If you can do a "Glickenhaus"....

Hello All,

First of all, I would like to point out that I don't mean any disrespect to Jim. Even though I have only interacted with him in the forums, he appears to be a stand-up guy and a true gentleman. I just thought to use his name to coin a term regarding the customization/personalization of a Ferrari.

With that all cleared up, I was wondering if you had the means (as in very deep pockets), which current or past Ferrari would you buy and what would you do to customize/personalize it and why? Let me go first:

"Base" Ferrari: Ferrari F50
Why?: First of all, I love mid-engine 12 cylinder Ferraris. Don't get me wrong, the current 12 cylinder front engine cars are beautiful, but there is just something about a mid-engine layout that screams "supercar". Secondly, although the 8 cylinder Ferraris are very powerful in its own right, Ferraris for me mean 12 cylinders and the power and "music" these 12 cylinders produce are beyond compare. Lastly, and most significantly, the F50 IMHO is the last of the "non-digital" Ferrari supercars. It is just pure "analog" fun. There was no floppy-paddle shifting, just three pedals, a gearshift, and the driver's skill - just as God meant it to be! I mean, there are a few things in life more satisfying to an automotive enthusiast as excecuting that perfect heel-and-toe downshift.

Personalization: I would send it to Pinninfarina for its bespoke suit. I would ask them to turn the car to their modern/current interpretation of the 80's Ferrari Testarossa.
Why?: The Testarossa (and the Countach, for that matter) was the supercar of my youth. I remember having a poster of the car on the wall of my room. It was radical and outrageous for its day. It was sexy, the Testarossa was the automotive embodiment of sex! Sad to say, none of the current Ferraris (except for Mr. Glickenhaus' P4/5) gives me the automotive "woody".
My design requirements: Of course, carbon fiber would be used extensively. It has to have the "cheese grater" strakes. I know that this is a polarizing design feature. Some love em, some hate em. I love em! I also want pop-up headlights. It was a supercar must-have back in the day. I would also want doors that open up like the Enzo. I just love the dramatic effect of opening the doors in a non-convetional way. All the external lighting would use LEDs. Even though the 80's Testarossa had non-traditional tailights, for my fantasy model I would have the four traditional round tailights. The engine bay of course should be visible (with led lighting as in the Audi R8) so that I could oggle at the engine whether it be day or night. The interior would have the bare racer-like atmosphere of the Scuderia with a built in roll-bar, carbon seats, etc. It would have a custom sound system, nothing crazy but lightweight and it should have some iPod interface. Although it would not have any automated shifting, I would like shift lights on the steering wheel. The interior "soft-ware" would consist of black alcantara and that high-tech red fabric used in the P4/5 and the Scuderia. Mechanically, I would not change anything in the engine since it is pretty much perfect as it is. Maybe, I may have it blueprinted. A custom titanium exhuast and magnetorheological suspension would be nice. As would huge carbon ceramic rotors (the biggest one could fit with 20" wheels) and 8 piston calipers in front and 6 piston in the rear. The latest ABS technology would be engineered in as well as a traction control system and electronic differential w/manetinno wheel (I need these electronic nannies since I am, admittently, no Schumacher). What else? Hmmmm...custom 3-piece center-lock magnesium wheels. Of course, the car would be red!

What would your fantasy build be?

Cheers,
Andy