Mine as well.

 

Automotive story telling at it's best. Infinite rep for you Sir !!

What's your opinion about the modern F-cars i.e. the 599GTO or the 16M ? Have you ever driven one of them and if yes can you compare it to the feeling of driving the 250 GTO ?

 

The lusso is my favorite Ferrari after the GTO. You had some of the best ferrari experience ever before you were legal drinking age.

 

Most of my experience has been with vintage models though I can talk about the 308GTS/4 valve, the Testarossa and the 355, all of which I enjoyed. The big difference is between mid and rear engine placement and the dynamics that imposes on the way you drive the car. With earlier models, there was never a need to make sure the tires were warm! A friend wrapped his 348 around a power pole for lack of this consideration--he now drives a 550. What I love about the vintage models is the sound of the V12 with timing chains and, especially, velocity stacks on the carbs so you can hear the engine breathing.

Here are my impressions of a modern I drove:

Last night, the Elysée Wednesday gathering culminated with my being handed the keys to a red Ferrari 355 Spider F1 by its very gracious owner, his only warning being that the hard tires were cold and he had once gotten the car perpendicular to the traffic pattern by applying just a little too much throttle under similar circumstances. I took heed.

Turning the key to the first detent, we wait for the fuel pump to fill the line, which takes but a moment. Then a twist and the engine bursts immediately to life at what seems to be a high-rpm idle. This is what I've always experienced with Ferraris as opposed to other, slower idling machines. The car wants to go.

Foot on the brake and a gentle pull on the right paddle and we're in first gear. We move off easily, the car giving exactly what I ask of it--no more or less. It exhibits a precision of execution that says racecar to me. We turn the corner and I wind it up to about 5000 rpm when a flick of the finger on the right paddle moves us into second gear. We're to 4500 rpm and another flick puts us into third. When I have to slow for the intersection where I need to turn, I brake and a flick of the left paddle takes us back to second gear. Another returns us to first. Nothing could be easier. There is a feeling of perfection to all of this. It feels right.

As I drive this Ferrari with the top down hearing the sound of the engine echoing off the trees, it does what all my Ferraris have done--it entertains and, in the process, reminds me of why Ferrari has been the only car rather than merely a good one. The suspension, the steering, the general feel of the car all reward the driver--me, in this case. Beyond the physical dynamics of performance, this car also engaged the senses and even the intellect, which is, in part, the definition of fine art.

I was tentative and respectful with the car as one should be the first time behind the wheel, but I was impressed by what the car offered me and aware that it had so much more to give once I came to learn its ways.

My thanks go to the generous owner of this 355, an Elysee Wednesday regular, who I will not name out of discretion.

 

Wow, where did you come from! It's a great honor to have you on the board with this much knowledge of classic cars and the ability to tell your stories in such an interesting and literate way!

It must have been amazing to have owned such fine pieces of engineering at that age! I can only imagine... I am longing very much for getting my second car (ever) soon, but that won't happen until I start to work in about 2-3 years hopefully. Have got to finish that graduate first

Feel very free to share more of your stories on the forum if you have the time!

 

Thank you very much for that detailed response !

You must spread some Reputation around before giving to krasnavian again

 

Incredible stories! Wow. Thanks for sharing.

 

Though it sounds like I'm exaggerating, I actually did and said--with a straight face--all these things:

Back in the day, I acquired a Dino 206 (serial number 002, renumbered from S/N 0852) racing car from a bank in Reno, Nevada. It had been repossessed from the previous owner, the bank wanted it off their books and I know an entrance cue as well as the next fellow when I see one. I called the banker, told him I was getting on a plane within the hour and told him to wait for me even if it was after hours. Amazingly, he did.

I was greeted and escorted to the lower level of the underground parking facility where the car had been abandoned from the look of it. Next to the car were crates of spare parts--pieces that couldn't be had for love or money in the normal course of events. I stared at the car with what I hoped looked like profound sorrow and disbelief. I shook my head in a disappointed manner as often as I dared. Then, without comment, I led the banker back upstairs as though leaving behind a particularly distasteful crime scene.

Negotiating the purchase price was a riot of cross-purposes. The bank had long since closed and all the banker wanted to do was be rid of me so he could go home to dinner whereas I made myself comfortable in his office enumerating at length all the reasons why I shouldn't buy the car, which included the following statements:

Too many spare parts--what in the world would I do with them?
It doesn't seem to have air conditioning.
Do you suppose I could install power windows?
If only it weren't red.
Do you think it's safe to drive?
It's kind of old, don't you think?
Could you allow for some bodywork repair?
I just know it's going to be too noisy.
How am I going to get this mess back to Los Angeles?
I suppose you expect me to take those crates, too.
Is there a warranty?

I went on and on like this until I figured I had reached his breaking point. Then I said, "I'm going to make you an offer and I can only hope that you'll say no because I really shouldn't be buying this car."

His face fell because he was now fully--if incorrectly--aware that he had absolutely no leverage in this transaction. And he wanted to go home. "So," to quote from Fargo, "there's that and there's that on top of that."

I called out an amount that would have gotten me shot in any other circumstances and he just looked at me as though his career with the bank was coming to a bad end. "I'll have to let you know tomorrow because someone else is flying up to see the car in the morning."

I countered with, "But I'm flying back tonight, so good luck with the other guy." Ten minutes later, I'd arranged for funds to be transferred to the bank and was in a taxi headed back to the airport. I doubt that anyone ever paid less for a competition Dino than I did that day. For a short time at least, Dino 002/0852 was mine.

I do hope the banker got through to the other fellow before he got on a plane to Reno.

 

Now That is a gorgeous car.

 

This thread is kinda like you writing a book were you get instant feedback and questions from the readers. I really enjoying this