| Author | Message | ||
| Bruno (Originalsinner)
Intermediate Member Username: Originalsinner Post Number: 1096 Registered: 5-2002 |
I always thought it looked dumb or bubble gum if u will. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1278 Registered: 10-2002 |
Dave Wrote and Directed The Exterminator. Simply Ex Produced Frankenhooker. Frank Hennelotter (Basket Case) wrote and directed that one. | ||
| Paul Loussia (Bumboola)
New member Username: Bumboola Post Number: 31 Registered: 3-2003 |
Now you know why I called it a "roof"  | ||
| David Harris (Dakharris)
Junior Member Username: Dakharris Post Number: 167 Registered: 6-2001 |
In California, a "roof" is what we park our cars under and a "top" is something that is covered by a boot. I didn't even know that the Barchetta is equipped with a top. What for? | ||
| Paul Loussia (Bumboola)
New member Username: Bumboola Post Number: 30 Registered: 3-2003 |
You guys don't know what "goofy looking" is until you see a 550 Barchetta with the "roof" on. I burst out laughing when I saw the first one at my local dealer being rolled off the truck. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1643 Registered: 8-2002 |
Bill: 1953 342 Cabriolet s/n 0234 AL. (Remember, Leopold's 375 Plus Cabriolet s/n 0488 AM also had the altimeter!) | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1494 Registered: 1-2002 |
I think he did "The Exterminator" before doing "Frankenhooker".  | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1040 Registered: 12-2001 |
Ah, the Exterminator, now that would have been a car! I've never seen 1777 in the flesh, but to my eyes, at least in the pics (and i thought it was black at one time, Wayne?), it is one of the most beautiful. The barchetta looks pretty good in motion, but it is a large potato. Black does much to hide the ungainly rear end. The other convertible that sets my heart abeat is that old cabrio, with altimeter which was owned here in Westchester for a long time, got sold a couple years ago, and just made the resto- Pebble Beach scene recently.Wayne, help me out here (again!)(BTW, the barchetta is no hardship to drive).[David Harris: you are a "card." ] | ||
| David Harris (Dakharris)
Junior Member Username: Dakharris Post Number: 165 Registered: 6-2001 |
You guys that don't like the Barchetta are so right! The guy in this picture looks like a real ninny. He must be UNDER 4 feet tall. Look at that little windshield that he can barely see over and that big roll bar! At 200mph, this car looks great, but up close it just doesn't do it for me.  | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1276 Registered: 10-2002 |
Wayne It was a long time ago in Calif. Tom Meade (remember him?) took me to see the car. 1978? I'm not sure who owned it then. He was trying to get me to finance a seris of 250GTO spyder bodies to be mounted on 275GTB chassis. Coco was also involved and sketched out a design on a placemat a IHOP. Coco still owned the NART name and wanted to call them 250 GTO NART's. I deceided to Produce and Direct "The Exterminator" instead. Something gained and something lost in living every day... | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1636 Registered: 8-2002 |
Were you one of those prospective purchasers? | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1274 Registered: 10-2002 |
Wayne That's how I felt when I sat in it! Best | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1634 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jim, this is what Ed Niles had to say when he was asked how he could have sold such a beautiful car: "...and the car suffered from some of those niggling little problems that one-offs frequently fall victim to. Such things as a top that was ill fitting and hard to work, seats that weren�t too comfortable, etc. But the real killer (if I may be allowed to put it that way) was that the corner of the left side wind-wing frame was only 2 inches from the driver�s left eyeball. It was almost impossible to drive the car without thinking of hitting a small bump and (as mother used to put it) putting out my eye. (I always used to wonder where it was that I was putting the eye.) In fact, I�d had quite a bit of difficulty selling the car for that very reason. Any number of prospective purchasers responded to my ads, and upon seeing the car, said 'I�ll take it, how much?' Then they would sit in the car and this look would come across their face. I could tell, after the first two or three lost sales, what was going through their minds. Eventually, I found a buyer who didn�t care about his left eye, and the bank, the buyer and I were all happy campers." | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 1271 Registered: 10-2002 |
