Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Tesla and two classic Chevys: A look at some of the area’s more unattainable rides.
By Bill Bartlett
HQ 108 | WINTER 2020
I’ve learned a few things doing these articles on the region’s “Coolest Cars.” First, there are some wonderful cars in the area. Second, and even more importantly, there are some truly wonderful car owners here as well. I’ve made some new friends, reconnected with some old ones and enjoyed talking all things automotive. The entire experience has been a real treat for a car enthusiast like me.
In part two of my series, you will notice that I have a penchant for cars from Italy. Case in point, this will be the second Ferrari I’ve showcased. Lamborghini and Maserati are represented as well, and for good reason. Some brilliant and exotic cars are built in Italy, and I think their stories deserve to be told. In addition to the trio of these Italian powerhouses, I found an all-electric Tesla and two spectacular American classics, a 1955 Chevy 150 Businessman Coupe and a 1956 Chevy Corvette.
I’m committed to doing some stories on more typical vehicles in the future, but this article is not one of them. These six cars are unattainable for most of us and that’s why I’ve chosen them. We all know about our grandfather’s Buick. Instead let’s investigate the cars many of us have only dreamed of.
Once again, we’ll go for a spin in most of these exciting and exotic cars. You’ll meet the owners whose personalities often mirror the autos they own. Sometimes it’s a stretch, but more often it’s not. So, buckle up, sit back and enjoy the ride.
FAMILY
Matt Woelfel
2019 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 Gransport
Assembled in Modena, Italy
Matt Woelfel is a family man. As a busy attorney, Matt balances his life between his work schedule, his wife Stacie and their two young boys. We sat in the kitchen of his beautiful home and shot the breeze. He has a very quick sense of humor, and it was good to get reacquainted with him. Matt and Stacie have owned four Chevy Tahoes over the years because they are ideal for an active family. As Matt told me, “They’re great for the family — a big ol’ car with chicken nuggets and Skittles scattered under the seats. We just wanted something fun and durable.” As his kids got older, he started entertaining the idea of something more exciting to drive, but didn’t want to give up all that practicality. He didn’t want a car he couldn’t drive daily or enjoy driving with his family. Plus, he had to consider getting around in the snow during winter.
So, off he went to Pittsburgh to the Maserati dealership. Before going he told his wife, “I’m not going through a midlife crisis. I just want something more fun to drive.” While the idea of a Maserati sounded like the epitome of impracticality, Matt had done his homework. The car he wanted had four doors, was all-wheel drive and wasn’t insanely fast. It could be driven daily and was very reliable. That day he drove home a brand-new Maserati Ghibli (pronounced Ghee-Blee) named after a warm desert wind off the Sahara.
“I hadn’t seen one in town, so I knew I was getting something very unique,” Matt recalled. “I’ve had this car for just about a year now and I’ve had no mechanical issues. I’ve driven through snow. In fact, I drive it to work every day.”
The engine was sourced from Ferrari, so it’s no slouch. The interior is what you would expect from an Italian automaker. It’s beautiful with rich, dark red leather surfaces and every feature a luxury car should have. The black exterior is beautiful with an almost reflective finish.
It was time to go for a spin. Matt fired up the engine and it released an appropriate low growl. There’s a 424-horsepower motor under the hood, but it was surprisingly quiet. I imagined his two boys sound asleep in the back seats on the way home from a weekend soccer trip. As we started down the road, I was surprised at how gently the car handled the road’s imperfections, similar to a BMW or Mercedes. This car is certainly a luxurious family sedan, only it’s a Maserati! I got to drive it briefly and it felt as good as it looks. We cruised through his neighborhood and I lost track of the fact that I was driving an Italian car made by a company known for producing some of the world’s great race cars.
As a family man, I think Matt made a great choice with this car. It does everything a luxury sports sedan should do, only with a little more excitement and intrigue. His boys think it’s pretty cool, too.
