Park Place for Preemies

The morning after he quit a sales job he loathed, George Johnson had a problem: he was 21, unemployed and still living at home. He needed to find a new job quickly. Luckily for George, a friend of his had just started at a local car dealership.

Meredyth Haller, of Cook Children’s Hospital and George Johnson, Genera Managers of Park Place Motorcars of Fort Worth, stand in front of the hospital in Fort Worth Texas, Friday, September 11, 2020. (Michael Ainsworth)

“I took a job selling cars until I could find a real job,” said George. Now, 38 years later, George oversees Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth as the executive general manager.

“I was always passionate about cars, but never realized how much so,” said George, when he recalled how his temporary gig turned into a career. “I think I really fell in love with connection with the client. I still remember the first person I sold a car to. She was so joyful and I felt such a connection after sharing this exciting moment in her life. I was hooked.”

This past year, many nonprofits in our community had to reimagine in-person fundraising events due to the pandemic. That included the annual Pickin’ for Preemies benefiting Cook Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With the move to a virtual event, we weren’t sure if we’d receive the same level of community support, but Park Place Motor Cars Fort Worth stepped up and generously chose to sponsor the online silent auction.

The Pickin’ for Preemies family was elated. Plus, it was a meaningful decision for George.

Years ago, when George and his wife Cathy were living in Northern California, they had their own experience in a NICU. Their youngest son Dylan was born two months early, weighing just 3 pounds and 11 ounces.

“You know, you just go into survival mode at that point,” said George. “What we were so impressed with was all the nurses and doctors in that NICU. They must be highly trained on how to handle parents. You have to keep the parents in the game.”

Dylan spent six weeks in the NICU before being sent home with his loving parents, and the experience left a mark on George and Cathy. George and Park Place supported Cook Children’s through contributions to Jewel Charity for eight years, making donations totaling half a million dollars, and Cathy spent time volunteering in the NICU as a baby rocker. When George heard about Pickin’ for Preemies, he saw a way for Park Place to directly help NICU families.

“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Cook Children’s because of what they do for children, especially with preemies, so when I saw that, it just kind of hit me over the head,” said George.

Without the support of corporate sponsors like Park Place and passionate leaders like George, Cook Children’s simply wouldn’t be the incredible place that it is today.

Story Provided by Cook’s Children’s.

Park Place Celebrates Mayfest 2021 by Giving Back to the Community

Park Place Dealerships celebrated Mayfest with a special promotion to give back to the community. Each of the eight Park Place Dealerships in North Texas committed to make a donation to their area Boys & Girls Club for every car sold throughout the month of May. Park Place recently donated a combined $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County.

Anam Ali Hashambhai, Marketing Director at Park Place Dealerships, Daphne Barlow Stigliano, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Tarrant County, Charles English, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Dallas County, Marianne Radley, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Collin County and Park Place Dealerships COO Tony Carimi at the Park Place Dealerships corporate headquarters in Irving on June 10, 2021. (Michael Ainsworth/Special Contributor)

“The Boys & Girls Clubs in Collin, Dallas and Tarrant County provide incredible programs to young people in their respective communities,” said Anam Ali Hashambhai, marketing director for Park Place Dealerships. “These organzations are especially important during the summer months when the kids are not in school. While providing a safe place for kids to play and socialize with friends, they also teach important life lessons.”

Participating Park Place dealerships included Jaguar-Land Rover Grapevine, Park Place Lexus Grapevine, Park Place Lexus Plano, Park Place Motorcars Arlington, Park Place Motorcars Dallas, Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth, Porsche Dallas, and Volvo Dallas.

Daphne Barlow Stigliano, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Tarrant County, Charles English, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Dallas County and Park Place Dealerships COO Tony Carimi at the Park Place Dealerships corporate headquarters in Irving on June 10, 2021. (Michael Ainsworth/Special Contributor)

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas represents 35 clubs in Dallas County. In 2019, they earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. Additionally, Charity Navigator gave them four stars, placing them in the top-tier of nonprofits nationwide in financial health, accountability, and transparency.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County will host in-person Summer Club Experiences, complete with hands-on learning and games, an infusion of technology, arts and music, and keeping active and healthy. According to their website, “Our team of professional youth development specialists are committed to building meaningful connections with each Club member to ensure that everyone has a safe, fun, and memorable summer experience.”

