Robbinsville-based Legendary Exotics gives its clients access to luxury vehicles at an attainable price

by Jessica Jones-Gorman • Photos BY Robert Nuzzie

For years, Chris Winter kicked around the idea of opening an exotic-car business that would allow enthusiasts to drive luxury models from the world’s top auto makers without taking on the considerable hassle and expense that comes with owning and maintaining such cars.

“I had friends who were spending $90,000 annually to take care of cars that they only drove 14 times a year,” Winter said. “So, I started thinking about creating a fleet that could be accessed affordably—a sort of time share for cars where members wouldn’t have to worry about rotating tires, updating brakes, or storing this expensive piece of machinery. You’d just simply get to enjoy the car.”

After considerable research and planning, Legendary Exotics was born. Launched in April 2016 by Winter and his partner, Ron Kaiser—whose experience included managing a technology company for a number of years—the Robbinsville-based business has a fleet of six luxury vehicles, including a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Lamborghini 550-2, a McLaren 650S Spider, an Audi R8 V10, a
Maserati GT, and a Ferrari California. Each can be rented, driven on a racetrack, or taken on a scenic tour. The company’s primary markets are the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania tri-state areas, but the partners also have clients in Boston and parts of Connecticut and Maryland, and are planning to expand to the entire East Coast.

Four customer experiences are available: Rentals, including weekly, weekend, and weekday packages; Scenic Tours, which are customized, pre-planned three-hour guided cruises that take adventurers along some of the area’s most scenic roadways (with a goal of offering week-long tours around the country and, potentially, abroad); “Real-Deal” track events at Motorsports Park in New Jersey and Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, including professional instruction (“Perfect for the novice, and doesn’t skimp which offer the most extensive variety, flexibility, and service—essentially a private time-share that allows customers access to these high-octane models and thrills.

“All four services are common sense ways to add a little luxury into your life,” said Kaiser.

Legendary Exotics is also a family business; the partners’ wives, Elsia Winter and Stacy Kaiser, handle corporate events and corporate finances and accounting, respectively.

Winter has always been fascinated by automobiles. As a young man, after racing in numerous amateur rallies, he worked his way up to the NASCAR level, and from 2003 to
2005, raced part time in the stock car association’s Truck Series. He stayed involved as a specialty mechanic after taking on the position of director of operations at Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey.

“I’ve always enjoyed exotic cars, so even through all of my experiences, I kept returning to them,” Winter said.

He refers to his business partner as the company’s “driving force.” Together with their wives, the partners devised various levels of service to attract a diversity of drivers.

“For $99, our most affordable package, clients can book a track session with a professional driver. And for $499, they can be a part of one of our scenic tours on heart-pounding excitement,” said Kaiser); and Memberships, which will take them through 125 miles of driving and allow them to drive all six models, switching cars with other participants every half-hour. It’s a great bargain, and people really love it.”

With memberships, which range from $5,000 to $15,000, clients are granted points (which do not expire). When a car is accessed, points are cashed in: clients are charged anywhere from 54 to 125 points per day, depending on the model. The company also does private and corporate events.
Winter says the Ferraris are currently the most popular rentals, but more and more clients are opting for the Audi, since that model was featured in movies like 50 Shades of Grey and Ironman. “It’s a very well-known car,” said Winter. “And for many people, it seems obtainable and comfortable.”

In the coming year, Winter and Kaiser said, they will add a Porsche to the mix, as well as a Lamborghini Huracan and a Nissan GTR, and an expanded shop and showroom featuring merchandise and clothing is set to launch in the spring. A further expansion will add space for even more cars, and plans are underway to double the fleet by summer. Winter is also working on organizing a week-long guided tour to Italy, during which members can catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the soon-to-be built Ferrari 488.

“It’s been a whirlwind. I never imagined we’d be this busy in the first few months after our launch,” he said. “Within three years, we’d like to build a clubhouse, and are hoping to reach 500 members. This winter, we’re trying out a Miami location, as well, which will hopefully see as much success as the Robbinsville location. I think this formula works because, even as people are being smarter with their money, they refuse to miss out on the finer things in life. We’re more than happy to cater to that ambition.”

Legendary Exotics
1129 U.S. Rt. 130, Robbinsville, NJ 08691
844.396.8421 / legendaryexoticsnj.com