of what the senior Minasian had earned in his law practice’s best year.
A running, driving and presentable example, Raffi had to learn to cope with a car for which there was no information and even fewer parts available. Shortly after acquiring the Pegaso (Pegasus), the Minasians took third in class with it at Pebble Beach. It was also the car in which the younger Minasian courted his future wife. “My mother-in-law could hear me ap- proaching from a block away,” he says.
When the elder Minasian died in 1985, Raffi retained the car. Finally, in 1990, after realizing there was no way he could afford to restore it properly, he sold a half share in it in exchange for a full restora- tion. The outcome was a win in the com- petitive Pegaso class at Pebble Beach in 1994. Thanks to Pebble Beach, interest in the previously obscure Spanish marque soared, and so did values. When the car sold in 1995, Minasian divided his share
WHEN MURPHY SAW THE CISITALIA
with his sister, brother and mother; all four were able to place down payments on homes. Now, a really good Pegaso will trade for about a million dollars, with roadsters or one-offs worth more.
IN THE RIGHT PLACE Bill Tower’s strong southern drawl and
folksy speech pattern sometimes lead people to the wrong conclusions. He
WITH ITS FORLORN NOSE PEEKING OUT OF A NEW JERSEY GARAGE,
HE THREW CAUTION TO THE WIND AND BOUGHT IT FOR “MANY WEEKS’ SALARY”
doesn’t have millions, a fact he’ll openly admit, but he does have something a bunch of wealthy collectors would die for: Grand Sport Corvette number 5.
When he graduated from GMI (now Kettering University) as a mechanical engineer in 1964, Tower was assigned to Chevrolet’s racing department, working under the legendary Vince Piggins. Early on he was part of the en- gine program for the Corvette Grand Sport. But when corporate brass learned that these all-out competition machines were built in defiance of the Automobile Manufacturers Association ban on racing, the program was can- celed. When the Grand Sports were steered into private hands, he joined Jim Hall’s crew at Sebring and number 5 made a lasting impression.
After almost 15 years and many GM and NASCAR racing projects he can talk about — and many he can’t — Tower met the owner of his future
Than Bought Rather Be Leased
If You’d
Raise Your Hands!
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