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A book by Kjell Qvale
 I Never Look Back is my life's story. Most people probably know me as an import automobile dealer, which is natural, since I have been selling cars for over fifty-eight years. However, there is more to the story than just automobiles. I have been fortunate to have led an active life and have been involved in a wide variety of personal and business experiences throughout my eighty-six years. Since many of my friends and business associates encouraged me to write about my life, I thought I would give it a try. As a result, I have attempted to highlight some of my more memorable experiences, many of which, you might be reading about for the first time. —Kjell Qvale To order I Never Look Back for $24.95 please contact Donna Aragon
via email at daragon@bmcd.com or via phone at 415.351.5126. Forward
by Keith Crain
Publisher, Automotive News
 It's been a great life.
Kjell Qvale has written a sweet book, a story about a man whose life started in Norway, eighty-five years ago. But it is also a story still in the works, because I'm sure there is still more to come in his life.
In a convincing and homespun manner, Kjell tells about his family leaving Norway and settling in Seattle before he finally calls San Francisco his home. Among the many passions in his life, the earliest must certainly have been skiing and track and field, sports in which he excelled in school and that led to his meeting many interesting people.
But this is principally a story about a car dealer, a car dealer who has led a fascinating life and is still going strong with more worlds to conquer. After his experiences as a pilot during World War II, he came home and initially became a Willys dealer. However, it wasn't long after his involvement with British cars began that his business started to blossom. Kjell started in the imported car business before there was an imported car business. It was a time when servicemen were coming back from the war and remembering the sports cars they had seen in England. Before too long, Kjell was a thriving dealer in San Francisco. He built a large business selling a wide variety of imported brands of cars.
 His story makes it all seem so simple and uncomplicated. When he started to distribute Volkswagens, his business really became a success. But you can tell his heart is still with British automobiles. He sold the good ones and the bad ones, the ones that leaked and the ones that made Lucas electrical parts famous in America for their lack of reliability. Along the way, he met Kay, his partner both in business and raising their family. As if the car business wasn't enough, Kjell also developed a love of race horses early on that continues to this day.
When you read this book about a man with a love of automobiles and horses, you might think this could make a good movie, but I doubt it. I don't think most folks would believe the wonderful life that Kjell Qvale has had, and it's a long way from being over.
Kjell Qvale remains active every day in his dealerships in San Francisco. I wouldn't be surprised if someone came to him tomorrow with another idea about building the next great sports car, he jumped in to try it one more time.
This is the story with all the charm of the man who wrote it, as if he were sitting beside you telling it personally. Kjell tells of his many adventures in a very matter-of-fact manner, and they are all exciting. It is such fun to learn about both his personal history and his fifty-eight years as an automobile retailer on the West Coast.
I'm lucky to know him and I'm very glad he wrote his book. I can hardly wait for the second one.
To order I Never Look Back for $24.95 please contact Donna Aragon
via email at daragon@bmcd.com or via phone at 415.351.5126.
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