Interview of Carl Iannalfo April 24, 2007

Interview by J.J. Israel, V.P. of sales

What made you decide to purchase your first kit car?

I got my first kit car because I wanted to build something from scratch and be able to see if all my talents could come together. My father was a whiz at mechanics and I wanted to be better than he was.

Really? When you say “Whiz Mechanic” what does that mean?

He could fix anything.

What was his specialty?

He restored Rolls-Royce sedans acquired during the second world war (when parts and gas were not available) and was known locally as "the man" to see for hard to get English hardware for those cars.

What was it like to complete your first car?

It was really amazing. To think that I could do that with a pile of parts that was something other people could look at, be inspired by and it was fun to drive and it showed a lot of creativity.

It didn’t surprise you that you could build a car from scratch?

Not really. I always had confidence in my abilities. I know what I can do and what I can’t do.

What is the quality of a kit car compared with a regular factory built car?

Today they are very similar to a factory built car. A lot better than the old bathtub fiberglass Volkswagen powered pieces of junk they had when I was a kid. It’s comparable now to production cars.

How so?

In quality, craftsmanship, appearance, the way things fit together, performance. In fact, many are better than most production cars.

So, you are getting more for your money with a kit car?

A kit car is a specialty thing and it actually appreciates over time. It’s a newly created classic, which holds it value.

If you could build your dream car what would it be and why?

I would build a 1932 Duesenberg if they make such a kit because I think the lines on that car are a work of art. It’s beyond transportation. Men and women view cars differently. Guy toys and girl toys are quite a bit different. Men see something in a piece of machinery that gives it a personality and makes it alive. Some designs take on a life of its own.