of the Toasted Ponies that is! Tom Shaughnessy World Class Ferrari Consultant Holding the title for the best job in the world High Class Junkyard Dog Regular Guy Or all of the above I pulled up in front of Toms shop at 10:00 last Monday morning. As per my other visits Tom is standing in front of the gate talking to a customer on his cell phone. I start looking around and believe me there is a lot to look at. Tom finishes his call, says hello, shakes my hand, and takes another call. This is pretty much the drill for the King of The Toasted Ponies. For those who have never made the pilgrimage, Toms shop is a vintage Ferrari Enthusiasts playground. There are three or four vintage Ferraris in various conditions in the driveway, and enough parts lying around to build another three or four cars. This is going to be an all day trip for me so Im in no hurry at all. Tom finishes up the call and gives me a summary of what he currently has in stock and how he got it. He then explains that we will be delivering a car to Beckmans, his favorite body and panel shop, and then picking up some Ferrari parts to bring back. We jump into Toms work truck and head out to the other location to pick up the car. Im feeling comfortable because Toms work truck looks just like mine, a mess!! Of course at this point Tom is taking phone calls one after the other. The parts business it seems, is very busy. We pull up to the other place and I am tickled pink to see a 410 and a red Europa in the driveway. Both cars are really nice. Ive seen the 410 before but the Europa is a real treat. We are going to load the Europa into the trailer for delivery to the body shop, but first we take it for a short drive up the road and around the block. Im starting to feel special. Whats even more special is that I have a pretty good idea whats behind the garage door, but I manage to contain myself. I help Tom load the Europa into his trailer right behind the now infamous Fallujah Ferrari, and we are on our way. After a short drive North we arrive at the body and paint shop. This is another Ferrari overload for me! In the shop are three vintage Ferraris undergoing panel rebuild, as well as a Boano needing some minor work. There is also a special Ferrari under a sheet waiting to be beaten back into shape, but I wont go into that right now. In the paint area a Daytona and what I think is a Maserati Mistral Spyder. I quickly engage one of the employees named Oscar in conversation. He is trying to explain to me in broken English how he formed the covered headlight bezels he is welding on to an early E-Type hood. I ask him a few stupid questions about welding, and it becomes apparent that he has no idea what this lunatic is talking about, so I leave him alone. Later the owner gives me a short tour of the shop and shows me what they do and how they do it. I am duly impressed and a little bit confused. Tom is still busy outside talking to customers on his cell phone. Its getting close to the time for us to pick up the parts, so we head out again. We are on our way to a shop that builds stretch Hummer Limos. Apparently some time ago they cut a few Daytonas and still have some parts lying around. Of course Tom snatched them up along with some other goodies. We will probably see some of this stuff on E-Bay in the near future. With a truck full of Ferrari parts and a trailer still carrying the Fallujah Ferrari, we head back to the shop to unload. Tom wants to get the GTE off the trailer, but without brakes it is going to be tricky. Especially troublesome is the fact we are on an incline. With the help of a friend of Toms we ease it off by blocking the rear wheels every foot or so, trying not to lose control of the car. It finally rolls off and has enough speed to roll up into the driveway and behind the gate. Add one more Ferrari to the shop area. I need to get back to San Diego before five, and with afternoon traffic building Im about ready to go. Im disappointed though. We havent had time to go up to the Water Tower. The Water Tower is another place of Shaughnessys that is a vintage Ferrari heaven. Of course there are more piles of parts, and always a few cars in various conditions. Then Tom asks me the magic question. Is there anything else you want to see? Well as a matter of fact there is. I tell Tom that I think it would be a good idea to go start up the other Europa. He agrees and I follow him back to his place, a bit on the excited side!!! As the garage door goes up I can see it right there before my eyes. And what a beautiful sight it is. This is one sweet Ferrari. Its the 250 Europa 0351EU as featured in Cavallino magazine. The car is sitting right below two other one off Ferraris that are resting on lifts. These two cars are patiently waiting for their own day to shine. It takes some coaxing but finally the car comes to life. One of the carburetors is being problematic, but Tom boldly eases the car out into the street and we are off. Im in heaven! The car is not running right, but all I can think of is how light and fast this car seems compared to my PF Coupe. The thought crosses my mind that maybe Tom will experience chest pains and I will have to get him to the nearest hospital quickly in this car! But the guy seems to be in pretty good health, and with the carburetor acting up, we return to the garage. This is not the kind of car you leave sitting on the street for very long. It seems strange but while we are driving the Europa around, no calls come in. Could the King of the Toasted Ponies have shut his phone off while driving this car? Thats what I would have done if it were my car. Its now past time for me to get on the road, so I say good by and get on my way. It would be easy to say that Tom is very lucky, but being a business owner myself, I know that luck has very little to do with it. Some people on this board look down at Tom for parting some of these cars out, when they feel they should all be saved. I think that Tom may have actually saved more cars than would have been salvageable by providing the services that he does. At any rate, for me, a ride in two Europas in the same day is priceless!!!