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County impacts more than 10,000 area children and teenagers with a safe place to learn and grow in the vulnerable hours between school and home. They also have a full schedule of summer activities planned.

The Park Place Cares program supports more than 250 organizations around the Dallas-Fort Worth area throughout the year. Park Place’s 1,400 members are further challenged to volunteer their time and resources to serve local communities.

Member Spotlight on Bryan West: Rockin’ It Since 1987

It was the year that President Reagan called on the Soviet Union’s General Secretary to “Tear down this wall!” “Dirty Dancing” and “Moonstruck” were lighting up America’s silver screens. U2 and Michael Jackson dropped their respective albums, “The Joshua Tree” and “Bad.” Cell phones looked like (and weighed as much as) bricks, women wore power suits with shoulder pads and stonewashed jeans were a definite thing.  

 

That’s when Bryan West started working in the parts department at the very first Park Place location on Oak Lawn in Dallas.

“I was five years old,” he chuckles.

Today, as Parts Director at Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth, the Irving, Texas, native certainly has a lifetime of memories to look back on.

“I’d been working the parts desk at another dealership on the far west side of Fort Worth,” he recalls. “My manager at the time signed on with Park Place, which had been open for only a month or so, and told Ken (Schnitzer, the founder and then-owner), that he had a young man he’d like to bring with him. I interviewed, we agreed, shook hands and that was it. That’s how we did things back then. And it worked out pretty well, since I’m still with the organization and still having fun.”

He also remembers – vividly – when the first shipment of 1986 560 SLs arrived. The hugely popular roadsters were updated with a powerful new 5.6-liter V-8 engine boasting a mighty (for then) 227 horsepower, 287 lb-ft of torque and an attendant suspension boost. “A big shipment was delivered down the street and the cars needed to be driven back to the store. So a bunch of us volunteered to help.” 

It’s worth noting that West grew up in a family of competitive drag racers, so the SL’s 227-hp was chicken feed compared to the 750-hp monsters he knew. “My dad had a competition license for years and did very well, so I followed in his footsteps. But it’s an expensive hobby and when my family started to grow, it became a bit much. Plus, various rule changes made it harder for the average guy to compete, so I trailered everything and then sold it all. Sad day, but I’m perfectly okay with being a spectator.”

West rose steadily through the Park Place dealership organization, taking advantage of opportunities as the business expanded into the Mid Cities and the Fort Worth store where he won promotion to his current role in 2005.

“Park Place is fantastic,” he says. “I started out driving a truck but have always been allowed to grow and have never felt like a number. Our culture is built on growth and that’s a big deal to me. A career is about much more than just a job and Park Place has certainly delivered.”

Along the way, he’s been recognized by the company and his peers for leadership, quality and expertise: Coach of the Year (four times), Mercedes Benz Accessory Board, Dealer Parts Council, Master Guild Award (2008), president of the Texas-Oklahoma MB Parts Club, among many other organizations and associations.

He’s also the first to admit that it’s fun looking back on nearly 34 years of a satisfying, challenging career. But he much prefers focusing on the road yet to be traveled. In particular, paying it forward.

“I care a lot more about people than they might think, given this sort of stern face that I have,” he laughs, then turns serious. “It really matters to me that people get more out of their work than just a paycheck. I want my legacy to be that I helped people get where they wanted to go. My job is to listen, pay attention to their needs as well as those of the business and make sure we get results that benefit everybody.”

Wait a sec – did he say “legacy?” Going somewhere?

“No, no, no! I’m just saying that one day, I’ll retire to this little ranch we have up in southeast Oklahoma. I’ll take care of this and that, do some hunting, tinker with whatever needs to be done. I’m no ace when it comes to fixing stuff but I can stumble through things now and then. But no, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. It’s been a great ride so far,” he concludes. “There’s still a lot left to do!”

