Boys & Their Toys
From Chevy pickups and Ford Mustangs to Ferraris, Bentleys, Lamborghinis,
and more — meet three local men and hear the stories behind what drives their
passion for fine automobiles. — Mia Stefanko

Gary Peterson
President, Ferrari Owners Club, San Diego Region

What was the first thing you collected as a kid? Mostly model toy cars and planes, although much to my parents concern I also collected lots of jars containing spiders and bugs.

What drove you to start collecting automobiles? It was either hereditary or environmental as my natural father was an enthusiastic car collector. I was always amazed by the different types of cars in his collection. He was not only a collector of fine automobiles but he truly was inspired by the history and beauty of each of them. From an early Maxwell, Ford, Mercedes, Alfa, MG, to a Rolls-Royce built in Springfield, Massachusetts, it was a fun collection.

And when did you begin? Just before my 15th birthday and without my parent’s permission I bought my first car, which was a 1955 Chevy pickup in need of a major restoration. After spending months and months working nights and weekends I realized that I would probably be out of college, married with a couple of kids before taking my first drive in this sled. Because it was unacceptable not to have a ride when I was legally able to drive, I purchased a second car, a used 1965 Pontiac GTO with a blown engine. A few months later and just in time for my license I had swapped out the stock 389 with a beefy 396 Chevy and I was the man in high school! However by the time I graduated I had also earned a reputation with the local cops in our town for speeding tickets.

Do you have a favorite car — one that has brought you the biggest reward either financially or emotionally? Almost every car I have ever acquired has always brought me a great deal of happiness regardless of the cost or reward. While I’ve owned many different cars I still think my all-time favorite is Ferrari. Although in my opinion Porsche is actually a much better driving sports car, it can’t put a smile on your face the same way the noise of a Ferrari does. Even a little 308 has really wonderful sound and is great for short daily trips or long weekend drives.

And is there one out there that would be your ultimate attainment? The Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari FXX, Lamborghini Reventon, and the Maserati MC12 are certainly on my list of newer cars but I still like many of the older classics. Since I really do enjoy Ferrari my ultimate would probably be something like a 1954 121 LM or a 1961 250 GT SWB California Spyder. They all would make for a happy collector!

Dave Darwin
Board Member, 5th Annual La Jolla Motor Car Classic

What was the first thing you collected as a kid? The first thing I collected was marbles!

What drove you to start collecting automobiles? The excitement that comes from owning something special and unique.

And when did you begin? I began to collect cars when I was 15 years old. I’m still only 18 ’til I die! (Bryan Adams’ song, my motto.)

Do you have a favorite car — one that has brought you the biggest reward either financially or emotionally? I just love my Bentley Blue Train. It is one of a kind and very special to me. And is there one out there that would be your ultimate attainment? I like what I have but I’m always curious about fine cars.

Gary Bobileff
Owner, Bobileff Motorcar Company

What drove you to start collecting automobiles? I was fortunate enough in life that in the summer of ’67, my Dad gave me a choice — go to California, and see a girl I met in the Caribbean a few months earlier, or stay here, and he would buy me a 206 Dino. Of course, I did what any logical 16-year-old kid would do. I got the car! (Then I drove to California!) What a summer that was.

And that is when I really fell in love with cars — Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other hybrid Italian cars. They were flashy, fast, sexy, and expensive. Driving coast to coast alone was a beautiful thing. Not too many years later, this fondness turned into an obsessive hobby, which turned into a business. Thirty-eight years later I’m still in the Ferrari and Lamborghini service, sales, and restoration business, and I love it every day.

Is there a car out there that would be your ultimate attainment? I don’t really have the desire for only one perfect car, as I feel that no such car exists. Rather, I believe that there are special cars for special purposes. A perfect everyday driver would be a Mercedes. For sport, on back roads, over the mountain to Palm Springs, it would be a Lamborghini Miura SV. For a track car, it would have to be a Ferrari 250 SWB (short wheel base). And looking to the future, it might be a car that runs on air or water! The key to a landmark car in the historical sense is that it has to be an incredibly successful mechanical design, innovative, and beautiful.

Anything else you’d like to add? As it’s been said, "we don’t own cars, we are only caretakers for the next person to enjoy them!"