R.I.P. Luigi Della Grotta | Page 5 | FerrariChat

R.I.P. Luigi Della Grotta

Discussion in 'Canada' started by bernardo66, Feb 5, 2012.

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  1. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Great memories. I remember the banter he gave my dad about getting a BMW 2002 instead of a 275, even 5 years after the fact.
     
  2. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Matches for you very nicely :)
     
  3. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    I did some investigating on my own, after the previous post of where he was located in Westmount (used Lovell's directories, who printed the telephone books for Montreal):

    From 1962 to 1963 he was located at 4269 St. Catherines St. West, and was listed as: "Luigi Wheel Alignment & Wheel Balancing", 937-3763. The building also contained the shops of "Budd & Dyer Ltd (auto dlrs pass cars)" 937-6102 and "Checkmate Motors Inc" 933-3673.

    From 1964 to 1965, he was still at that address, along with his neighbors, plus the addition of the businesses of: "Uptown Service Garage" 932-6994 and "Gareau Motor Sales Inc." no number listed for that.

    From 1966 to 1967, still at 4269 along with "Checkmate Motors", "Garage Special Service" 932-5748 and "Roger Automobiles Ltee." 932-2925.

    From 1967 to 1968, the same, plus an addition of Michelin to "Roger Automobiles".

    From 1968 to 1969, the same listings.

    Starting from 1969, he was no longer at 4269, but moved to 4428 St Catherines St West. At this address were the businesses of: "Timmins Campbell Service" 933-2709, "Downtown Datsun Ltd." 931-5879, "Foreign Motors Ltd" 932-6924, "Checkmate Motors" 933-3671 and of course, "Luigi Wheel Alignment" 937-3763.

    1970 to 1971, those above businesses plus: "Black Al Dyno (Tuning)" 933-2116, "Bremer Electric Company" 933-1818 and "Papard Custom Body Shop" 933-2215.

    From 1971, he first used the name of "Luigi Sports Car Sales & Service" along with his old name "Luigi Wheel Alignment". Same phone number and same other businesses as well.

    Starting from 1972, he dropped the name of "Luigi Wheel Alignment". Bremer Electric also disappeared with "Electro Specialties" 935-5107 taking it's place.

    1973 to 1974, a business of "Montreal Simonizing" 932-8181 took the place of Electro Specialties. No other changes to Luigi's or the others.

    Same for 1974 to 1975.

    In 1976, they listed his shop on the second floor of the building.

    For the 1977/78 directory, it was listed by name only and under "Luigi Sports Car Sales & Service", they added: Pres. Luigi Dellagrotta, V-Pres. Mrs. Mabel Dellagrotta and Sec-Treas Mrs. Maria Dellagrotta. 2nd floor, 937-3763.

    With the 1978-79 directory, back to listing by address (still 4428) and the same businesses as before.

    Same for 1980.

    In 1982, the business of "Continental Injection & Electrique" 933-1858 was added on the second floor along with a private citizen, R. Schernthaner 936-6926.

    In 1984, many more businesses were added along with "Petro-Canada (Station Service)" 933-6928.

    Same for 1985-86.

    The 1987-88 directory would be the last one for listing Luigi's at 4428 St Catherines St. From 1989 onwards, there would be no more listings for that address as it no longer existed. It would have been around this time that he moved to Vanden Abeele Street in St. Laurent.

    If you Google Street View 4269 St Catherines, you get a kind-of apartment building, and nothing for 4428 (only 4420 and 4430).
     
  4. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    Confirmed.
     
  5. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #105 bernardo66, Mar 13, 2012
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  6. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #106 bernardo66, Apr 28, 2012
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  7. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #107 bernardo66, May 5, 2012
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  8. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #108 bernardo66, May 5, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    A large print of the above photo was presented to the Gilles Villeneuve museum during a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of Gilles' passing. I managed to capture (part of) a moment, when Luigi's daughter first saw the pic of her father.

