Italian brands roar into new Melbourne home

MELBOURNE prestige car dealer Bobby Zagame this week defied the global economic crisis by opening a massive new $30 million glass-fronted Ferrari and Maserati dealership.

Described by Ferrari Asia-Pacific president Marco Mattiacci as “one of the best facilities in the world”, the modern 10,000 square-metre facility covers three levels and has an expansive frontage on busy Swan Street in Richmond.

Mr Zagame (pictured below) began planning the dealership even before being appointed a dealer for the two Italian brands three years ago and, although he concedes that “now is not a fantastic time for prestige brands”, he said that such trends are cyclical and that the new facility is a long-term investment that he expects will pay dividends.

He said that sales have grown dramatically in the past three years, and Maserati Australia general manager Edward Butler credited Mr Zagame for playing a significant role in making Maserati “the fastest-growing prestige brand in Australia”.

“Our new dealership had to be the equal or better than any other Ferrari and Maserati dealership in the world,” said Mr Zagame of his aspirations for the new facility.

“It rates as one of the largest in the world, which is a significant vote of confidence in the economy of Melbourne and Victoria, and we have ensured that it contains the technology to match that found in cars that carry the Ferrari and Maserati badge.

“Our dealership has taken its inspiration from Ferrari in Formula One in so many levels. And, like Formula One, where it is good to have won past championships, they are nothing compared to winning this year’s championship, so we will continue to work to offer better service and better facilities every day.

“Our new dealership is the not the completion of our work, it is just the start.”

The dealership has space to display around 30 cars on both the ground floor and middle floors of the building, and for the grand opening a number of classics belonging to customers were on display.

There are also 50 undercover bays where customers can store their precious possessions and have them maintained, ready to go at any time, for a cost of $800 a month.

For many customers attending the official opening of Zagame Ferrari and Maserati, it was also their first opportunity to see the new Ferrari California, which made its Australian debut a few weeks ago at the Sydney motor show and already has a two-year global waiting list.

Around 200 orders have been taken in Australia for the new folding hardtop-convertible, which will arrive here late in the second quarter of 2009 – around the same time as a new Ferrari/Maserati dealership will open in Sydney.

Zagame’s expansive service area on the ground floor has nine work bays that can be viewed from the main showroom area through floor-to-ceiling windows so that owners can watch work progressing while enjoying a cup of coffee – Italian, of course.

Mr Zagame said he expects to win back a lot of service work that has gone to small specialist workshops, but has no ambitions of offering a full restoration service for owners of old cars.

The Richmond facility was designed by noted Melbourne architect David Earle, a former racing driver and Ferrari enthusiast who once owned a 308 GT4.

Mr Earle said that the most impressive architectural feature is the huge central wood and marble staircase that sweeps up to the upper floors, where there are offices, lounges, a special delivery area and even a library.

However, his favourite among a number of detail features is the sound of an F1 Ferrari that roars every time someone walks through the automatic-opening doors on the ground floor.

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