From Escobar (Buenos Aires) – Gregorio “Goyo” Pérez Companc He died today at the age of 89. He was one of the most important businessmen in Argentina and the owner of the largest collection of cars in our country. With the presence of his cars from all eras, Goyo was one of the main promoters of events such as the 1000 Sport Milesthe Recoleta-Tigre and Autoclassic.
“With deep pain we regret to report the death of our partner Gregorio “Goyo” Pérez Companc. We ask for a prayer in his memory”reported today the Classic Car Club of Argentina (CAC), organizer of Autoclásica and Recoleta-Tigre.
Pérez Companc began his car collection with a focus on the Ford Model T. It had conventional units, but also variants such as trucks, ambulances, fire engines and competition variants. His Model T catalog was considered one of the most varied and complete in the hands of a private collector.
However, his passion for cars did not stop there: he continued collecting Ford models with a V8 engine and soon expanded to all kinds of classic vehicles. Her passion spread to all of her children. Each of them also forged their own car collection, but with the focus on different specialties: Luis Pérez Companc -leader of the conflomerate of companies of the PeCom Groupat 52 years old – became obsessed with Ferrari. Pablo Pérez Companc (41 years old) specialized in rally cars and “homologation specials”. Jorge Pérez Companc He developed a taste more similar to his father, interested in American cars, although he also participated in the world of rallying.
Although his iron sons competed at some point in their lives in professional motorsports, Goyo limited himself to the world of regular racing and classic car exhibitions. He developed his taste for full throttle privately, mainly on the private racetrack that he built in Escobar. This track, almost two kilometers long, is located behind the Temaikén park in Escobar and next to the headquarters of Munchi’s, the two passions of Goyo’s wife, María del Carmen “Munchi” Sundblad Beccar Varela.
Next to that circuit are the two warehouses with the largest collection of classic cars that exists on Argentine soil. Each warehouse has two floors with cars on display and was designed by an architectural studio with the intention of becoming a museum open to the public. However, due to various administrative obstacles, the project to open the museum to general visitors never came to fruition. It is a space that, until now, can only be accessed with a special invitation from the family. Perez Companc.
In any case, on occasions of special events such as the 1000 Millas Sport, the Recoleta-Tigre and Autoclásica, Goyo exhibited and competed with various cars from his collection. In the first years of these events, Pérez Companc drove his cars and took them up the award ramps to the applause of the public and the gratitude of the organizers of those events, who were ranked higher by the presence of Goyo’s cars. However, in recent years – whether for health reasons or privacy reasons – the Pérez Companc patriarch delegated that place to his children, grandchildren and close friends of his, such as the former rally navigator Martin Christie.
In Autoclásica, their cars won the prize on more than one occasion “Best of Show”from a Ferrari 250 LM until the Ford Model K which was consecrated in last year’s edition (see note).
All the media in Argentina today remember Gregorio Pérez Companc as the owner of a family fortune valued at 4.2 billion dollars, which allowed him to occupy position 767 in the global ranking of the Forbes Magazine. In Engine1 We prefer to remember him for his great passion: collector cars.
The photos that illustrate this note correspond to the file of Autoblog Argentina and were taken in the first editions of Autoclásica, where Goyo had a predominant role. The history of his participation in those events was published in the archive note: “Before the flood” (read here).
CC text and photos
The farewell of the Ferrari Club Argentino
The Ferrari F1 2004 ex Michael Schumacher was exhibited at the Ferrari Club Argentino stand at Autoclásica and belongs to the Pérez Companc collection.
He Ferrari Argentine Clubfounded by the remembered pilot José Froilán Gonzálezsaid goodbye today with the following message to Gregorio Pérez Companc. The architect Norberto Bressanopresident of FCA, sent these words on behalf of all the club’s members:
“The Lord Gregorio ‘Goyo’ Perez Companc has been one of the first partners of the Ferrari Argentine Club and both he and his family have always collaborated to give prestige to the Official Club of the Brand in our country, with their contributions and their unique Ferrari collection. His son Luis, who continues to belong to the group of members of the Ferrari Club Argentino, has generated with his initiative unique events in the 25-year history of this Association, such as the opportunity to have brought to the country with the collaboration of the Ferrari Club Argentino he F1 2004 With which Michael Schumacher won his last world championship, breaking a historical time record on the Gálvez circuit. The countless contributions that the family Perez Companc has had over time for the Ferrari Club with its generosity, its collection and its passion for the Horse makes this great man recognized and remembered by all of us through times past, present and to come.”
Pérez Companc / Pablo Pérez Companc, Luis Pérez Companc, Jorge Pérez Companc