Park Place Land Rover “Defender 2020” Coloring Pages and Fun Facts

GRAB YOUR PENS AND COLORED PENCILS!  Park Place Land Rover is excited to introduce the next generation of the iconic Land Rover Defender after a 20+ year production hiatus with some lesser-known facts to tickle your brain and a custom coloring sheet to help relieve some stress and unleash your (or your kid’s) inner creative.

 A Short Introduction to the 2020 Land Rover Defender

The “Defender” as we know it didn’t start out known as the Defender.  Instead, when the first version was released Land Rover dubbed it the “Land Rover” meant to be an all-purpose auto. There were three iterations of this Land Rover- Series I, II, III- with Series I debuting in the late 1940s and costing a total of £450 or about $568. In just a year, orders for the Series 1 totaled about 8,000 with the British Army ordering their first batch of trial Land Rovers. Fast forward almost 60 years, and the Land Rover is officially christened with the immediately recognizable name of “Defender” as the “Discovery” officially joined the Land Rover line-up. 

After a 23-year hiatus, we are finally welcoming the next iteration of the Defender family, which features a four-door Defender 110 (to go on sale first) and the two-door Defender 90 which will be available at a later date.

To help celebrate #athome, we’ve compiled a list of fun facts and released official Park Place Land Rover / Land Rover Defender color sheets for a fun at-home activity. Just scroll down for whichever you’d like to read first.

Your Defender, Your Way – Coloring Pages Available for Download

The new Defender is extremely customizable; with various options to fit your unique adventure needs.  So, we challenge you to create your own bespoke variant by downloading our Custom Coloring Sheets featuring the 2020 Defender or by following us on Instagram 

When your art is complete – post it to Facebook or your Instagram story and tag @parkplacetexas. You can download the Coloring Sheets here: Park Place Land Rover DEFENDER Coloring Sheet – Blank

10 Fun Facts about the Land Rover Defender (Past and Present)

Below  you’ll find a list of 10 more fun (and maybe lesser-known) facts about the Land Rover Defender:

  1. In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II of England took delivery of her first Land Rover shortly before coming to the throne in 1952– and continues to use Land Rover to this day. According to a CNN article, the Queen learned to drive in 1945 when she was a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) where she trained as a mechanic and military truck driver. 
     
  2.  There were three=ish iterations of Land Rover prior to it officially being named the Defender: 
    1. Series I launched in 1948 at the Amsterdam Motor Show
    2. Series II launched in 1958 sporting an enlarged Petrol Engine (2.25 liter engine) 
    3. Series IIA launched in 1961 
    4. Series III launched in October of 1971
  3. the 1,000,000 Land Rover was built-in 1976
  4.  The Defender is officially launched in 1990
  5. 2015 was termed the ‘Year of the Defender by Land Rover” which included    1km-wide sand drawing (below) of the original Land Rover shape on the beach at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey; the launch of three new Limited Edition Defenders; and the recreation of the Series I production line at Solihull.
  6. The 2020 Land Rover Defender is the first production Defender in 23 years.
  7.  The new Defender was tested within temperature ranges of -40°F to 122°F for over 750,000 miles in 45,000 individual tests
  8.  the new Defender has a massive towing capacity of 8,201 pounds (great for an off-road road trip)
  9.  There is a 2,573 piece Lego version titled Land Rover Defender. This is a part of Leo’s Technic kits and retails for $199.99.
  10.  the New Defender 90 is about 9 inches longer (wheelbase) than the original Defender 90, and 5 inches longer than the  2020 Jeep Rubicon

What else do you want to know about the new Defender? You can reach out to our team at Jaguar Land Rover DFW and now, Jaguar Land Rover North Austin on our website and by sending us a message on Instagram (@parkplacetexas). 

 

Jaguar Land Rover DFW

1300 E State Highway 114
DFW Airport, TX 75261

Jaguar Land Rover North Austin

13910 N FM 620
Austin, TX 78717

 

 

Start Your Auto Purchase Online with Path to Purchase

Use our “Path to Purchase” tool and start your purchase online in the comfort of your own home. 

We want to assure you that we are still committed to providing exceptional client experiences, even if the experience looks a bit different. If you are in the market for a new or pre-owned vehicle, you can actually start your purchase online with Park Place’s Path to Purchase.

