Why I bought a Ferrari

In 1962, I was a 16 year old living in Sarasota, Florida, and would have died for any kind of car,
including a 1948 Plymouth 4-door with a badly running flathead 6-cylinder.

Simply, a car was distance from parental oversight
and access to the females.

A friend the same age was quite a photo nut, and was a serious car buff in the bargain.
Somehow he was able to afford ( on his high school photo earnings) a
Linhof Super Technica 4 x 5 camera with all the accessories AND repeated trips
to Sebring to watch all the sports car races.

In 1962, his spring Sebring trip produced a portfolio of B / W photo’s of some of
the fastest – and most beautiful – cars I had ever seen either in original photo’s or in person.
The best of the best were Ferrari cars.

My favorite was (I found this out last year – having not seen a photo of that
particular car for almost 50 years) a 1961 250 PF Cabriolet,
black with black, shown with the top down.

In 1962, I knew that someday, I had to have a Ferrari !

In 2008, I discovered I could actually afford – with the
economic downturn, and subsequent drop in asking prices – a modestly priced Ferrari.

I started looking.

Soon, the question came to: which one ?

My list was made small very quickly.

Had to be front motor – personal choice, but traditional.

Had to be 12 cylinder – again personal, but I wanted that 12 cylinder sound.

Price at or below $50,000.00. I figured that I could afford it, even if I drove the living hell
out of it for 10 years (I’m 65 years old now). If I wound up with a worthless
steaming pile of junk, it would be OK.

Also, if the market took a really unexpected turn, and internal combustion engines
were banned from federal highways in 2018, I wouldn't lose my shirt.

Had to be a 2+2. Not a true sportscar, since I already have a red sports car with 650 HP.
Besides, fun to take another couple out in a Ferrari, and see if they ask ”What’ll it do?”

Cannot duplicate a car I already drive.

Wife will accept all the reasoning.

I found the perfect Grigio with Crema / Blue 1999 456M
listed on eBay, at a dealer in Scottsdale, AZ,
with 26K miles and recent belt service
for $40,000.00.

On December 31, 2008,
after waiting 46 years,
I became a Ferrari owner.

Been lovin’ it ever since !

Loving it so much that this week,
my second Ferrari will be delivered.

Watch for it.....

 

Just a little update, since we are now about 30 months
"downstream" from my 1st post, and things have "improved."

I purchased a 2nd 456. A 1995 6-speed in beautiful
TDF Blue with tan interior. This is becoming my
favorite color combination.

The TDF 6-speed was (regretably) sold, but you can't
keep everything for all time.

That car, however, has been replaced by another 1995
6-speed, in a dark grey also with a tan interior. This
has become a "project" car, and spends most of it's
time in the shop, being improved.

My "Sunday car" is now a 575M F1 in - you guessed it -
TDF Blue over Tan.

There are ups and downs in the Ferrari ownership experience,
and I have learned to take the good with the bad, and consider
everything a learning or "bonding" opportunity.

A new friend - Cliff Millender - stopped by this morning to show me his
recently-purchased 430 Barchetta in grey over tan.
Sourced, as my first 456, from Scottsdale Ferrari.

My chat with Cliff reminded me of the many friendships and
companionable times I am associating with the Ferrari cars,
and so to post this update.

My time could be worse spent !

My little garage now has many "yellow and black" boxes,
a collection started almost immediately after my initial
purchase almost 4 years ago.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific/273443-very-strange.html

Lovin' it !

Scott

 

Sorry about that !

I had reached my "maximun" upload limit,
so I joined as a ROSSA member, a
GREAT value !
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Here's a few pictures on one of my RED CARS,
which is NOT a Ferrari !

CAR and DRIVER tested this car:

Eliminator Special - Specialty File - Car and Driver

STREET RODDER discusses this Actual car.

Eliminator Special - Specialty File - Car and Driver

My modifications and testing indicate that with current modern tyres
that a skid-pad number of 1.01 is expected.
A 1/4 mile of 11.2 @ 125 MPH is anticipated.

Pethaps top speed of slightly over 200 mph is in the ball-park.

This will involve fitting a "hard" toneau (dry lakes fashion)
removing the fenders (all the air "under" the fenders will "fly"
the car at those speeds). and removing the windshield(s)
for reduced frontal area, and lowering the car about 2" for
ground effect.

Not fast for me, but great for a
"highboy (without the fenders)"
roadster.
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I was specific about the flat head 48 Plymouth.....

A high school friend had such a car at the time,
and he painted it red with a brush
and (cheap) house paint.

I was too young and inexperienced to understand
the "irony" of the paint job, but he had wheels,
and that I understood !

Scott