Hi Everyone - I need some suggestions as to how I may find previous owners of 101.1142, which I am currently restoring. I know two previous owners, but the earliest - a man named Joe Drabkin is not interested in helping me with any details - he was fairly aggressive in telling me not to contact him again which was a little shocking! He sold the car in 1985 to a Mr Camillo Guarin in Rockville, MD. The car when Camillo bought it was painted red and had a Ford V8 in it - a hot-rod treatment which I suspect was carried out by Joe Drabkin. I have subsequently found the original engine (which was a monstrous stroke of luck in itself!) and will return the car to its original colour of Cobalto Blue with red interior. Camillo mentioned he thought the car may have been stolen at some point before he bought it... The car was delivered to the Maserati Representatives of California in November 1960. I do not know the first owner or subsequent chain of ownership and would like to establish the full ownership history. If anyone has any suggestions as to how I may pick up more ownership info please let me know! Guy
Guy, the records of MASERATI REPRESENTATIVE in Beverlly Hills are long gone and so is this Maserati distributor. They collaborated closely with MILLE MIGLIA MOTORS, the dealership of Charles Rezzaghi in San Francisco (also long gone!). I heared that Rezzaghi`s daughter is living somewhere on the West Coast but I doubt she has all the records. So I strongly assume that the path to the 1st owner of your car is very dry as long as this strange Mr. Drabkin wants to keep his mouth shut. A pitty.... But congratulations that you were able to find the original engine!
I would be interested in knowing the story on how you were able to find and purchase the original engine for the car as I have just had a similar experience. FGM
Yep! I think this kind of research is always full of exitings and worth to tell. I recall the story in VCM of the A6G 2000 Vignale #2054. Its original engine was lost and found many years later by the then time owner on a scrapyard in Cal., only minutes (!) before it was due to be scrapped. But too many engines are still lost today.
Not that it's any of my business, but just out of curiosity, I wonder if this is Mr. Drabkin: http://www.dcmaa.com/About/instructors.php He looks better when he smiles: http://www.hauteliving.com/2012/02/bottega-veneta-celebrates-their-new-home-with-a-house-warming-fete/253602/etti-ben-zion-joe-drabkin/ Too bad he can't/won't help you with your research. What an odd way to respond to someone's inquiries.
Walter - I did hear that the Beverly Hills records were lost - such a shame!! In response to other questions - I found the engine was with Jacques Pozzo di Borgo who runs Maseratisource. He tells me he has 30 (!!!) engine blocks for 3500GT cars which were taken from cars whiche were broken for parts... I am not too worried about the status of the car in terms of it being possibly stolen at some point - the car is in the UK now and I have all the relevant documentation for it. It wont be an issue... I am determined to find early photos of the car in its original colour scheme!
Guy, yessss - to find the Rezzaghi- or Maserati Representative records would be a sensation for historians. Rezzaghi also dealt with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, OSCA and Lancia. If Jacques alone has 30 engine blocks, can you image how many other blocks are laying around somewhere else? The discovery of original photos of your car is based on luck, nothing else! Perhaps this Dr. Strange D. still as some - but....
