I have been helping friends and acquaintances in Europe and in the US for quite some time now. It started humbly enough with helping out the Triumph club in France sorting out local cars for sale. It quickly grew into a passion. I love helping out in facilitating the transaction.

My first recollection of a car was at an early age. I must have been around five years old when I walked in with my parents at their friend's mechanic shop where they were restoring a Bugatti. I don't know if you can imagine what the back end view of a Bugatti leaves as an impression on a young kid. It was surreal. I wasn't sure if I was looking at a race boat or a rocket. This was around 1970 and by then, the craze hadn't started. Pretty much then, it ll started. I was stung by a rare and serious disease, the love of old cars.My Father was loved MGs and old American cars. I grew up seeing an MG TC, TD and TF in our garages. There was also at one point an Auburn, and a Ford, though I can't recall the model. After going through the rough seas of teenager-hood, my first love was rekindled when I ran into a Triumph GT6. It was love at first site. I loved the shape, the low profile. It was aggressive yet seemed jovial. I had no idea what was in it. I soon found out and even got to drive one where the handling and low horsepower of the car never really impressed me. Visiting my parents oldest friends and avid Bugatti and Ferrari collectors, I mentioned the Triumph. It was then I was soon introduced to yet another world, the one of Italian cars. Our childhood family friend smiled at me, as if you would smile a young kid who has absolutely no idea what he is talking about and said something to the effect of, Italian cars are the only thing for him. That trivial sentence plunged me head first into Alfa Romeos and Maseratis.
A few weeks later, another friend of mine was selling a charming Alfa Romeo AlfaSud Sprint Veloce. A front wheel drive with a flat four that would eventually end up in Subaru's performance cars. I was taken in by the car. I started the engine and the symphony charmed me. The gear box was firm and somewhat precise. First gear. It was smooth. The engine sounded happy and wanted to rev up, which I gladly obliged. My first turn was negotiated in third gear and at that point, I was sold. The car was cornering almost flat but with enough comfort. It was my first Alfa and I still miss it. It was a yellow cream color and tan interior. The windows, as in all European Alfas were tainted green. It looked very nice. It was a toned down version of Giugiaro's beautiful GTV of the late 70s and GTV6 of the 80s. It was everything needed, until a wheel exploded in a turn and sent the car head on to a wall. A total loss.A few months later, my Dad bought me a 1984 Alfetta sedan. It was my first take on the famous all aluminum, double over head 2 liter Alfa Romeo workhorse. A 2 liter sedan is underpowered by any modern means but it was such an easy revving engine, it made up for it. I drove it everywhere, even up to the cold lands of Luxembourg. I learned there that Italian cars don't care much for cold weather. Sadly, I had to sell that car to someone who did not take care of it. Some artist named Zivo in the South of France left it to rust. I had another three AlfaSuds after that.
Ten years later, we move to California and need a convertible, of course. At least I convinced my wife that I could only drive Alfas, period. She played along and eventually got hooked also. Our first spider was a 1981 and was black. A year later, another driver decided to make a U-turn and ended up on the front wing. The car was totaled but not without taking out most of the sidewalk curb. Our second and current spider is a 1974 ad still sports its original paint, though in dire need of restoration. After going through two piston rings, we bit the bullet and decided to drop our Alfa club friend's race engine in it. It currently has about 150 hp at the wheel and is a lot of fun to drive. In fact, I surprise quite a few BMWa with it.
A years later, we had to find a sedan. I was never a fan of sedans. We don't have children so the thought of extra seats made no sense. And, most of my friends are challenged by my driving anyway. We found a good Alfa Romeo Milano in a fair shape. It served us well until, I found another joy and pearl, a black 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano. Our original one is now a race queen and ready to terrorize race tracks at the end of a friend who bought it from us. Our current black one is very special. No one had ever sat behind until we bought it. It had been meticulously taken care of by it's precious owner. I had seen the car, and often drooled on it for over a year until my wildest fantasy of owning it became a reality.