2394: Luigi Chinetti

Luigi Chinetti Jr. is this year’s Grand Marshal at the fourth annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. His father’s pre-World War II life in Milan and Paris with Alfa-Romeo as well as Talbot-Lago, led to his becoming the exclusive North American importer of Ferrari automobiles and the founding of the North American Racing Team. NART gave Luigi the opportunity to fulfill his own ambitions of racing and designing automobiles. He has done both, finishing 5th overall at Le Mans as well as winning his class at the Daytona 24hour Endurance race in a 312P Ferrari with a body he designed himself. He has also overseen the restoration of a number of highly significant Ferrari racing cars several of which required complete restorations. Luigi has distinguished himself both as a driver and designer.