Watkins Glen, 1949. Paul Farago parades his Farago Fiat in streets. Color photo by Eric Davison.
By Eric Davison
The entry list of racing cars for the 1948-1950 events at Watkins Glen was a mixed lot and most were cars produced before WW2. One of the few new cars and arguably one of the most attractive was the Farago Fiat.
Paul Farago was an Italian from Calabria, Italy who immigrated to Detroit with his family in 1930. Paul’s father operated a bus line and Paul was a skilled mechanic by the time the family arrived in Detroit. He quickly established himself as an expert on foreign car repairs as well as a race car driver on local Michigan dirt tracks.
When WW2 broke out Farago served in the Army Air Corps. When the war ended he established Farago Auto Service at 18725 John R. Street between Detroit’s Six and Seven Mile Roads. His business flourished as the private garages of Detroit and its suburbs spilled out all the wonderful cars that had been put on blocks for ‘the duration.’
Farago was also a charter member of the Detroit Region of the Sports Car Club of America. The Region had been formed when Bill Woods and his brother Jack placed a classified ad in a Detroit newspaper. The Woods brothers were sports car enthusiasts and were the owners of Woods’ Motors on Detroit’s east side. They sold MGs, Hillmans and other miscellaneous imports. [Read more…] about The Paul Farago Story