WORKING -- Josh Zenor

-- Story by Lolita Harper, photo by

HE IS

Dealing Italian stallions

SELLING THEMSELVES

The sleek lines of the handmade Italian automobiles, combined with a

passion for design and technology, first attracted Josh Zenor to his job

as a Ferrari salesman.

Zenor, 28, has worked at Ferrari of Orange County on Baker Street in

Costa Mesa for the past three years -- since the dealership opened.

His job requires only some work, he said, as most of the cars sell

themselves. Some models are sold out until 2005, he said. Mainly, he is

there to keep the customers happy.

“First it starts with a love of the car and the product and the

Ferrari name,� the Costa Mesa resident said. “But what keeps you doing it

is the customers.�

CLASSY CLIENTELE

The best part of the job is the people he comes in contact with and

the relationships he establishes, he said. Clients range from

entertainers to entrepreneurs and industrialists.

“It’s the best job in the world,� Zenor said. “You get to meet people

you normally wouldn’t in a normal 9-to-5 job.�

Zenor could not reveal some of the big names he has done business

with.

“Part of the job is to be discreet about our customer base,� he said.

The salesman said it is surprising how many people in Orange County

buy Ferraris. Southern California is one of the top markets in the world

for the luxury sports cars, he said. The price of a new car ranges from

$160,000 to $235,000. About 75% of his sales are cash sales.

“For a lot of these guys, it’s a reward for lifelong work,� Zenor

said.

And many of those same clients reward themselves over and over, as

most of Zenor’s sales are repeat customers.

FIVE-STAR SERVICE

“We probably give a treatment you would expect from a luxury hotel

rather than a car dealership,� Zenor said.

Customers can call him at any time of the day or night, and he is

always available to help them. Gone are the day-old coffee and stale

popcorn that are found at ordinary dealerships. Well, on second thought:

“Well, our coffee is not much better, but our service is superior,�

Zenor said.

Although he is an expert on them, works with them and loves them,

Zenor does not have an Italian dream machine of his own.

“Unfortunately, I don’t own a Ferrari,� he said.