fangio5

    Fangio5 Rookie

    Mar 10, 2012
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    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Martin
    You can find them on Amazon. I got one a month back as I used to visit that dealer often as a kid.
     

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