A Lucky Experience

Apologies for the lengthy post but I wanted to share an experience I had the other day with you. It might seem regular for some of you, but to me it was very, very special. I'm a vintage car nut but don't have the means to dabble myself, nor do I know anyone who owns anything particularly exotic; the nearest I get is peering/drooling over the paddock fence at the Goodwood Revival.

So anyway, having got married a couple of weeks ago, myself and the new Mrs Srvben were on our honeymoon in the Gascony region of South-West France, where we'd hired a boat for a bit. We were having dinner one evening in a very small, quiet village, sitting on plastic garden furniture set up outside a bar in the market square. Sometime just after starters were served, a sudden cacophony of engine noise reverberated around the square, emanating from behind and to the right of me. I wasn't immediately sure what it was; I admit to initially dismissing it as another open-piped Harley (of which I'd seen quite a few in the days before), but as the noise got closer it became apparent that it was something a bit more special. Looking over to my right, and diverting attention from both my wife and the fois gras (which is saying something...), I was shocked to see the most beautiful 275 GTB parking up across the square. Its silvery-blue bodywork glinted in the evening sun, and my initial impression (after the obvious 'bl**dy hell, that's a 275 GTB!) was that it was just so classy - while they look great in reds and yellows, its more muted tones suited it even better in my opinion. Rather than shout 'look at me!', it was so much more subtle; more of a gentle nod of appreciation that a vigorous wave.

The occupants got out and wandered over, looked over the menus of each of the two establishments available and, I'm glad to say, came to the same conclusion we had; they took a table near to us. For the rest of the meal my eyes were split between my dinner, my wife and the car, and not entirely in equal portions. When we were just about finished, my wife developed an irritation in her eye (and no, not of the tearful variety!) so I settled up and we left, my intention being to take her back to out boat to wash out her eye. Mentioning to her that I'd have liked to get one or two photos of the 275 but that her comfort was more important, she decided to disregard me and promptly approached the owner (who had by now finished his meal) and asked if it would be ok for me to take some quick snaps. He was, and even said that it was open and I could jump in if I wanted!

So, take some snaps I did. Unfortunately I only had our cheap pocket camera with me rather than the DSLR, so apologies for the quality. I didn't get in, but did take a couple of dashboard shots through the open drivers’ window. Having taken a quick few shots I wandered back over to the owner to say thanks, and just asked him a couple of questions. He was quite happy to talk about it, and it turned out to quite special indeed. He explained that it is 8047, the Earls Court Motor Show car - RHD, long nose, alloy body, 2 cam, 6 carb. We then both went back over to the car and he opened the bonnet to show me the engine. We chatted about front-end lift, gearbox and engine mounts, torque tubes and the like, and he pointed out a small seem at the top of the B pillar that differentiates alloy- and steel-bodied variants apparently.

Then, quite unexpectedly, he asked if I wanted to jump in and go for a quick spin. I think I must have been lowering myself into the passenger seat before he'd even finished asking! It was dark – black carpet, black seats, black dash – and had that wonderful smell that only old cars have. He fired it up and the cacophony of earlier resumed. We trundled through the narrow streets before heading out of the village. There was a handy straight just outside, and I think we saw about 6500rpm in third; I’m guessing around the 90mph mark. It was just the most fantastic, breathtaking and mesmerising automotive experience I’ve had in my 30 years existence. Through the gears, the engine note hardened before morphing into the characteristic Ferrari V12 wail. I’ve heard that a few times as a spectator at Goodwood, but in the cockpit, feeling the acceleration and trying to take everything in, it was something else entirely. Despite the hot weather, I had goosebumps. I also lost any presence of mind to take any photos or video of the car in action, so in awe I was. We turned round, did the same again back up the straight, and rejoined our better halves who were by now deep in conversation. We then decided to all go back to our boat briefly, as they had expressed an interest in seeing the moorings – so, naturally, I left the wife to walk while I was given another passenger ride! All in the name of providing directions, of course.

I think I’ll remember this experience for the rest of my life. The all-too-brief spin was fantastic, but it was also the owners happiness to talk about it to someone he’s just met, and to give them a feeling of what it is to travel on one of these exceptionally special vehicles, that made it so memorable. If he turns out to be on FChat too, then thank you very much for making what was an already very enjoyable honeymoon even better!

Regards,

Ben
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Thanks for all of your kind responses - I'm glad you appreciate me telling the story. I had a feeling it might go down well here....my wife is now thoroughly fed up with me going on about it and recounting it, practically verbatim, to anyone who'll listen!

My thoughts exactly. 'Blu Celeste' according to Barchetta. I can't think of a colour that would suit a 275 GTB better, apart from maybe a really deep, dark blue - but I'm maybe slightly biased there as the car that first made me really notice 275 GTBs was a dark blue one advertised for sale in some of the UK classic car magazines, around 2001 or 2002 I think; I seem to recall it was slightly modified for track/fast road use and had a nickname like the French Flyer or something. Sounds like a good excuse to dig out all the old car mags!

The owner said it was one of 10 I think; I suppose the other 6 alloy long nose cars could be 3 carb models? Cooincindentally I see that one of the other presumably 9 alloy/long nose/2 cam/6 carb models - 8233 - is listed in RM's Monterey auction in August.

This one is certainly getting driven; I noticed quite a collection of dead insects decorating the front of it! The owner was telling me that he'd only driven it down to his place in France the previous day. He'd set off from somewhere just south of London and drove pretty much non-stop, completing a journey of well over 600 miles in under 8 hours and arriving at about 3am. He said that it cruised effortlessly most of the way at a steady 100mph, with occasional bursts up to around 130 or 140ish. You have to love the French autoroutes!

I got the feeling that this was his first big trip with the car, as he gave the impression that he was really finding out its strengths for the first time; he only aquired the car last year and doesn't live in either the UK or France permanently. He said he was particularly impressed by just how planted and solid it felt at speed, and how tractable and well behaved it was in traffic; he'd owned other 275 GTBs previously as well as other vintage Ferraris - I think he mentioned 330 GTCs. He said that it was impecable in heavy traffic going through Tours, where a 4 cam would have oiled its plugs and left him at the side of the road waiting for the recovery truck. He also said it felt at least as quick as a 4 cam, if not slightly faster.

As an aside the owner also invited my wife and I to visit his chateau the following day, but we had a deadline to meet and weren't able to make it. Sometimes you only realise after the fact that, just occasionally, there are things in life that you really should make time for no matter what!

 

It could well be, particularly if the WA in your name stands for Western Australia. I think I'd have to be monumentally lucky to run into him again any time soon, but I did leave my number and told him to get in touch if he's ever up in Scotland!

Interesting - I was at the 2007 Revival too so will have to trawl through all my photos again to see if I spotted it. I guess it was displayed by its previous custodian then, as the current owner said he's only had it a year; it would also tie in with its entry on Barchetta indicating it was advertised for sale with Talacrest in 2008/2009. I was also told that it had been in the hands of its previous owner for well over 20 years - does this add up with you conversation at Goodwood?

Ben