Brettski's and Stacy's Interview

Dear Brett,
Dear Dave,

You know the existence of the European Ferrari Club 400, which of I'm a member.
We have a section in the home page called "Interview of the month" I would love to complete with an interview of each of you. (writing in English is a bit hard for me, I apologise).

Dave, I'm interested in talking about the status of the 400 series in the USA, and about your crazy passion for those cars.

Brett, I'm interested in your passion too, and the fact you maintain and restore those cars.


Would you be Ok and happy to join this project ?
We have english members for translation, so no problem !

Kind Regards

Paul
www.f400club.com
[email protected]

 

sure...timing is good as i'm on vacation in BC starting tomorrow, so i can dedicate some time to this over the next ten days.

brett

 

Give me a few days for working on that and translating.
If you can prepare pictures of you and/or the office, in order to adding to the article, it would be very nice.

Paul

 

Dear Brett,

I've asked Beulah and Chris, our lovely british members living in french Normandy, to translate the questions I want you to answer for our interview.
I stay at your disposition for any observation you may have.
Please join a picture of you and/or GranTurismo Garage :

Hello Brett,

Given that you run Gran Turismo, a famous Toronto based garage specialising in the maintenance and restoration of 365’s, 400’s and 412’s as well as other Ferrari models from the same era, it’s clear that you have a very special relationship with 365’s, 400’s and 412’s. Could you give us an insight into the history of this relationship? We’re interested in your background and how you have come to be doing what you are doing. For example:

What sort of things have you done previously?
Have you always worked with cars?
How long have you been running Gran Turismo?
Did you found Gran Turismo yourself?
How long has Gran Turismo been operating?
What has inspired your passion for Ferraris?
And for these models in particular? – were you focused on them from the outset, or is it something that has developed over time?

What are your views about the 365/400/412 lineage ?

Were they good cars in their own time?
Do they remain good cars now?
What are their plus points?
And their drawbacks?
Do you have a preferred model amongst the three? And why?
How do feel about them aesthetically?
Why do you think these models command such a low value?
And what do you predict for the future? – a value increase? - and if so, when might this occur? – have you perhaps already detected any developments?


Maintenance and restoration budget

Do you find these cars difficult to maintain?
What advice would you give in order to minimise problems with them? – drive them as much as possible?
What are the weaknesses of these models, particularly any major and/or recurrent problems?
We’re starting to see restorations of these models: how many have you completed so far? And could you give us a ball-park figure for a restoration budget? How much would you estimate for a good restoration, - not concourse standard -, for each model?

The 400 and North America The 400 lineage has spread extensively through North America.

Do you think that cars are viewed differently in North America, and more specifically, in the United States, from how they are viewed in Europe?
The automatic gearbox and injection were introduced by Ferrari with the American market in mind. You, who know all the models intimately, what’s your view on the automatic gearbox? And any benefits of injection as opposed to carburettors? Which do you prefer: the 400 GT 5 speed or the 412 automatic?
Is an Automatic Ferrari just like an American coupé with a V8, or does it remain a Ferrari?

400 and FerrariChat

You, along with Dave Stacy particularly, are one of the main contributors to the 400 section of FerrariChat. As people in Europe discover this forum, they remain amazed firstly that such a forum exists and secondly, and even more importantly, that its coverage is so extensive. Many members of the European Ferrari 400 club have already found really useful advice on it for their cars. What do you get out of these exchanges? And what do you feel you bring to them?

Final question

Do you own a 400?? And when can we look forward to the creation of a North American Ferrari 400 Club ?


Best Regards

Paul

PS : I will add a link to your website, for sure ! And hope we'll trade all together, for parts or advices.

 

"Crazy passion"? Yeah well my wife just says I'm crazy!
"Passion fou"? Ouais bien mon épouse dit juste que je suis fou !

I'm just a guy who likes cars but I'll be happy to help you in any way I can.
Je suis juste un type qui aime des voitures mais je serai heureux de vous aider de quelque façon que je peux.

 

Dave,

I would like you to be one of the interviewed.
It would be interesting talking 400 & Wine !
I'm from Champagne Area, we have members from Bordeaux, Bourgogne and whatever you want !
Brett has been the first to respond, so you'll be the second ?

Would you agree to be interviewed ?

Regards

Paul

 

Yes, of course.

Oui, naturellement

 

Brett, don't forget me !

kind regards

paul

 

So wheres the interview? I was looking forward to reading it.

 

No where, I haven't any new from Brett ! Brett, are you reading me ?

 

Sorry Paul, i had forgotten about you...but i will get it done over the next week or so.

we've just been so swamped this summer and it hasn't let up yet...the four of us can barely keep up.



brett

 

Wow has it ever been a busy summer for us Brettski!
Good news is work real hard for the next 4 months and then take a well deserved Mexican vacation!

 

I hear ya! I'm in the middle of some interesting projects and more already arranged to be slotted in.

 

great! maybe one month they will want to interview you as well!

 

As a possible future 400 owner and a 400 thread lurker, I am looking forward to hear Brett's answers to the thoughtfully prepared questions by dinopaul.

Having spent some time with Brett, I know a couple of the answers ... but dinopaul has a nice comprehensive interview that would provide me a little better insight into the pros and cons of 400 ownership...and it is always interesting to hear the history/background/experience of the guys that keep the vintage F marque cars on the road.

C'mon Brettski...lets hear it... the hard core 400 followers here have been waiting for you since mid August...

...I feel bad I took up some of your time today when you could have been posting some interesting stuff here


beev

 

I'm just glad Brett got picked to go first

 

That would be great because I enjoy helping where I can plus it's great exposure. The 3 articles Forza magazine did on some of my work helped me in return to which I'm grateful!

 

I love the 365 and 400s, Man at 5000 rpm and over they SING! not much of a downside, rear seating, front engine V-12, warm it up, turn it UP!, and let it rip!

 

Oh ya and by the way Newman, do you wear a sign that says IM! GREAT! because every post you pipe into has the tone of that, sorry but....just sayin.

 

Great is appropriate!

 

Didnt mean to offend was just very interested to hear the interview. After reading your quotes above I think you need the sign more than me because saying theres NO better shop out there is a bold statement.

Thanks Stan!

 

+1
CH

 

+2

 

i'd like to read the interview as well - be great to see !

Look forward to it gentlemen !


Brett, i know how much you love this series - cant wait to see your thoughts.

Have fun !

 

Cool I love GTBs! one of my fav cars!