Lotus/Porsche dealer in Rhode Island 1960's

[NSJ-911]

This is a long shot, but, would anyone know the name a dealership that existed in 1966 in Rhode Island that sold both Lotus and Porsche cars?

My Dad went there in May of 1966 intending to buy a Lotus, but, drove a new 911 home instead.

Anyone?

[xbrumossalesman]

I don't go back that far but in the 70's & 80's there was Colonial in Providence & Inskip in Warwick-- might have been one of these.

[dicklague]

Could it be INSKIP? They were the big foreign car dealers back in RI in that era.

[faverymi]

That's what I heard. But I'm from a later batch so not sure.

[NSJ-911]

Thanks for the leads guys. I will do some research and report. My Dad passed away back in 1983 and all that my Mom remembers is "Rhode Island".

[dicklague]

I just thought of one more dealer and this could be the right one: JAKE KAPLAN

My dad's friend Charlie Rainville worked for Jake and ran many of his cars in races around the northeast.

I think Kaplan was the Porsche dealer in the 60's and 70's.

I am in CA now be I am from West Warwick RI and only left RI after college.

Hope this helps.

[NSJ-911]

Very interesting! I grew up in MA and left for CA for grad school. I have been in the Bay Area since 1985.

Was Kaplan a Lotus dealer as well? If so, that could be the one!

[dicklague]

Originally Posted by NSJ-911

Very interesting! I grew up in MA and left for CA for grad school. I have been in the Bay Area since 1985.

Was Kaplan a Lotus dealer as well? If so, that could be the one!

Looks like his kids are running it now and it is in Warwick they do sell Jags and Land Rovers

Kaplan Auto Group | New Jaguar, Land Rover dealership in ,

Jake Kaplans Ltd
1346 Bald Hill Rd., Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
Sales: (401) 461-2000
You from MA? I went to Holy Cross and spent lots of college years in the Worcester/Boston area.

[NSJ-911]

Small world!

I contacted Inskip and they were not in existence in 1966. Colonial looks to be a Toyota dealer now and Kaplan sells British as you say. I am going to try contacting the Northeast region of PCA as well.

[NSJ-911]

Wow,

I just spoke to Kaplan's daughter. According to her, Kaplans was the only place in RI that sold exotics back in 1966...BINGO!

Thanks for all of the help!

[dicklague]

HEY GOOD FOR YOU.

And thanks for the trip down memory lane!!

She is right, Kaplan has been the only show in town for foreign for a long time.

Hope you find the info you were looking for,

My connection to Kaplan was Charlie Rainville. He was on of their top mechanics and a very successful sports car racer.

His family ran a body shop in my home town of West Warwick, and he opened an indy foreign shop in the same town in the 60s and 70s. He used to fix my Saab 93b and 96 2 strokes back then.

He was the racing director for IMSA for many yeas. Good guy.

[NSJ-911]

I actually read up on Rainville during my search. I wonder if my Dad knew him.

Kaplan's daughter was fascinated by the story. I neglected to ask her whether her Dad was still alive or not???

[NSJ-911]

Isn't Pelican an amazing source!

[dicklague]

Originally Posted by NSJ-911

Isn't Pelican an amazing source!

YUP .....lots of neat stuff here!!

[faverymi]

I found this on a CL add today.

Guy owns a 356 bought @ "Foreign Cars LTD" in Providence RI. Looking for literature.

(in case gets deleted)

Porsche 356 License Plate Frame /Owners Manuals From Foreign Cars LTD.

[kyalami]

Jake Kaplan died many years ago. His daughter, Sherry, runs the the dealership now.