Wayne Beautiful but undriveable unless you are 4foot2 and don't mind stareing at top of windshield frame instead of road. (Nembo) Best | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1632 Registered: 8-2002 |
Doc, no one's saying the car doesn't look great from the front. In fact, the two best views of any 550/575 are head-on and from overhead. I like the design of the 550, it's just what they did to the rear of the Barchetta that irks me. As Grant said, it "couldve been soooo much better..."  That said, I wouldn't mind having one either! | ||
| Mike Clark (Vipersrt)
Junior Member Username: Vipersrt Post Number: 102 Registered: 10-2002 |
My only beef with it is that unless you are 6'8'' and 250 lbs, you probably look goofy driving it becuase you look so small in it. Other then that, its a bbeautiful car. | ||
| Dr. Shelbee (Shelbee)
Member Username: Shelbee Post Number: 278 Registered: 12-2002 |
I disagree. I would not mind having a Barchetta although it is a "slow car". This one is my favorite, black with tan sports seats.  | ||
| Jason Fraser (Jfraser)
Member Username: Jfraser Post Number: 346 Registered: 3-2001 |
Bob, Couldn't agree more...To me that is automotive perfection!!!! | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1173 Registered: 3-2001 |
L. Wayne, how does a car get any better looking than that? Wow. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1037 Registered: 12-2001 |
yep. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1629 Registered: 8-2002 |
Bill, is red okay?  | ||
| GThomas (Ferrariartist)
Junior Member Username: Ferrariartist Post Number: 119 Registered: 2-2003 |
my least favourite part are those roll bars... i know their necessary to pass safety... but on the 360 with that cool fairing on the outboard side and the bar cascading up, over and down toward the centre... with just the right arc. The barchetta... too high and pointy looking... should have given up some trunk space and made a full folding top a'la 360... instead of some half-way effort... and to think it has the name 'Pininfarina' couldve been soooo much better.,. GT (just my opinion... OK? i know there are owner(s) of them on here... ) | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1036 Registered: 12-2001 |
Hey, L. Wayne, amuse me and post a shot of sn 1777, the Nembo spyder, if you have it in black. I agree about the roll hoops and the backend on the 550 b. No offense taken. I was following a 360 coupe briefly today, the rear of the car was wonderful in motion. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1625 Registered: 8-2002 |
I know opinions are like, well, you know, but I've always thought the 550 Barchetta design was very poorly executed. Dave is right on. | ||
| Tenney (Tenney)
Member Username: Tenney Post Number: 369 Registered: 2-2001 |
I like the aesthetic very much. Would like it more, still, w/out the Barbie hoops. Same thing re:360 Spider. | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 455 Registered: 4-2003 |
Funny Mike, I always found the exact opposite with the 1956 T-bird where I feel the driver looks waaaaay too big for the car! Jack | ||
| Mike Clark (Vipersrt)
Junior Member Username: Vipersrt Post Number: 100 Registered: 10-2002 |
I think it is like some women out there, from far away, they look hot, but you get closer and you have to turn away and ask what were you thinking? No offense to any owners, just my observation. | ||
| Manu (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 724 Registered: 2-2002 |
Err.... I think it's one of the best-looking Ferraris EVER.... utterly fantastic - beautiful. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1489 Registered: 1-2002 |
I think it is a very ungainly & ungraceful car (no offense intended, Bill Hart!). The 550 body does lend itself to a graceful convertible, but, IMO, those ENORMOUS roll hoops & shortened windshield ruin all sense of proportion on the Barchetta. They make the back end look big-butted, and the shortened windshield just adds to this sense of misproportions... | ||
| Mike Clark (Vipersrt)
Junior Member Username: Vipersrt Post Number: 98 Registered: 10-2002 |
Okay, this is just my observation. I think the 550 Barchetta is a beautiful car, its stunning. But whenever I see someone driving one, I think it looks goofy, the car always swallows the driver making the driver look really small or the car looks to big for the driver. Anyone else see this? I think that a 550/575 hides this look due to the roofline. The 360 spyder looks a lot more "in proportion" I think. |