What got you in to Ferrari

Brilliant, spine tingling stuff.

My dad was mechanically minded although a carpenter had a way with all things mechanical and loved cars. He passed that down to me and my brother and even my sister in a small way. I'm addicted to motor cars.

I consider myself and average chap. I would never have thought I could ever own a Ferrari but then I was always a Muscle Car fan. Wanted a 1971 Mustang, British Ford Capri or Jensen Interceptor. They were the cars I idolised as child and recall going to the local library (well before the internet) in the early 70's looking at such cars in books. Even then I would never have thought I could own such a car (Capris being the exception, it was the working man's UK Mustang equivalent).

As years passed I loved the Capri and the Mustang but the latter from Bullitt made me appreciate the 60's Mustangs much more.
As I approached my 40's I'd decided a Mustang was for me but unfortunately my then wife had other ideas. "Look for something else, something a bit more modern". I looked at TVR's, Jag's and Porcshe 911's but could not get away from the idea of a Mustang. I then happened to be reading a Jeremy Clarkson book, one of his newspaper columns that find their way into a book.
"A Ferrari for less than £20k", this would have been 1997/8 and that caught my attention. If you like cars you know something about Ferraris and about their heritage. I could not believe any Ferrari could be so cheap. He was referring to a 308 and as I found out a ropey one at best.
My then wife approved (until the time came to buy it ). I bought a Mondial and never looked back. I can't imagine being without a Ferrari, it scares me. I still lust over the Mustang but it would have to be aside a Ferrari.
Ironic in that I have never yet owned a Jensen, Mustang or Ford Capri.

I then became hooked on Alfa Romeos. They are almost as important. Love Italy and Italian food. Quite like the Italians too. In it for all now

 

No, I don't know Alain Prost, didn't even know he lived in Gland. But Schumacher has his house just around a bend from mine (mind you, by house I'm talking about the entrance to his residence, which is a fair bit larger than my home and is situated maybe 50 meters from my place).

 

by making lots of wrong choices............... I am kidding. Me pappy raced Jags on the beach in Daytona with Bill France. This was 1957, and a new car company had been out for almost 8 years called something like "Ferrari" and they seemed to be a winning car. So I just came to it by natural selection. I did not there were other cars that were greater than the magnificent Ferrari.

 

The mystique and colorful history of the brand, Magnum PI, and ultimately curiosity.

I went to FCI to see what they had in the late '90s. A very cool and enthusiastic salesman took me out in a 328 GTS and drove that thing they way they are meant to be, before handing it over to me.

I went home with that car in the next few days and never looked at cars again the same way.