The Amazing Ferrari Travels From Italy to the US

Escape into the riveting story of

THE DEALER

to learn what really happened to the number one Ferrari dealership in America. Owner Brian Burnett made friends, enemies, and millions of dollars…

Only to lose EVERYTHING in the blink of an eye.

THE DEALER

When Ferrari of Los Gatos opened, few people could afford an expensive sports car. In 1976, the average annual income was $12,686 and a new home cost $48,000. Times were tough, and people were hesitant to take chances, especially with a car that cost more than a house.

At the same time, Brian Burnett and his friend Richard Rivoir had the idea of starting a Ferrari dealership. The Dealer tells the story of how Ferrari of Los Gatos fueled the rise of the iconic Italian sports car in the U.S. market on its way to becoming the number one Ferrari dealer in North America. Even Enzo Ferrari took notice flying Brian and other dealers to Italy to show his appreciation.

Customers were well known movie stars, sports celebrities, entertainers, and some with unusual sources of income and a strong desire for a low profile.

Author Jim Ciardella shares behind-the-scenes stories as told to him by Richard Rivoir and Brian Burnett, their customers and employees, and other North American dealers.

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REVIEWS

“As a former long-time resident of the Los Gatos area, I spent a lot of time hanging out at Ferrari of Los Gatos and I even bought and sold a few cars there. This terrific book provides the fascinating history behind the legendary dealership in a very entertaining way.”

“I knew Richard Rivoir and Brian Burnett over the years, and their story is worth sharing.”

“The dealership Brian built was second to none. There were so many cars on the lot: beautiful new Ferraris along with classic older Ferraris, hot rods, muscle cars, and other hard to find models. I’m glad that author Jim Ciardella took the time and energy to highlight Brian’s passion for cars and show how he built Ferrari of Los Gatos into an iconic dealership.”

ABOUT JIM

Jim Ciardella is an author, storyteller, Ferrari enthusiast, and native Californian.

He’s the author of The Dealer: How One California Dealership Fueled the Rise of Ferrari Cars in America, as well as The FLG Story blog, which recounts the history of the legendary Ferrari of Los Gatos dealership.

Jim met Brian Burnett years after the dealership was gone and listened to stories of how the dealership became number one. Brian finished each story with “And someone ought to write a book about it—I’m not kidding!”

One night, after Brian’s predictable conclusion, Jim told him, “I’ll do it. I’ll write the book.”

Capturing hundreds of hours of interviews from the people who lived the story, and sifting through documents from the period, The Dealer recounts the true story of the rise and fall of Ferrari of Los Gatos.

Jim loves to tell stories, but also believes the written word can weave what people remember into a special journey.

Jim lives in Northern California near his two daughters and four grandchildren.

Escape into the riveting story of

THE DEALER

Only to lose EVERYTHING in the blink of an eye.

THE DEALER

STAY CONNECTED

REVIEWS

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ABOUT JIM