Raffi Minasian has collected and restored automobiles for nearly 20 years. He purchased his first car when he was eleven years old and, much to his parents and eventually his own family's dismay, has owned over thirty different cars since. Raffi has worked with professionals as an automobile designer for some of the major automobile companies, as well as developed concepts and products for model car and toy car companies. An accomplished writer and illustrator, Raffi has written many articles for major automotive journals and was recently awarded the "Award of Excellence" from Car Styling magazine for his essay "Transmagination: The Automobile in the 21st Century".

Raffi spends most of his free time either working on cars or devouring a copy of Hemming's Motor News. If he's not spending time preparing a car for a show, he's helping a fellow collector research or restore one of their own. A long time Mopar collector, Raffi has won many first prize awards with his 6-pack 'Cuda and R/T Challenger in local and regional shows. In 1994, Raffi won first in his class at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance in California with his 1953 Pegaso Thrill Berlinetta. A nice victory for a 'regular guy' in a field of millionaires and their top dollar cars.

John & Raffi A collector of not only automobiles, but models, literature, and petroliana, Raffi enjoys all aspects of the car collecting world. As Design Director for Franklin Mint Precision Models, Raffi designed and developed over 300 different automobile models and collectibles over the past few years.

Raffi is featured in the book "Careers for Car Buffs and Other Free Wheeling Types" by Richard Lee, in a special chapter on model cars and how they are developed. Raffi enjoys his work with long time partner and fellow collector John Fitzpatrick Says Raffi, "John and I mix a bit of fun and learning into the car guys world. Cars are great to be around and work with, but they also give you a great sense of the changing eras in American and European style and culture. And we just love to be a part of that experience."

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