anyone in Iowa?

Finnerty-

I agree with you 100%! That was, believe it or not, a part of my desire to start the collection with the 308. I didn't have the car for a week and had to do the fuel pump, accumulator, a few fuel lines, the fuse for the fuel pump (actually bypassed the orig. fuse and installed a spade fuse inline behind the fuse box), and several other little headaches along the way. The car is finally running really well, and as the car is in great shape with low milage, it has been mostly items one would expect with a car that has sat more of it's life than it has been driven. According to the title I have already put more miles on the car than the PO did in ten years of ownership, which is just sad. Enzo's dream was always to build great cars that could be raced and driven hard. I am a HUGE collector of vintage Ferrari photos (Love the "more old photos" thread, and have spent an obscene amount of money procuring images from the Klemantaski Collection!), and it is very evident that these cars were designed to be run! On the upside, I bet I can remove a wheel and wheel well from a 308 faster than about anybody on the planet...

355Iowa-

I think I have seen you a few times in your car, and your car parked as well-I have seen you coming off the interstate twice when I was in my Viper over by Mills Civic parkway, and then this weekend I believe I ran across your car again in the parking lot in front of Waterfront-you have a beautiful 355!

WRCR-If you need a hand on something minor with your car give me a call-I have wrenched on all of my cars over the years, and if it is beyond my scope I know a trucker that will haul your car in an enclosed trailer to a GREAT independent mechanic in Springfield MO for around $400.00.

jmusser3r-I actually live a little West of you in Adel-PM me sometime and I'll give you a shout when I have it out. I usually get it out every weekend, and almost always take 6 in to Alice's road to cut over to Grimes to take my oldest son to Soccer on Saturdays...

 

Oh, I guess I got carried away with my "hijack", and I forgot to respond to the original question....

I'm in the Downtown / Waterbury area (Des Moines).

'01 Lotus Esprit
'99 550 (for another week or so, anyway )
'81 308

 

BRAD ---

I'd be happy to help you out if you'd like ---- what particular problems are you having with your 328? You are welcome to stop by some time, and I'll take a look for you

In addition to my own cars, I've wrenched on several F-chat members' cars over the years.

Send me a PM....

 

308QVDave, Thankyou for your kind offer. It is much appreciated. I definitely agree you must be able to do at least routine maintenance on these cars when located in rural Iowa. Part of the reason I purchased a gt4 was the simplicity of them. I thought given my location(4.5hrs away from the nearest dealer) I should stay away from electronic stuff.

 

Finnerty-

I see in your sig. line you have a 550 "at least for another week or so"-is it for sale? I am going to do a 550 or a 456 sometime this year for sure, and was curious as to why you are moving yours.

I think I have seen your Lotus a time or two at the mall as well-very nice!

 

For what it's worth, I bought my 308 from The Healey Werks in Lawton Iowa. They will work on Ferraris, and were restoring a 275 GTB and a 275 GTS when I was there.

 

Good God ! How long ago was that ?

 

Not for sale --- literally, I am just "moving it" --- to my other residence out of state. I recently purchased the car (a couple of months ago), and I brought it here (DSM) briefly to shake it out and repair / replace a few trivial items.

I sold my 456 and 355 to acquire the Esprit and the 550 The 456 is a great car to be sure, but it pales to the 550 ! Unless you need the additional room in the back of a 456, I highly recommend you go for the 550

My Esprit is silver, BTW so mine may not have been the one you saw. There used to be a yellow one (also a V8) running around DSM, too --- but, I haven't seen it out and about yet this Spring. There are at least (2) other, older, 4-cylinder Esprits in the area as well, but I don't know / have never met any of those owners.

 

Last November.

 

Huh, that is interesting...

Years ago (late 70's / early 80's) there was a guy (I'm sure he is long gone by now) who had a small shop just south of Ames --- right off of the highway and in the middle of "rural nowhere". I don't remember the guy's name, and I don't recall that his "shop" even had so much as a sign out front. But, he was an old-school Lotus / Maserati guru --- specialized in vintage stuff. I stopped in to his shop one day (because I saw a Europa parked out front when I was driving by) to say hello, and I was stunned --- he had dozens of Lotus and Maser engines and transaxles that had been shipped to him for repair from all over the US

You never know what lurks about out there in the sticks !

 

Here's the place.
http://www.healeywerks.com/

Can't speak to the quality of work they do as no real work was done to my car before I purchased it, but they did have some high end cars being restored. A 328 was in for service as well. The facility was new and quite impressive, especially given the location.

 

I've been into healeywerks a few times-very nice people and it looks like they do some nice work! It's just a little East of Sioux City on the North side of Hwy 20. I'll definitely have to stop in the next time I'm through there to see what's lurking in the back!

Finnerty-

I remember that place up by Ames! I ran up there one day shortly after getting my license with a friend of mine that was looking at an old Elan. He had some amazing stuff there that I only now appreciate-at 16 years old it was all just junk at the time!

 

INCONCEIVABLE !!!