I don't see why people keep having to knock Tom. He is a good guy and an excellent businessman. What's wrong with that?
Agree. He is the best - I bought my car at a terrific price from him and give my unconditional recommendation, and plan to go through him again for a 12 cylinder.
Did you ever see the Steve Martin movie titled, "Bowfinger?" It has to be one of his best ever. Steve plays a movie producer trying to land the big one. In one scene, Steve is faking a conversation on his brick phone about all these big deals that he is working on. The punch line comes with a real movie producer sitting at the next table points out that the phone is not plugged in. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Tom fakes his calls. Actually Doctor, I don't think that Glassman is putting Tom down. I have hung out with Tom a time or two, and it is a hoot. All he needs is some pointed ears and the image would be complete! Seriously though, Tom is a great example of what makes the Ferrari world so unique. I don't know what it is about the brand that inspires such interesting people. I don't see this is the Porsche world. I don't see this in the Harley world. Whatever it is, I like it. Dale
I think you misunderstood. I didn't mean to give the impression that Glassman is putting Tom down. For some reason that I can't fathom (other than simple jealousy), there are people that constantly knock Tom...
When I saw the topic title, I thought it was going to be about Elvis. But this turned out to be far more interesting! Excellent story! BTW, I little check turned up a web site for Tom. Mostly incomplete, I hope he adds to it soon. http://www.vintageferrariparts.com
Tom is cool but he is a little out there. But that is one of the great things about California, here he blends in.
Tom isn't out there. It just means you're not tuned in. Tom is incredibly consistant, straight forward and honest. Tom is a right brain creative thinker You can reach him anytime between 4AM and 7PM(bedtime). He's a gogetter and doesn't let grass grow under his feet. You can take his word as gospel. Tom's word is his bond. He will always under promise and over deliver. I consider Tom as one of my most trusted and best friends. Tom brings reality to the Ferrari world and connects to the grassroots yet his circle of confidants range from those on a shoestring restoration budget(not necessarily a Ferrari) to those that have unlimited means. He treats everyone the same. He is not austentatious or arrogant. He doesn't tollerate B.S.,he is what he professes and lastly those are real people and real friends calling him on the other end of his cell phone. I feel fortunate to be one of his friends and by the way, even in California he doesn't blend in. He's an original, one of a kind!!!! Freeman
Say what you like about Tom, but his greatest virtue is that he has a degree in electrical engineering. Jim S.
Those are some of the traits that make him out there. In the car business in general and the Ferrari business specifically that IS the anomaly. After 25 years in the Ferrari business and really only experiencing one like that, I would define that as out there. I certainly would not lump him in with the rest.
I second that.....The illustrious MR. S. is truly driven. His knowlege of the rare vintage parts and his ability to locate them is at the top of the field. Day and night he is on the run, one night we had dinner on the fly at midnight. I had an extremely difficult time keeping up with his pace. He is highly respected by those who comprise his long list of friends and clients. Count me as one. Regards, Bill
Now you have done it! You all best hope Tom doesnt read this or you will all be paying more for parts! Tom doesnt take kindly to folks talking nice about him! Hey Tom, you putz, are you reading this stuff? Dave
But Dave, Tom has paid and will continue to pay dearly, for my posting of these and any other inflationary compliments. Under any lesser conditions, inflammatory works for me! Bill
What's this about the Fallujah Ferrari? Is that the one pictured in Iraq? Tom didn't get that, did he?
Hi Rob, No, this one is in LA, and Tom bought it. Somebody painted on side of the car, "Save me Ferrari of Falluja". Bill
