How do you define Ferrari “Soul”?

Would a Jag XK-SS stack up, soul-wise, to a 1984 Corvette or Ferrari 456?

I think the limb snapped off.

I wouldn't put any of the 360s on the automotive soul train.

 

Nay, sir! MGTC. 36 degrees F. Top down. 62 mph. Last time your lady will ever accompany. Laughing til you hurt. That, sir is the stuff of memory.

 

For someone that has had a "short life", you are extremely eloquent. My sincere compliments.

With respect to the 288GTO, I would absolutely agree. The designer, Leonardo Fioravanti, is a master. The Dino 206/246 GT and GTS, the Daytona, the 308s, the 288GTO. We lovers of the marque, own him a huge debt of gratitude. I remember back in 1984 when I saw the car on the cover of Car & Driver - love at first sight. When I first saw one in real life (at Gaston Andry in Framingham, MA) and hear the engine - a similar experience. To evoke those feeling from a single glance/sound, that is soul. The coachbuilt days at Ferrari are long gone, and by financial necessity. But that does not mitigate the longing.

IMHO, many newer cars, Ferrari included, have replaced soul/sensuality with technology. I very much like the new 458 Italia, but the front end (especially the headlights) look far too "Stars Wars" for my tastes. Moreover, the lack of a 6-speed manual, all the driver aid gizmos, digital gauges, etc., also somewhat take away from the car's soul. I guess I'm just old fashioned.

 

Well thanks for the compliment. I appreciate it.

What's funny is that in my sleep-deprived delirium I meant to write 250 GTO. But given your own extensive knowledge of the 288 (I must confess, much greater than mine), it sounds like I only made a minor miscalculation. Because it can safely be said that the 288, and to a large part the F40, were the last production Ferraris with true soul.

That being said, my automotive interests are not necessarily geared towards the older models. My favorite is the F50 (on top of sentimental reasons I admire the purity and focus in design, not to mention that it was the first real attempt at "F1 in a road car") and aspire to a 355 GTB in the not so distant future.

Then again, I have yet to experience an older model (328 and before), so my opinion may change in the future. I would actually love to start my ownership experience with a 308/28, but if it just so happens that I have no desire whatsoever to progress beyond that era, I imagine it will be related to the original topic of discussion.

Perhaps I'll even go backwards.

 

Start earlier, with a Vintage 12, even a 330 2+2. A definiton of soul fom that POV: these cars never let you forget you're driving for a second, sounds cannot be matched.

The 308 is 19 years and a techno/comforts step ahead, but still has much the same qualities. Great sounds as well; different, but great. I do miss the carbs but love the insta-start reliability.

I'm kind of going the opposite direction from you in my ownership progression: 330 2+2---> 308 QV GTS ---># 3, thinking 550.

 

No shame at all in that progression...

550 is a modern classic for sure.