Park Place’s ‘Path to Purchase’ option allows you to browse and shop for your new vehicle from the comfort of your own home. It’s as easy as – select your vehicle, personalize your payment, value your trade, apply for credit and then choose your delivery option!

We are determined to provide you with an exceptional car-buying experience that is also personalized based on what works best for you and your family. To start your Path to Purchase, you can view our inventory here. 

Check out this video to see how to use our online retailing tool

Continued Park Place Dealerships Business Updates

03.30.2020 Premier Collection (Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, Rolls-Royce) Service Center Hours Updated

Per the local county guidelines, our dealership has been deemed an essential business and will remain open with adjusted hours. The current hours of operation are as follows:

SALES

Mon-Sat: 9:00am-6:00pm

SERVICE & PARTS

Mon-Fri: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Sat-Sun: CLOSED

03.24.2020 Updated Business Hours Effective March 24th

Service Hours – 8:00am-5:00pm

As an essential business, our service department is available to assist with same-day appointments, pick-up and delivery options and provide a complimentary vehicle sanitation service. We look forward to assisting with your automotive service needs.

Sales Hours – 9:00am-6:00pm*

Our Sales Members will be available through email and phone. Our Members are able to help you shop online, appraise a vehicle at your home, bring a vehicle to you for a product demonstration, and deliver final paperwork to you for lease or purchase. Please contact our store to make a sales appointment

03.19.2020 Park Place Adds “Pick-Up and Delivery” Service to all Park Place locations. Read here for details. 

03.19.2020: Use our “Path to Purchase” tool and start your purchase online.

We want to assure you that we are still committed to providing exceptional client experiences, even if the experience looks a bit different. If you are in the market for a new or pre-owned vehicle, you can actually start your purchase online with Park Place’s Path to Purchase.

Park Place’s ‘Path to Purchase’ option allows you to browse and shop for your new vehicle from the comfort of your own home. It’s as easy as – select your vehicle, personalize your payment, value your trade, apply for credit and then choose your delivery option!

We are determined to provide you with an exceptional car-buying experience that is also personalized based on what works best for you and your family. To start your Path to Purchase, you can view our inventory here. 

Check out this video to see how to use our online retailing tool

03.18.2020 – Complimentary Car Wash is Temporarily Closed

The safety and well-being of our clients and members is our top priority.

In response to the growing concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), complimentary car washes are temporarily unavailable at all participating Park Place Dealerships, effective immediately.

Our Park Place Dealerships are open and will continue supporting your service needs. Car washes will be provided to clients with a scheduled service appointment during this time.

03.17.2020: Official Statement on COVID-19

Includes preliminary precautions around client and loaner vehicles, beverage and food in-dealership, greetings, sanitation, and member health.


While there is a lot of uncertainty because of COVID-19, we are grateful you have entrusted us to help you purchase, service, and repair your vehicle. We are closely monitoring this evolving situation, and we will continue to update you with any changes to our complimentary car wash policy.

Thank you for your continued support of Park Place Dealerships.

Park Place Dealerships Response to COVID-19

Thank you for making Park Place, Your Place to purchase and service your vehicle. Your safety and well-being is our top priority.

In response to the growing concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to provide an update on the services Park Place currently offers and extra steps we’ve put in place to help protect our clients.

Park Place Dealerships currently has many services clients can take advantage of during this situation including: online service appointments, express pay for vehicle pick up, virtual test drives, test drives in your driveway, and online purchasing.

Going forward, we have implemented the following measures to protect clients and employees:

 GREETINGS. We have advised all dealership employees to suspend handshakes and physical contact with our guests. Smiles and great client service will continue!

  SANITATION. Our teams are actively wiping down high traffic areas throughout the day, and nightly custodial activities are hyper-focused on cleaning and sanitizing those same high traffic areas. We encourage you to utilize the hand sanitizers that are conveniently located throughout the dealership.

 CLIENT and LOANER VEHICLES. We take great pride in caring for each and every client and loaner vehicle. Vehicles are diligently inspected and meticulously cleaned and cared for upon their every return. Our team of professional detailers, car-washers, valets and service managers are diligently providing extra care for each vehicle for your safety.