    It was quite moving.
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  9. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
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    It was indeed pretty moving and a great outing!!!!

    Bernie, it was nice to see you today but you should have come to eat with us....

    Who's that "handsome" gentleman holding the picture?

    Lol!
     
  10. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    Boh!! :rolleyes:
     
  11. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #111 bernardo66, Jun 24, 2012
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  12. ClassicFerrari

    ClassicFerrari F1 World Champ
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  13. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #113 bernardo66, Oct 6, 2012
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    Would this have been the 275 that Luigi wanted your dad to get?
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  14. AndruetBiche

    AndruetBiche Formula Junior

    Oct 7, 2006
    427
    Looks like a silver 275GTB/4 in which case it came to Toronto to Secondo B. who owned it for many years and changed hands a few years ago after he passed away - still with its Luigi sticker on the windshield.
     
  15. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #115 bernardo66, Oct 9, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2012
    Sadly that was the fate of many Luigi cars. I asked him once where all the cars from the 60's & 70s wound up, as I saw few to none in Montreal. Point blank he replied:

    "they went where the money was. Montreal is not exactly the most affluent city. Some are in Toronto, some in the US and some in Europe."
     
  16. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
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    #116 of2worlds, Oct 10, 2012
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    Look at the flat paint on that 275 GTB! Looks nothing like the too shiny show cars you see now.

    Here is another Quebec Ferrari. This plexi 365 GTB/4 from 1970 was owned by the hockey player Rejean Houle when he lived in Wickham. Interesting car with wood steering wheel and no headrests on the Daytona seats. Though it looks like snowmobile weather there.
    Don't know where that Ferrari disappeared to or how long he kept it. Does anybody know Rejean Houle today?
    There was a very nice silver Luigi Daytona coupe with low miles that sold a while ago to the USA. It had the black interior but with gray carpets and appeared in original condition. It obviously never saw a winter drive in Quebec!
    CH
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  17. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
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    #117 of2worlds, Oct 10, 2012
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    One correction the Luigi delivery Daytona had creme interior with brown carpets as shown below, not black with gray carpets which was a different Daytona I was thinking of.

    One of the last production Daytona Coupes ever made, this car was delivered new to Ferrari dealer Luigi Della Grotta in Montreal in November, 1973.
    CH
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  18. AndruetBiche

    AndruetBiche Formula Junior

    Oct 7, 2006
    427
    Unfortunately, the original paint on the 275 was ruined by FoO when doing a brake fluid change. The mechanic pumped the brakes while the caps were off the fluid resevoirs sending fluid all over the place. They repainted it well but since the rest of the car had a beautiful aged patina the new paint didn't work. Its probably resale red now anyway.
     
  19. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
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    Interesting fate the 275 GTB suffered.
    Finding knowledgeable people to work on the classic cars is a challenge as the experience that Luigi represented for so long fades away now. Originality seems to have limited appeal any more. These old cars mostly all exist now at the whim of the current owner who typically wants things looking 'perfect'.
    CH
     
  20. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
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    #120 bernardo66, Oct 10, 2012
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  21. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    Thats is sad as i visited Montreal last year where my wife was born and has relatives in Kemptville Ontario. I loved the city especially the old town and would love to go back and see the GP! I wished i had the $$ to live there!

    Rob
     
  22. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

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    Rob, it's not that expensive to live here. Surely if you can afford a Ferrari, you can live in Montreal!

    With winter coming, I would love to switch places with you.
     
  23. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    #123 robertgarven, Oct 11, 2012
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    Fab wish I could..... I would not mind the healthcare........ I also could go back to bota bota! I have to admit even though i work long hours with little pay., life in this part of california is pretty nice, here is a photo to prove it! I just wish i could have met Luigi, he sounds like a man of my own heart!!

    bonne journée

    Rob
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  24. Rock

    Rock Formula 3

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    guy rules
     
  25. Rock

    Rock Formula 3

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    #125 Rock, Oct 13, 2012
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