Those were not very accurate. I know of several instances when dealers were not dropped or added for years.
Most places you saw the name it was just very simple "Griswold Co." When the company sold in about 81 it changed to "Griswold Inc." then in 84 I think we moved and the name changed to Walnut Creek Ferrari because Ferrari like all the other car manufacturers wanted the entire dealer network to have geographic names. The primary reason was so that it would obfuscate site ownership. When an owner changed it would for the most part be unknown and would retain site loyalty. We didn't put stickers on cars. It was limited to a license plate frame with the name.
I'm glad to hear that. He must have had respect for the cars passing through rather than free banner space opportunities for his business.
It was never really anything we saw in the US. Here for the most part it is felt the license frame is open season but not the rest of the car.
My '84 QV came new from F.A.F. Motorcars in Georgia, which later transitioned into becoming Ferrari of Atlanta. I'm the second owner. Image Unavailable, Please Login
No one ever complained about the "Luigi" stickers. They were relatively small. To the locals, a "Luigi" car meant it was most likely well cared for. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Growing up in Monterey in the 60's-70's I remember the dealership being British Motors of Monterey first and it was directly across from lake El Estero. Ferrari West was just north of British motors. I think that I recall it being Ramsey first but Ramsey alos has a location further up the street north of the lake. I think it was still on Del Monte. That's where they had the Fiats. I remember bugging George mahi as a teenager always going and looking at the cars. Later he traded a 67 fiat dino for my friends early brand new 190e that he drove from Canada. Great times and memories. I probably looked at your cars when they were new!
Oh the good ol' Oklahoma oil days! Yes that's right, we had a Ferrari dealership in Norman, Oklahoma. Big Red Ferrari. As a little boy, I used to peer in the showroom. They had 308's, 328's, Testarossa' and even a new 288 GTO and F40 when they came out. Would love to have pics of that place from the 80's. My 84' 308 GTB btw was originally sold through Pozzi Ferrari in Paris, France.
Gracing my office wall is a framed. pristine, classic The Griswold Company poster of a disassembled GTO with the components listed. Steve Griswold passed these out at a (now defunct I think) NorCal Ferrari Owners Club of America monthly meeting in the 70's. I've often wondered how many of these (the posters) are still around. Great dealership advertising.
Here you go ... sorry about the flash on the pic. It's a big poster 32" x 24" The component listing is hard to read. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Luigi Della Grotta was quite the local character. Think: Ferrari version of the Soup Nazi. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/r-i-p-luigi-della-grotta.355035/
Ha, ha, "No Ferrari for you!" Character? No, legend... Back on topic, my GT4 was sold through International Auto in Chicago. Imported into the U.S. by Modern Classic Motors, in Reno, NV. Image Unavailable, Please Login
My 308 was sold at Ferrari of San Francisco. I found out the first owner was a very stylish guy who owned an Italian restaurant in that area. I have reached out to that dealership when looking for any additional info such as a window sticker, but the service at Ferrari of San Francisco told me many old records were lost when they changed locations. I was recently in SF (on a vacation/ no car) and very close to where that restaurant used to be. By now it is no longer in business. I enjoyed the trip and really love my carbed 308GTB. I'm lucky as I have records from new on it. Fun stuff to study on what service and parts cost in late 70s.