 FOOD AND BEVERAGE. We are temporarily discontinuing our complimentary refreshments including snacks and coffee as an added safety measure. Small water bottles will be available.

 EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH. We are following all CDC guidelines for businesses and employers. We are asking employees to stay home if they feel ill and we ask clients to exercise good judgment if they have traveled to high-impact areas, been exposed to a COVID-19 patient or feel ill. We are currently requiring all team members and clients to wear a mask at any of our establishments until further notice. 

While there is a lot of uncertainty because of COVID-19, we are grateful you have entrusted us to help you purchase, service, and repair your vehicle. We are closely monitoring this evolving situation, and we will continue to update you with any changes to our company policies.

Thank you for your continued support of Park Place Dealerships.

New Luxury, Now Open: Jaguar Land Rover North Austin

On March 2nd, 2020, Park Place Dealerships officially opened their doors in Austin, TX, at Jaguar Land Rover North Austin. 


AUSTIN, Texas (March 2, 2020) – Park Place Dealerships opens Jaguar Land Rover North Austin today on State Highway 45 and Parmer Road. Located at 13910 FM 620 North, Jaguar Land Rover North Austin is the first dealership for Park Place Dealerships in the Austin Area.

The new dealership features a large, glass-enclosed showroom that accommodates up to 12 new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. The 70,000-square-foot facility also includes a five-story garage, a shop with 42 service bays, a nine-car service drive, and a 2000-square-foot carwash.

Park Place builds each dealership with bright interiors and beautifully appointed furnishings to offer clients the most comfortable surroundings. Jaguar Land Rover North Austin is filled with luxury amenities that include spacious Wi-Fi-enabled work stations, a beverage and snack station, a children’s play area, as well as multiple client lounges arranged with contemporary furnishings and flat-screen televisions.

“Park Place creates facilities with the client in mind to round out the entire automotive experience,” says General Manager Matt Woolsey. “From the moment a client walks into our dealership, we want them to feel at home. We will serve each client with integrity and attention to detail as we have for the past 33 years across Texas. It’s wonderful to now have the opportunity to serve North Austin and the surrounding communities.”

Park Place also invests significantly in training and career development to ensure a team of bright, talented and passionate members are prepared to help clients with their automotive needs.

Jaguar Land Rover North Austin Management Team. (L-R) John Gasparaitis, Parts Director Justin Griggs, Shop Foreman Walter Rhodes, New Car Sales Director Jose Fernandez, Service Manager Matt Humphrey, Service Director Matt Woolsey, General Manager Chris Nations, Pre-Owned Sales Director Cade Mannetti, Sales Manager Erika Falk, GM Admin Vy Nguyen, Finance Director Jordan Case, President of Park Place

Park Place Dealerships has a long history of supporting the communities they are a part of and Jaguar Land Rover North Austin has jumped right in to build partnerships with several organizations. The new dealership is already supporting Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD along with the Center for Child Protection through its Park Place Cares program. Through this initiative, Park Place contributes to efforts in the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Over the past 30 years, Park Place has helped raise millions of dollars for more than 300 community organizations across Texas.


About Jaguar Land Rover

After Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile manufacturer, acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford in 2008, it merged the two marques into a single company.

Land Rover is the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles and Jaguar is one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.  In 2019, Jaguar sales in the U.S. were up over 2018 with 31,0151 units sold. Land Rover had another record year of sales with 94,736 units which also saw an increase over 2018. With a combined total of 125,787 units, Jaguar Land Rover established a new all-time U.S. sales record in 2019.


About Park Place Dealerships

Founded in 1987, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

Stories from the Luxury & Supercar Showcase Concours

The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase presented a veritable automotive cornucopia of class, style and elegance. 

The third annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase got off to a picture-perfect start on Saturday, September 28, 2019, as the weather dawned bright and clear over the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. An estimated 4,500 attendees wandered the club’s manicured fairways, oohing and aahing at 325 rare and exotic automobiles, new as well as best-of-the-best classics.

