Decades Under the Hood

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The cars were the stars at a celebration last week to honor Bert Boeckmann’s 60 years in the automobile business. Nearly 850 people turned out for the fete, held at Galpin Auto Sports in Van Nuys, where they oohed at dozens of spectacular specimens on display, such as George Barris’ Munster Koach used in the TV series “The Munsters” and several of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s can’t-possibly-be-drivable fantasy cars. The Petersen Automotive Museum even sent over its famed “round-door Rolls” – a long, black and aerodynamic 1925 Rolls-Royce said to be worth $20 million.

Of course, it was perfectly appropriate for Boeckmann, 83, along with his wife, Jane, to be surrounded by automobiles at the celebration. He started work as a salesman at Galpin Ford in 1953 when he was a college student, and he went on to buy Galpin, which, for 23 years running, has been the No. 1 seller of Fords. That, along with 10 other dealerships, arguably makes him America’s most successful car dealer. (And it might explain why Henry Ford III was in attendance.)

Of course, Boeckmann hit a bump or two along the road of his career. His son, Beau Boeckmann, who was MC of the celebration, told the story about how in the late 1950s, a then-young and eager Bert was put in charge of sales for a new and much touted model. But the salesman, who’s never been given to expletives, uttered one out loud when he got a glimpse of that new car as it rolled off the delivery truck.

That model? The Edsel.

Lip Serviced

Dan Nathanson, managing director at SJ Investment Co. in Santa Monica and a professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, had a mustache since he was a college kid 40 years ago.

That streak ended this month, when Nathanson, 62, was dared by Federico Ferioli, his partner at SJ, to bare his upper lip for the entire Internet to see.

Ferioli posted the challenge to L.A. crowdfunding site Darelicious.com with the goal of raising $500 for Anderson’s charitable organization. Similar to Kickstarter, projects on Darelicious must reach a predetermined level of funding to take effect. (SJ is the lead investor in the site.)

With the help of donations from students at UCLA and some of Nathanson’s friends, the project met its goal. Nathanson went through with his end of the dare – he even posted a video to YouTube for proof, per Darelicious’ rules.

Nathanson said his kids and colleagues liked his new look.

But his wife, Karen, wasn’t so sure. Her reaction?

“Not good,” Nathanson said with a laugh. “I think I might be growing it back.”

Staff reporter Jonathan Polakoff contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].

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