Luciano Rupolo, 71, is the fascinating subject of a beautiful documentary called Porsche, Ferrari, Bizzarrini and other fundamental steps in life that chronicles how the world’s oldest existing Porsche was discovered.
Rupolo, who was born in France to Italian emigrants but now resides in Italy, is a former race car driver who has participated in the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio. His garage is full of gorgeous collectible cars, including a stunning Alfa Romeo 2600 and a Ferrari 250 GT/E, but he makes it known that he was collecting cars before it became so “trendy.”
Although all his cars are worthy of the big screen, the main focus of this documentary is a very special car, the Porsche #004, one of the first Porsches ever built (there is no 001 or 002) and the first Porsche ever registered (003 was actually registered after 004). He has a mischievous laugh when he begins retelling how he found the abandoned Porsche and the story just gets better from there, but admittedly has a bit of an anti-climactic ending.
Watch the documentary below and prepare to be delighted, not only by a charming old Italian guy with a big personality, but also by his beautiful cars. You will fall in love with this man and wish he was your grandfather.