Stories from the Concours

The top three awardees (winners for Best of Show, Chairman’s Choice, and Salesmanship Club award) were not only memorable, historical, and stunning in their own right, but also came with their own intriguing backstories. 

Best of Show: Mercedes Benz 500 K Special Roadster

First exhibited at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show, the powerful and opulent Mercedes Benz 500 K instantly became the “must-have” car for business titans, movie stars and royalty all over the world. They were among the few who could afford it – $14,000 when the average car went for $650. The 500 K featured a five-liter, inline 8-cylinder engine with forced induction (the “K” stands for “Kompressor,” German for supercharger) good for 160 hp and a top speed of 100 mph.

Approximately 30 of the now-iconic “long-tail” Special Roadsters (the second of three Special Roadster designs) were made from 1936 to 1937, spanning the switch from 500 K to 540 K engines. Fewer than 10 of the 500 K “long-tail” Special Roadsters were produced and of those, only two had the elegant covered spare design of this vehicle. Neither of those original 500 K bodies has survived, and only three of the six 540 K’s with this body style exist.

This show-stopping example was delivered new to the Netherlands but the cabriolet (convertible) body was destroyed and the chassis damaged during World War Two. A half-century later, a Danish baron partially restored the vehicle and displayed it as part of his collection for two decades. During 2012-2018, marque experts added new coachwork and fully restored the original chassis and engine to their authentic, exacting factory specifications, qualifying this ultra-rarity as a real-deal Mercedes-Benz 500 K.

Owner: Craig Hopkins

 

Chairman’s Choice: 1964 Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 is a British luxury grand tourer (GT) designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superlegger and built in England (the “DB” designation is in honor of Sir David Brown, Aston Martin’s owner from 1947 to 1972).

The naturally-aspirated 4.0 liter all-aluminum inline 6-cylinder engine generates 286 hp, a top speed of 145 mph and reaches 0-60 in eight seconds.

A silver DB5 much like this example became world-famous as James Bond’s vehicle in the film “Goldfinger.” To promote the movie, two DB5s were showcased at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and the model was quickly dubbed “the most famous car in the world.”

This concours-winning DB5 (lacking 007’s ejection seat and machine guns) was built with right-hand drive for the British home market. But as it spent 30 years in the U.S., it was converted to left-hand drive in 2014. It’s been displayed at the must-see event of Pebble Beach Car Week, “The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering,” and has won numerous regional “best-in-class” awards as well.  

“One of the rewarding things about having a car like a DB5 is the privilege of showing it,” says owner Ray Larson. “When I show the car, my family is typically with me, so we’re able to share great moments together, and we often see friends and meet new people with a similar passion for beautiful cars.”

Owner: Raymond Larson

Salesman Ship Club Award: 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso (Italian for “luxury”) was manufactured by Italian automaker Ferrari from 1962 to 1964. Designed by the Turinese coachbuilder Pininfarina and bodied by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the Lusso debuted at the 1962 Paris Motor Show and is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful and elegant Ferraris ever built.

The naturally aspirated 3.0-liter Ferrari/Colombo-designed V12 engine generated 240 hp, accelerated from 0-60 in seven seconds and reached a top speed of 150 mph, earning plaudits as the fastest passenger car of the time.

Although not intended to compete as a race car, the Lusso made several impressive appearances at motor sport events in 1964 and 1965, including the Targa Florio and Tour de France.

A 1987 Road & Track article stated, “All movement ceased (when a Lusso pulled on a concourse field) and everyone turned to stare. It was as though Sophia Loren in a bright red cocktail dress had just walked provocatively through a garden party of English schoolgirls.”

While in the U.K., owner Greg Brendel attended the Concours of Elegance at historic Stapleford Park with his family. He also toured on his own, noting, “It was interesting to maneuver a vintage left-hand drive car on the opposite side of the road while navigating with my iPhone in the roundabouts.”

The last of Ferrari’s legendary 250 GT road cars, only 350 were built.

Owner: Greg Brendel


Did you learn the story behind some of the entries on our Collector’s Concours? Email them to social@10.2.54.33 OR share a photo on Facebook or Instagram and tag @parkplacetexas and #supercarshowcase.