I just browsed through their website --- very professional (especially for an auto shop)! Their resume is also impressive. It sounds like the guy came out here after honing his skills in the Chicago area.

They have Ferrari Classiche certification which is truly remarkable!

It seems they specialize in vintage stuff, but from the photos, they do wrench on some modern F-cars as well. I don't know if they confine the work to minor, general things like fluid changes, brakes, etc., or if they are competent to tackle more technical modern Ferrari issues ---- I suppose someone should give them a call sometime and ask them what their capabilities are. If they are fully capable, you guys may just have found your full-service Ferrari shop about 200 miles from Des Moines

Unfortunately, KC is only 180 miles away, and Minneapolis is about 225 ---- So, you haven't gained too much, logistically

 

I was checking out their website last night as well-looks like some NICE cars go in and out of that place! I have to head back up to Sioux City next week and am going to try and budget enough time to swing in there!

 

Good to see all of the Iowa related chatter. I had given up...

I am trying to get Ferrari club going here in central Iowa. Thinking of having an Italian car show this summer at Biaggis in WDM. Good friend from HS runs the place. I am also in contact with the Festiv Italiano folks for this summer. This festival used to be on the south side of Des Moines but this year is moving to the bridge over the river similar to the Arts Festival. They want me to try to organize a "made in Italy" show for this festival. They will rope off an area and secure it for Ferraris, Ducatis, Alfas, etc.

If you are interested in any of this please PM me. Love to meet up with any one interested. Plus I love to show folks my Ferrari shrine room (you might have seen a pic on another thread)

I did meet a gentleman here in DM with quite the collection. 288GTO, F40, Daytona, 575M to name a few. Nice guy.

Brad

 

From the sounds of it, we do have some Ferrari owners in Iowa. Atleast enough to meet at a bar somewhere and get drunk right??? Leaving the cars at home ofcourse. I was cruising Des Moines today. I decided i dont car if it rains on my car. I am driving it, and thats final. If I have to look at it in the garage anymore, I am going to go postal on the next Porsche.

My F355 is a 99', Titanium Coupe.

If anybody wants to get a group together lets quit talking about it, and lets do it.

 

Count me in!

We should try and get together in the next month or so and see if we can organize enough of a group to do both the car show in WDM and the Festiv Italiano. I am traditionally NOT a car show guy, as most of the car shows that I have taken my American and German stuff to in the past has more of a fleamarket feel to it, but something like this sounds like fun!

 

I would do the car show thing. Just as long as my car is roped off and I dont have to talk to people that have any questions. HA! I will be the guy on the sidelines.....

If anybody WITH an exotic car is racing around today, feel free to text me for a coffee or something? 303-842-9536. I usually stay in DSM.

From the sounds of it, hail is a possiability after 4 ir 5 pm. Just gotta keep an eye on it!

Mark

 

Now there's a plan

I used to live in Portland, OR. Many F-car owners out there --- we drove our cars all the time in the rain (otherwise, you won't be driving much in the Northwest). It doesn't hurt them a bit to get wet --- trust me, they don't melt !!

 

It would be great to get together and meet you guys sometime.

Unfortunately, I'm currently without exotic escort (I'm talking about cars, here !)

The 550 just shipped out this morning, the 308 is still "under construction" in my garage, and the Esprit is up at Fox Valley getting some factory warranty work performed (I don't DIY work that Lotus will do for free ).

Hopefully, the Lotus will be back by the end of the month. The 308 may be "idle" for a while......

 

Good drive today. I put a few hundred miles on the car today. The Ferrari needs to be driven as much as I can. I would like to be the first guy (that I know of) to hit 60,000 miles in his F355. Now that would be a success. Too bad the stereo in the F355 is the equivilent of a 1980's boom box mounted on the shoulder of some inner city chap!

Not sure if anybody was out and about.

Also, who here is the best at DIY Ferrari insight? I have some questions regarding my gear shift box. Ruff shifting, and some other minor stuff. I would like to learn how to do some of these things myself. Sending it off 200 miles doesn't sound like a good deal to me. Anybody with a working garage with tools would be great. Learning is what I want to do.

Let me know!

 

Interesting you'd mention 60k...I'm going to hit 60k in my 360 Spider today!

As for DIY or local non-fcar shop on things like 355 tranny, etc, i'm afraid that may be an ill-advised pursuit

 

355 Iowa-

I was out and about yesterday as well-although I was only able to get about a 100 miles on my 308. I went from Adel over to Grimes with my son for his soccer game, and then headed around through Des Moines to stop at Lowes, and then back on 80 to Adel. I wish I would have read your post earlier-I would have loved to meet up!

 

What's the deal? I've heard the rumor before that someone around here supposedly has an F40, F50, GTO, etc., but frankly, I've never believed it. Who is the guy? Where does he hang out? How can we get him to bring his F40 out for meeting?

 

60k on the 360. Thats awesome..... Those cars are built to drive. Glad to hear that. Are you ever on the DSM area?

308 - Would have been nice to get some face time with another ferrari owner. More than likely somebody who knows more about these cars than me.