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Interview: Florida Real Estate Agent Is Still Trying To Trade an Island for Supercars

By - August 3, 2016

porsche_918_parachute

We first got wind of Mr. Emilio Cirelli about three years ago. Jalopnik wrote about a Daytona Beach Craigslist ad in which somebody was offering a trade of a $1,200,000 island for a Ferrari Enzo. That person is Emilio. The memory of this wild proposition had faded, but our brain quickly connected the dots once we came across a similar posting this week. Listed on Racing Junk this time, the only real difference was that the listing asked to trade the three-acre island in Port Orange, Fla. for a Porsche 918 Spyder. 

Having a curious mind, I needed to talk to this person and see what was up. Luckily, he answered my cold call. Here’s what he had to say (some questions have been reordered to make better sequential sense):

A few years ago, there was a similar offer for a different car. Was that you? 

“Yes, that was me. I was looking to trade for an Enzo.”

Where are you from? 

“I’m originally from New Jersey.”

How did you come to own an island? 

“I got into the real estate business about 29 years ago when I moved down to Florida. I was in the restaurant business, but I saw some potential in the real estate market, and I always wanted to own an island. Finally, the opportunity came, and I was interested. I actually have two other islands. I have one in Jacksonville and one in Ormond Beach.”

How long have you had this island?

“I’ve had it for about 10 years. I sold it twice, but took it back on foreclosure in 2008. I sold it for $1,000,000 twice at that time.”

Have you always been into cars? 

“I’m a car enthusiast. I have loved cars ever since I started driving. I have had about 40 Alfa Romeos and Maseratis. Back in 1973 I bought my first Alfa Romeo GTV [2000] for $5,700 brand-new from the showroom and GTB.”

What drew you to the Alfa Romeos? 

“The handling, the response, the acceleration. But nowadays, with all the technology, they’re a lot more advanced than they were in the ’70s.”

So why are you offering up your island to trade for cars rather than just selling it?

“Sometimes, with cars, I wouldn’t mind doing the trade. It’s a lot easier. Sometimes [the Porsche 918s], once somebody purchases them, they want a lot more than they pay for them. Most people who bought the 918, they paid around $800,000-$900,000 because they’re limited production.”

What made you shift from the Ferrari to the Porsche? 

“I own a 911, and I feel like the Porsche is one of the best cars made. It’s drivable, less expensive, maintenance is better. You can get in and drive it, whereas the Ferrari you probably can’t drive it everyday.”

He also has a Maserati Spyder:

Have you driven one?

“No, I haven’t. I did a lot of research on them, though. That’s the flagship car. I have the second flagship car they make, which is the 911 Turbo S. Of course, the 918 is an upgrade.”

Why do you like the 918 better than, let’s say, the LaFerrari and the P1?

“They’re more practical. I believe there would be less maintenance, and it’s more drivable. It’s more of a car you could use daily. The others, after 5,000 miles you have to bring them in and have a $30,000 service.”

Would you trade the island for anything other than automobiles? 

“No, just cars. I would consider another car with equal value. Maybe a P1 or LaFerrari.”

So what’s the deal with the island? Can anything be done with it?

“It’s three acres, surveyed, it has an environmental phase one study done, no protected species on the property, no protected animals. It’s ready for development.

So you think it’s more of a commercial space rather than an individual home? 

“I think the best possible use would be a vacation rental. It’s really high and dry. According to the survey, it’s 5 feet above sea level for the most part.”

And if nobody offers you a trade, how much could somebody buy it for? 

“$1,000,000.”

Has anybody made any offers for trades or shown interest?

“Not yet.”

Here are photos of the island, as well as the confirming documents of the surveys:

He’s also taken to Twitter to try to draw some interest.

He’s looking for a trade there, too: 

Lamborghinis and Alfas are also within the trade conversation:

But, of course, the real car he wants is the 918. 

Best of luck, Mr. Cirelli!

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