One of the best parts about being a member of the Porsche Club of America is that you often gain access to extraordinary places and get to meet extraordinary people who do extraordinary things. Last night, my daughter and I went to our region's monthly meeting at Black Horse Garage. I had been there about five years ago and couldn't wait to see the place again.
BHG is owned and operated by Frank Buonanno. According to his son John, Frank rebuilt the engine in his father's Ferrari at the age of 16 and was immediately hired by a recent immigrant named Luigi Chinetti.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Chinetti
Now, in this enormous old manufacturing building, they handle all phases of restoration and repair on both foreign and American classics.
As we walked in, I went right past a beautiful Dino and an old Maserati to get a closer look at a Cunningham C3 that s waiting to be restored. I've long admired Briggs Cunningham and his cars, but I don't think I've ever seen a C3 before.
Later, as I walked deeper into the place, I was shocked to see another Cunningham.
And then, another. This one was awaiting a repaint. Apparently, there is a tiny flaw or two and, of course, it is headed to Pebble Beach...
When the beautiful red C3 was purchased from Lucy Cunningham, daughter of Briggs, the transaction included a little something extra...
That's the real deal right there: the original body buck for the Cunningham C4-R.
There were Ferraris, and Ferrari engines, everwhere.
We met Frank in the engine room, where he casually mentioned that he's getting kind of bored with Ferrari engines but is very enthused about the 1911 Overland engine that he's currently rebuilding.
There were more cars on the second floor...
I love Daytona coupes, but apparently Evel Knieval didn't. He had his silver coupe converted to a Spyder, and then painted it yellow.
Even among Ferrairs, 512 Berlinetta Boxers are a fairly rare sight in this country, but there was one parked outside...
...and another behind the buffet table...
...and an early 365 GT4BB upstairs.
We ate our dinner next to an Aston Martin...
...and a Lamborghini.
There was a Mercedes 300SL...
...and a 190SL.
There was a Hudson racer...
...and a Rolls Royce...
We saw the upholstery shop, where the young guy with the beard turned a flat leather hide into a Ferrari seat.
There were Maseratis...
...and the beautiful Dino that I had walked past as I entered the building.
http://www.blackhorsegarage.com/facility.html
