Collector sues over LaFerrari Aperta denial

Preston also buys regular Ferraris. I have personally seen his 599 and F12. Not sure if he gets the V8s ones as they might just be a tight fit for him.

 

The guy is 82 years old. Marchonne give him a La Ferrari. Preston is true Ferrari lover and a good guy. He was buying Ferrari's when no one else was.

 

Disagree.
Preston Henn was born on the 20th January 1931.

Marcel Massini

 

So what? He is just a shopkeeper, as they used to say for afluent merchants.

You lot know what? This is the cut throat world that people like Mr Preston Henn support; this is capitalism! He got cross cause he was not offered a LaFerrari Aperta. Boo-hoo!!! People starve to death in Africa and even in his native country people sleep under bridges in carton boxes! Every "Mr Preston Henn" of this world though only cares about his supercar collection, nothing else! Worse still, we here care about his "predicament". Pathetic! Shame on us!!!

 

Then log off Fchat and go serve soup to these people.

 

I do better than that, I support people, but I don't need to apologise about that.

PS: Didn't mean to insult anyone on this board. I am just appalled by this Henn bloke and his vanity...

 

That's not accurate at this level. For the very top collectors, of which he isn't except for that one 275, they don't need to buy any lessor models and don't. They get an allocation because they have significant historic Ferrari's. This is how it happened for the Enzo, etc.

He is arguing that he is in that category. I would argue he is not in the top 10, but I for sure would allocate him one ahead of just your average Ferrari buyer who gets a few of the newer models with nothing else to add to the sport buy a checkbook. I also would not have sued if I was him; that's pretty silly and vain.

 

No. People that buy the "regular" Ferrari's only bring money to the table, and are often on to the next new thing.

The people that have the classic Ferrari's, especially long term owners, have preserved the heritage that makes Ferrari great. They are the true stewards of the period by which Ferrari established itself in the 1950's and 1960's

This is also a branding exercise and you want these new cars to be associated with the classics.

Any hedge fund or private equity guy that had a decent year can go out and flatter himself with a few newer Ferrarti's; that's not passion for the brand that should be rewarded. You need to invest in the soul of Ferrari.

Frankly, if you have the real Enzo-era Ferrari's, it becomes less interesting to own a new "regular" Ferrari. I bought one new once, and sold it a few years later with 150 miles on it. I would rather fire up a Colombo 12 cylinder on my weekend days.

 

Preston told me something 30 years ago "I have no interest in the old ferrari, just like Women , why would you not take the newest thing". I have known Preston for 53 years, and he does buy V8's. He daughter raced Ferrari back in the 1970's. Believe me Preston will make more money off this "Problem" and have enough left over to buy several LaFerraris with the spare change. I mean his name is mentioned in everyone car magazine around the Globe, they now know about the Swap Shop, and his massive car collection. So it just adds to the Legend of Preston Henn, making his Brand world wide. Preston can be hard to deal with, but he is no Idiot. Who else can pay $65 Million for a G650 and then rent it back to Gulfstream for more than the monthly note..... He is not in this world to lose money.
He will be fine from all the publicity.

 

Any more details on the ex-Sara Lee President lawsuit Henn mentioned?

 

I have know Preston since the mid 80's myself. Had a great sit down with him at the Cavallino 2 years ago while we caught up on the good ole days of IMSA racing.
Great businessman and a true car nut.

 

He might be an incredible guy with an amazing past, but the reality is, he has still acted like a spoilt child because he couldn't have what he wanted!

His threat to sue Ferrari because they wouldn't sell him a car, was the adult equivalent of a child having a tantrum in a supermarket because his Mummy wouldn't let him have some sweets! - All that was missing was him screaming in public whilst jumping up and down on the spot: "IT'S NOT FAIR!".

Frankly, I don't think it helps make him a legend - It just makes him look like a pathetic!

 

Definitely your perception but not mine nor many others.

 

Seems to be a US vs UK thing. LOL!

 

I doubt it's only My perception TBH!

How was his reaction any different to a spoilt kid in a shop having a tantrum?

 

I know many collectors that have 250s, 275s, 288, F40, Enzo, etc that didn't get an Aperta, and know guys that bought every single production car for the past 5 years (458, F12, FF, California, 488, TDF, etc) that got the car...

Regarding PH, he is definitely a car nut and big Ferrari fan, however he just wasn't eligible for the requirements of this car, and his reaction was the same of a child...

 

I wonder why he would display his FXX at Daytona if it was still his. I thought I recognized it but didn't see the Swap Shop stickers he had last time I saw it at Road Atlanta years back

 

Does Phil Bachman own this one now..... not sure. But, Preston me he was not sending anything last Thursday. I thought is was #27.... can't remember..... too many numbers.

 

You say he wasn't eligible: how wasn't he eligible? There weren't any known criteria. I think we are debating whether a finance guy that has bought a bunch of modern production cars is more important to Ferrari's future than someone who has proven themselves to steward Ferrari loyally, when it mattered, and possesses a major important Ferrari. If there were other criteria then perhaps you are right but again it is debatable. Could be by deserving dealerships not individuals - they get to chose.


And all the guys I know with GTO's, LM's, important comp SWB's, etc did get them if they wanted. Those are the serious collectors I was referencing, not the guys with (not really important) 250's and 275's, which includes me, and I certainly don't put myself in that category of serious collector I was referencing. But for the important 250's like GTO's, certain comp SWB's, Cal Spyders, and TdF's, and very important 275's like his (not the ordinary 275 gtb/4) then no. But these cars sit in bigger collections so it is the sum of the collection that matters.

Did your friends get the Enzo new on an allocation? If they bought it second hand then they weren't the chosen to begin with, which went to owners of important collections for the most part, like every GTO owner could have gotten one. Many did. And some sold afterward. If they bought it later, who cares, as it's not that important of a Ferrari. Nor is the 288, F40, etc. Those are just production cars. Great cars perhaps, but not important ones.

My point remains that Ferrari should have treated him better, and certainly better than any finance guy that bought a bunch of production cars, as the former is responsible for maintaining the heritage of Ferrari. The latter is a checkbook.

I do agree with you regarding his reaction however. It was the premise that I was debating.

 

Not #27 but #7 . Here it is in the Swap Shop.
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This is back in the good old days.
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Then YOU should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking that way, let alone writing it. May you never end up in dire straits, you might eat your words - literally. Disgraceful.

 

Well said I agree

 

How so? I am not being condescending and judgmental by saying that this discussion is shameful as he is. And if he really thinks so because some people are in dire straits, then any conversation on a FERRARI board is shameful and the time spent discussing this or any other ferrari is wasted time.

 

The allocation system is very frustrating, but we must keep in mind that Ferrari has evolved, especially after the IPO, and they are in the game to make money for the stockholders. From that perspective, they don't care so much about the guys who have been in the game
For 30-40 years. They want to sell more new cars and we can't blame them for that. Im sure many people wish it was different, but at the end of the day it's a 'game' and if you want the super LE cars, you have to play it. They want well rounded collectors. New, old, everything in between, as well as event participation, racing program participation, etc.