AMERICAN DREAM
Matt & Cindy Pinson
2014 Tesla Model S 85
Built in Fremont, California
Matt and Cindy Pinson are a fascinating couple. Matt is an entrepreneur who owns and operates the website Huntingtonnews.net. Cindy is a physician who makes house calls to care for mostly elderly patients. Matt is a high-energy, entertaining guy who loves to talk politics. He’s a Huntington native who has lived here all his life. Cindy on the other hand was born in Beijing, China, and came to the United States to attend Marshall and pursue the American dream. She eventually sailed through medical school and began a career in family medicine. The couple have four children.
The Tesla automotive company is also part of the American dream. Headed by the brilliant and charismatic Elon Musk, today Tesla is the best-selling electric car in the world. The stylish and forward-thinking vehicles are manufactured in Fremont, California.
Matt and Cindy started researching Tesla back in 2013. They share an interest in alternatives to fossil fuels, so this was a no-brainer. One day Matt told Cindy, “Let’s go check one out.” They traveled to Washington, D.C., which was the closest dealership at the time. They looked the car over and then got to test-drive it. Matt recalls the salesman telling him to pass a slower truck.
“I punched it, and I was amazed at how quick the car was with almost no effort or hesitation,” Matt said with a smile. The couple gave the dealership the specifications they wanted and made a down payment, and their car was built and delivered to them in three months.
After chatting with this amiable couple, Matt offered to take me for a spin. Their Tesla sedan is truly a beautiful car to look at with its low profile — it was obviously well thought out by Tesla’s designers. I hopped in the passenger seat and noticed the lovely black interior immediately. This really is a luxurious car, I thought. There is a giant 17-inch, iPad-like screen in the center of the dash that controls virtually every aspect of the car. We backed out of the driveway of the Pinson home and I was immediately struck by how silent the car is. Except for a slight “whirr” of the motor, the car makes no noise. There is no transmission — it’s either go or stop. Matt demonstrated the car’s capabilities on winding roads, and I was amazed at how planted the car felt. We hit a straight road finally, and I experienced just what makes these cars fascinating. They are incredibly quick. The electric motor spins out enormous power, and the launch is instantaneous. Matt told me the car brought out the little boy in him when they first got the Tesla.
“I loved pulling up to a stop light next to a guy who thought he had a fast car. When the light turned green, I blew his doors off!”
Matt insisted I drive the car, and I couldn’t wait. I was amazed at how easy it is to drive. It does everything a high-powered gas car does, only in virtual silence. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The Tesla can go up to 300 miles on a single charge. The Pinsons plug it in every night, and Cindy makes her local rounds the next day and never has to buy gas.
“If you want to go on a long trip, the software on the big screen maps out your trip and shows you where the charging stations are across your route,” Matt explained. “A quick charge takes about 30 minutes, perfect for a lunch break. There are 1,800 ‘supercharger’ stations nationwide.”
When you add it all up — a small business owner, a family doctor who still makes house calls, four kids and an environmentally friendly car of the future — the Pinsons truly are living the American dream.
POWER COUPLE
Sanjeev Sharma & Barb Lahr
2003 Ferrari F360 Modena
Built in Maranello, Italy
2017 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder
Built in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy
Sanjeev and his wife Barb would have to be considered one of Huntington’s “power couples.” They met in medical school while Sanjeev was in residency — Sanjeev actually reported to Barb in the radiology program. Today, Sanjeev is a radiation oncologist at St. Mary’s Medical Center and Barb is a radiologist at the Huntington Veterans Affairs Medical Center. They are two hard-working, successful people who both happen to love exotic cars.
It would be impossible to do this article without including both cars, so we met at their lovely home on a cool Saturday afternoon and chatted in their family room. I was immediately struck by how close they are. They sat right next to each other on the sofa, and it was clear that they are devoted to one another.
After getting acquainted, we started talking cars. Sanjeev explained, “I’ve always had sports cars of some type. I grew up with Japanese sports cars, then had a Corvette that was stolen and then moved on to Porsches.”