 

 

The Collector’s Behind the Cars: Supercar Showcase Concours Preview

On September 28th, you’ll experience three different concourses including Car Club Expo, New Car Concours with the latest from Park Place, and then the showstopping Collector’s Concours featuring some of the absolute best Texas- and beyond- has to offer. 

Here are some of the vehicles, and the stories behind the cars, that you’ll see on this year’s Collector’s Concours:

1967 Corvette Westlake, Collector: Rob Anderson

 It’s an original, unrestored, Corvette with 427/435 HP engine. This amazing car retains all of its original components including the original paint.

1973 Lotus Elan +2S/130, Collector: Gordon Sauer

Purchased in 1989, this ’73 Lotus Elan was subjected to a complete restoration to bring it back to its original showroom condition,” said Sauer. “It was the final year of the +2 Elan in the United States. It has the big valve motor and the silver-metal-flake-in-clear roof that was used to designate that model.”

1972 Olsmobile 442 W30, Collector: Steve Lucchi

“Ol’ Blue is one of only 289 Olds 442 W-30 4-speed coupes built in 1972,” said Lucchi. “Assembled at the Lansing, Michigan plant, the first three owners lived in the Lansing area.  The original owner “lost” the car in divorce proceedings. The third owner purchased the vehicle in 1984 as an incentive for his son to finish high school.  The car was driven until 1990, then parked in the owner’s garage for 27 years. In 2017, the car underwent a $110,000, 1200-man-hour, frame-off, Concours restoration. The decision was made to leave the original back glass, which still has a parking permit from East Lansing High School affixed. In 2017 Ol’ Blue won “Concours Gold” and “Best of Show – Oldsmobile” at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in Chicago. Last year, she won Best of Show at the Olsmobile Club of America Nationals. I’m excited to introduce her to Dallas, Texas.”

1971 Alfa Romeo Montreal Coup, Collector: Val Herrera

“I own a small collection of classic Alfa Romeo cars that I have restored,” said Herrera. “This well cared for, all original and correct, Alfa Montreal was manufactured in Arese, Italy in 1971. It was first registered in 1973, imported to Canada, then came to the United States in the early 1980s. This “matching numbers” low mileage Montreal retains its original Alfa V8 engine, five-speed ZF gearbox and original, numbered body/chassis components. I acquired this “factory-correct” Montreal in 2002 and completed a multi-year cosmetic restoration in 2006. It’s won many awards. Including Best in Class and Best of Show awards at Concours d’Elegance shows around the U.S. and Canada.”

1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, Collector: Whiney Stark

“I’ve always loved the 1950 – 70s classic Mercedes convertibles,” explained Stark. “In February 2014, after several months of searching, I found a partially restored 1956 190SL in Colorado. Initially I was considering a sympathetic restoration, meaning paint and minor repairs only. However, after discovering the floor were really fiberglass, I decided to do a complete Concours level restoration. I worked with three restoration shops in Colorado, the Mercedes Classic Center in California, and a specialty parts dealer in Maryland for over four years. The car won First Place in the German Classic class at the 2018 Park Place Supercar Showcase – a great honor. I enjoy meeting other car enthusiasts and talking about classic cars at local shows. My family enjoys the car as well. In fact, my daughter used the car as a backdrop for her senior photos recently.”

1969 Cheverlot Chevelle SS 396, Collector: Guhan Raghu

“My 1969 Chevelle SS 396 is a personal “holy grail” car for me,” said Raghu. “Having owned and restored over 20 classic cars, my opinion of the  Chevelle is that it signifies the best of the late ‘60s offerings of American Muscle. This car had a frame-off restoration to show quality, and is a consistent winner at North Texas car shows. My family and I will enjoy this car for many years (and miles) to come.”


The Collectors’ Concours will be displayed on the first Fairway of the TPC Golf Course and will include a 1916 Stutz Bearcat; 1936 Pierce Arrow; 1966 Shelby GT350H Hertz Rent-a-Racer; 1983 Ferrari 308 GTS and many other rare vehicles.

Dallas-Fort Worth’s premier luxury lifestyle and automotive event will return to the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2019, rain or shine.

Purchase Tickets: LuxurySupercarShowcase.com