good Ferrari tech in Houston?

Hi all,

Anybody want to make a suggestion on a good F-car mechanic in Houston?

I found a website for a place called Pinnacle Motorsports on North Post Oak...any feedback on them?

Thanks for your time,

 

They closed down.

Try Memorial One Motors--59 @ Chimney Rock.
713-688-2277

Ask for Juergen. Juergen runs the shop, there's also a Hungarian guy there named Vit who works on my 308. They're both very good.

Please tell them Greg Giacona sent you, OK?

Thanks,
Greg
77 308

 

wasn't Pinnacle JRV?

 

Yup.

Did they close after this incident?

 

geez, was that a customer's car? If so, no wonder he closed or got sued into closing.

 

Vit is no longer at Memorial One imports. He is now at Vintage Motors. JRV's shop Pinnicle is out of business and is being liquidating. Have you used FOH?

 

Is there a reason that you would not go to Ferrari of Houston?????

Go there and speak with Scott.

They are very consistent.

 

No, I just assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that going to a dealer would cost twice as much as an independant shop.

 

You would have assumed correctly!

 

LOL! Well they can easily TOTAL your 308, with a tune up, for instance......

But seriously, Vintage has worked on Val's GTB, and Pinnacle isn't liquidated per se, but more like "in storage"..........who knows????

Anyone that can work on a FIAT 850 Spyder is OK...really!

 

You may pay a little more at an independent but are they up on the latest technical bulletins from Ferrari and have all the latest equipment? Will they stand behind their work after you pay and are gone a few days? What is their reputation among real Ferrari owners???

I know them well and they will take care of you. They will tell you everything that it will take to bring your car up to excellent conditions and allow you to choose just what you want to do. Some independents will use shortcuts to accomplish the work. You really need to check them out. I know of several independents in Houston that FoH will not even sell parts to due to the reputation they have established in the Ferrari world. And no I will not list names as I wish to bypass any liability issues for statements I may make. So, I choose to refrain from identifying them.......

And Greg, have you ever taken your car there for work? Just wondering what you are basing your response on. Experience or assumption??

 

After Greg328's accident, they helped him assess the repair.

As I said with new parts they would have totalled the car.

FoH is top of the line and I enjoy going there, for smaller service parts and Cavallino magazine, mostly.....

On the older models you have to decide the level of maintenance.

I have used Vintage, as I said...and I don't think we've seen the last of Pinnacle but he closed that Post Oak location in the Office Park lease space.

 

..and of course when I hit the Lotto, I'll be arm twisting on Mr. Risi for one of his rare machines! The 575GTC, or the F40LM, maybe his 288GTO......

They have a 430 6 spd with Daytona seats on the showroom this week, last week it as a MC12......racecar!

 

James, I know you're an ex-dealer guy, but tell me how the latest bulletins and latest equipment help on a 70s era car? Do you really think that the mechanics at the dealers are going to be more knowledgeable about these cars than the independents? Heck, the local dealer here won't even sell something from the 80s anymore.

I think you're disparaging a LOT of people and businesses with your comments. Dealers and their service bays have their place in the Ferrari world, but it's not very close to the classic owners.

 

What cars does Mr. Risi own?

 

Every car at Ferrari of Houston.

 

Certainly don't mean to be disparaging and if I came across as so, I apologize. Certain independents are excellent. I would feel good here in the Metroplex allowing Norwood to do anything. There are a few in Houston who are dyed in the wool Italian performance car guys. I just meant, check out the references from people who have actually used some of the others.

Yes, some dealers don't want to handle the 308, 328, Mondial age cars. That is their loss. There is still certainly a very good market for these cars and someone needs to supply and repair to that market. I remember some of the good 328's that came through FoD while I was there and if in excellent shape brought excellent money. We also had a few "iffy" cars that would have taken a ton of money to make right. These are the kind we did not want to carry because most people looking for those cars cannot afford to spend "a ton" and the car would sit until offed to a smaller dealer.

To anyone I offended or put off, please accept my apologies. I certainly do not want to put a damper on your Ferrari experience. You worked for it and earned the honor of obtaining "you own Ferrari". To that I say congratulations and enjoy the ride...

 

I didn't inventory them, LOL!

And there are seperate rosters I'm sure, between his personal cars and the race team...Let's just say he has the pull to get the 'current model" from the Factory, as far as competition goes, that's what he MC12's and 430GT2 are all about. I don't think he ever used the 575GTC......

He is truly the last of the Dealer/Team Patrons, IMO. As Franco pointed out last Saturday, standing with him..."if you want to purchase an F1 car, you go to Maranello or call him"....that speaks volumes.

He's also a very quiet person, so he does not flaunt his collection at all, you just see them out at Dealer sponsored Track Days and such events as the FFQC.

 

and Vespas! You know the ones that are special Artist Limited Editions?

A bunch of those, I ran across the other day over there. I haven't mentioned it to Amanda. Shhhh!

They were auctioned for charity, so again an indicator of the man, that he'd have so many....

Anyway back to techs in Houston......

 

I, for one, enjoy ANY and all comments on this topic, thanks.

(disclaimer) Now I admit I haven't asked them (FoH) (end of disclaimer)
but that was my fear about taking my 400i there. The old, "it's too old and we don't want to mees with it..." routine.

To wander off topic for a sec, I really like older unusual cars like the 400, the GT4, old British cars, etc. They're fun, different, and not something you see everyday.
Of course that makes it a real adventure every time you drive them. Whenever I drive any of my toys I still say the best tools I have in my tool kit are a cell phone and my towing insurance card

 

Dave - We recommend the dealer when asked about service in Houston, for San Antonio and Austin we recommend David Moore. We also have a number of distant clients who bring or ship their cars to us for service. Ferrari of Houston has a very good reputation and I don't know of anyone who has had a bad experience there. You should consider trying them out for some small maintance items to see if they are the shop for you. If that does not work you can always drive up to Dallas and catch Southwest home, I know we are a bit far but we would love to take care of your 400 for you.

Good luck,
James Patterson

 

I you ever get the chance to go to "the caverns" you need to go. Dark storage building with a vast array of almost every imaginable Ferrari you would want to see. It is not open to the public, is very well hidden, and is basically not spoken of. It is used for client car storage......

Just a quick sidetrip off subject here. Like Franco said about anyone wanting an F1 car going to Maranello or Mr. Risi. One year Neiman-Marcus in Dallas wanted to do a racing theme display. Mr Risi brought their F1 car to Dallas and had the race crew (in uniform) load the disassembled car in the freight elevator, take it up to where it was going to be displayed, unload it off the elevator and reassemble it on the salesfloor of Neiman's. It was quite the attention getter having the crew, in unform, putting the car back together............

 

If you do not know who James Patterson is, just check with anyone who has ever used Norwoods in Dallas. They can get it done for you.......

 

FOH will do anything for you, but you will pay for it.

They recently quoted someone on this board $8900 to do a 30K service on a 328.