When their son Dana came along, sports cars were eliminated in favor of a Ford Expedition. Very practical. But years later, in 2008, they drove by the Foreign Cars Italia dealership in Charlotte, North Carolina, and decided to take a look around. Sanjeev had just turned 40 and the couple thought, “Why not?”
After perusing the showroom, they decided to trade in their Porsche 911 for a pre-owned Ferrari, and the gorgeous vehicle has been theirs for 11 years.
“I drive it a lot,” Sanjeev told me. “It’s been a truly reliable car, and I just love everything about it.”
Our conversation shifted to the Lamborghini. Ten years after buying the Ferrari, they decided it was time to look for a second exotic car, this time for Barb. They made the drive to the Toy Barn dealership near Dublin, Ohio.
“When I climbed into the Lamborghini I knew almost immediately that this was the car for me,” Barb said. “It felt great, and I fit in it perfectly. I seemed to know exactly how to operate everything.”
It was truly love at first sight for Barb. They went back a week later, and Barb drove the beautiful Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder to its new home in Huntington, where it has lived with them for the last year and a half. They recently drove the car to Minnesota and back on a road trip.
“The Lamborghini is actually very pleasant to drive,” Barb told me. “It’s incredibly comfortable for an exotic, powerful supercar.”
It was time for me to find out exactly what she meant. The Lamborghini Huracan (pronounced: ooh-ra-cahn) is one of the world’s great cars, not only for its blistering performance (610 horsepower and 4-wheel drive), but for its incredible appearance as well. The pearl-white exterior and beautiful red interior take your breath away. I fell in love with this car immediately.
The plan was for Barb and me to ride in the Lambo and follow behind Sanjeev in his Ferrari. It was a cool, sunny day, so the car’s retractable top was perfect for a spin around Huntington. We cruised down Route 60 toward Barboursville, the red Ferrari leading the way. I felt like I was the guest of honor in my own personal parade. The looks we got from other drivers on the road were priceless. You rarely see a Ferrari and a Lamborghini in succession anywhere, and I thought to myself, “Man, these cars attract a lot of attention!” The Ferrari’s higher-pitched V-8 and the Lamborghini’s snarling V-10 made this trip even more unforgettable.
As we jumped on I-64 heading back toward Huntington, Sanjeev turned the Ferrari loose and Barb stayed right on his tail as we passed other cars as though they were driving in reverse. Barb let out a “Woo-hoo!!!” as she demonstrated a little of what the Lambo can do.
I would have high-fived her, but thought she should keep both hands on the wheel. She is a very competent and capable driver, and I felt safe wrapped in the beautiful red leather passenger seat. With the top down, I could hear both cars’ engines screaming — sort of a beautiful operatic Italian harmony. When we got to the Hal Greer Boulevard exit we decelerated to reality and were all smiles. Like a kid on a ride at Disneyland, I wished it could have lasted forever.
Barb is a delightful woman with a lovely smile and laugh and a passion for exotic cars. She was generous with her time and seemed to really enjoy sharing her Lamborghini. I loved the whole experience.
The next day I rode with Sanjeev in his beautiful Rosso Corsa (racing red) Ferrari F360 Modena (pronounced: modd-in-uh, and the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari). It’s in near-perfect condition, and it is hard to believe the car is 16 years old. At slow speed the Ferrari seemed to want to “run away,” much like the Prancing Horse emblem Ferrari chose for its logo years ago. I called my wife at home from the passenger seat to let her know we would be passing the house shortly. She came out onto our porch, and we waved as we screamed by on Washington Boulevard. Sanjeev knows everything about this car — its history, its mechanics, its quirks — and how to drive the heck out of it. There is something very cool about watching a guy and his car in full concert as they seem to operate as one.
Sanjeev really cares about this Ferrari and told me he could never sell it. It’s almost a part of him. He’s a neat guy with a great sense of humor, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him.
