New Italia in the Islands

We live just 20 kilometres from the dealer, so the drive home was quick (and really quite a treat).

Although the dealer kept referring to the car as "my" Ferrari from the time I sat down to fix the specifications, as did the factory when it posted photos from the production line, I did not consider it was truly mine till it was in the garage.
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We are happy campers.
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Noblesse Oblige, that must have been when the US Navy was still at Subic Base? You probably know the place better than me. There is a new expressway that links the North Expressway (at the Clark exit) to Subic. It cuts through unspoiled countryside and is a lovely trip.

Andy

 

Thanks, F430kenrick, Pawlie, Ronnie.

I ordered light grey leather and grey carpets for the interior, which I was told later is not a popular choice among customers, with black and even red being preferred. However, I thought I would order something sedate, consistent with my age, and agreed with the lovely sales rep that a yellow stripe down the center of the seats would match the one on my back very well.

I specified yellow stitching and safety belts. I had some anxiety while waiting for the car that the yellow accents in the interior might be too garish, so the cockpit was the first thing I looked at.

It isn't too bad, I think. The dealer's clients who saw the car in the showroom said they were surprised that the combination of yellow and grey works very well. I hope you don't disagree.

Here is a photo I took at home when the Italia was finally in the garage.

Best,

Andy
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Many thanks, Thomas. I'm glad you like the interior.

Best,

Andy

 

Many thanks, Fred, John, Noblesse Oblige. I appreciate it.

Best regards,

Andy

 

I've of course been taking the Italia out, trying to get to 1,000 kilometres soonest. Ferrari advises not more than 5,000 RPM before then, but the the car accelerates so quickly I;ve had two lights flash on the wheel - 6,000 RPM.

I took this photo in front of my home after a run. From this angle, the car looks very space-age.

Andy
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And finally back in the garage.
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Many thanks, Adrian, 2Veloce, Lukas. The color combination is uncommon, so I was anxious to see how the car would turn out. I am happy you like it.

I see from your avatar, Lukas, that we have similar garage buddies.

Andy

 

Here is the Italia at home. As I mentioned at the beginning of this thread, I struggled with the choice between the Italia and the Speciale, which was so applealing. In the end decided that I preferred the original design, minus the fins and scoops of its faster brother. The understated (if that can ever be applied to a Ferrari), clean lines of the Italia are I think evident in the photo. It reminds me of the Ferraris of the 1960s.

Andy
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I approached filling up the Italia with some anxiousness, as the Italia has no gas cap. It has a flap that provides access to the filler, but no cap to unscrew. One just sticks the nozzle in. I didn't know if the station attendants knew that (we still have gas station attendants here) and if the nozzles would fit. Anyway, the attendant said there were other cars like that, so I filled up without incident. I have been around vintage cars too long.

I wondered whether the half-tank of gasoline I ran around on after picking up the car was from Maranello. In the 458 production line video I watched last night, the woman in charge of filling up newly completed 458s said she puts in exactly 59 litters. So I must have been using Ferrari-supplied petrol for a while.

Andy
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