Insights

Chinetti International Motors, Greenwich, Connecticut dealership badge. The badge is made of brass. It is 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. I purchased the badge from Ferrari Dino and parts specialist the late Dennis McCann back in the 90s. It was the last one he had in stock. Enzo Ferrari appointed Chinetti as his Ferrari factory agent in the United States. Chinetti opened the first and for a while the only Ferrari dealership in the country. Later his territory became all areas east of the Mississippi River. Chinetti’s reputation continued to draw clients from across the country throughout his career. In addition to handling Ferrari, Chinetti Motors was also U.S. agent for Automobili OSCA of Bologna until 1967. The original showroom of his Greenwich, Connecticut business has been demolished but the business with new location remains open, owned as a Ferrari-Maserati dealership.The first Ferrari sold by Chinetti to the US was a Tipo 166 MM Touring Barchetta, chassis 0002 M, sold to Tommy Lee in Los Angeles in the first three months of 1949. The second car sold, and the first sold through the dealership, was a Ferrari Tipo to Briggs. Cunningham. He drove it to second place at Watkins Glen in 1949. That car ultimately ended up in Cunningham’s motorcar museum. The third car was Tipo 166 MM Barchetta 0010 M sold to Kimberly-Clark tissue-paper fortune heir Jim Kimberly. Kimberly and the Ferrari appeared at some eastern events, but on 1 April 1951 with Marshall Lewis behind the wheel it would be the first Ferrari to race and win west of the Mississippi. In 1952 Chinetti sold 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta 0078E to Phil Hill near the beginning of the future World Champion’s career. Chinetti would later hire Hill as a driver, and later still recommend him to Ferrari, who at first put him in sports-racing cars and later added Hill to their Formula One (F1) team. Most of Chinetti’s other sales were kept secret to protect the privacy of his wealthy clients. This is the only one I have!!