After getting to know Sanjeev and Barb, I felt that I made two new friends. A power couple who adore two powerful exotic cars … very cool indeed.
The TWINS
Roger Meehling & Ron Meehling
1955 Chevrolet 150 Businessman Coupe
Built in Flint, Michigan
1956 Chevrolet Corvette
Built in St. Louis, Missouri
When I visited Roger and Ron Meehling on a Saturday afternoon, I was greeted with genuine warmth and excitement that I won’t soon forget. When I arrived, the classic cars in this story were both running in the opened garage behind Roger’s home. Ron excitedly told me, “We have their covers off, so come in and see our cars!”
Roger and Ron have been together since 1955 and have remained inseparable to this day. In case you hadn’t guessed already, they’re identical twins; and they are virtually joined at the hip. They grew up in Huntington with three other brothers. Roger is an electrician with Steel of West Virginia. “I’m the oldest electrician there,” he boasted. And Ron is a retired CSX rail engineer. “Yes sir, I was the guy who drives the train,” he told me.
Their dad was a mechanic while their mom was a homemaker. Roger explained that his parents instilled family closeness, so he and Ron built beautiful homes right next to each other in Proctorville. Their surviving two older brothers live right down the street. Their mom and dad would be pleased, the twins agreed.
The two incredible cars in the garage — a ’55 Chevy 150 Businessman Coupe and a ’56 Chevy Corvette — are without a doubt the most pristine examples of classic restored cars I have ever seen. Both have black exteriors, and both are flawless inside and out. And although not identical, they have a lot in common, much like their owners.
They found the Corvette at Mershon’s World of Cars in Springfield, Ohio, in the summer of 2019. They had become good friends with Bob Mershon over the years, and their intent was to look at two other Corvettes that day. But Bob introduced them to the black ’56 Corvette instead, and the brothers immediately knew they would buy it. They went over the car with a fine-tooth comb and negotiated the deal on the spot.
“A big part of us buying this Corvette was that we knew it would go great with our 1955 black Chevy sedan,” Ron told me.
The former owner poured countless hours into the restoration of the Corvette including every nut and bolt before the brothers bought it. The original engine, a 265-cubic-inch V-8, was replaced with a 327-cubic-inch V-8 with a lot of performance upgrades. The new engine not only looks perfect, but it will also outperform most cars on the road today. The stunning red interior is flawless as well. But the car is for show only, so it only gets driven occasionally to local events. This beauty will not see a drop of rain because it is transported in a covered trailer — the guys will travel the show circuit showing off their classic beauty.
The ’55 Chevy sedan has special meaning to the twin brothers because 1955 is their birth year. The 150 designation of the car refers to its “businessman” layout — no back seat. The cars were built for businessmen to hit the road, carrying and selling their wares out of the space where most cars have rear seats.
“We had been looking for years for this model and it nearly slipped through our hands,” Roger explained. “It was in pretty rough shape, but we were thrilled to get it.”
That was three years ago. Since then the brothers have undertaken a full restoration of the car with the help of their good friend, Dale Crace.
“Dale can do anything car-related including engines, paint, body work, you name it,” Ron said.
The three men put together a plan to execute the complex restoration. They started locating and buying authentic parts — screws, body panels, wires, the works.The car has been completely modernized with updated independent suspension and a new Chevy big-block engine. Today, virtually everything on the car is new.
“We bought so many parts from a company called Cars Incorporated that they invited us up to Detroit for the Autorama Show so we could display our finished car.
They knew we had done something special. We won first place at that show,” Roger beamed.
This car is also strictly a show car and will stay covered right next to the Corvette in the same garage until it’s time to travel to a show. It will see the road very sparingly. Both cars are scheduled to be in the World of Wheels show in Huntington in March.
Two wonderful classic cars owned by two great guys — I had a wonderful afternoon spending time with all four of them.
