Do Pantera and Alfa guys have more fun than Ferrari folk?

I doubt with all the mods that they are spending less money (however, they probably do all the stuff themselves...)
Concourso Italiano (2004) had loads of panteras. They were definitely all hand built, no two were alike (unlike us 308/328 guys!).
More fun? Depends on your definition of fun!

 

Aw, don't be too harsh, there were a couple "non-originales" at ICF 2005... But I do see where you're coming from.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I do see your point and have always loved Panteras. If I were to ever sell my Ferrari, it would be for a Pantera. I would then, proceed to build that thing into one sick car.

I see them ALL OVER where I get my 328 work done. They literally have around 10 of them there at any given time. And they REALLY look good. Almost like an older Countach.

Love em.

 

Never. I had an Alfa. classic and new. The happiest day was when I sold it. Never remembered it until you mentioned it just now. A friend of mine got another Alfa with full mod. all tickering like you say, he would sell his car anytime.... it's fun but not Ferrari fun, IMO.

 

Ferrari fun is admiring it in the garage, taking in all the dust-free, scratch-free, rock-chip-free, mileage-free, beauty! Who needs to drive it?

 

The basic cost/fun ratio is probably in favor of Alfas & Panteras (& others). The problem is most italian cars, particularly 80'sl & 90's vintage, are high-maintenance, which skews the cost side and many of the cars can't keep up with the fun side of the ratio. Fortunately, Ferrari's do.

 

You can tinker with your Ferrari all you want, can´t you? Whatever floats your boat.

 

Been there: For ten years, my daily drivers were Alfas -- a Spider and an Alfetta, later a Spider and GTV-6.

Alfa built some durn fine cars. But I remember all the time I spent working on them.

Some of us prefer to spend the time driving, rather than repairing them.

Maybe I'm just getting old.

 

Its at least a different kind of fun. You can tinker with a Ferrari, but unfortunately you'll never be able to sell it (at a decent price). The Ferrari market is way to obsessed with originality. My 911 was completely stock when I bought it, complete with a full leather interior. I gutted it and turned it into a track car. You could never do that with a Ferrari without taking a serious financial hit. With a 911 you can make modifications and increase its value. With a Ferrari you get hurt. As a result, I'll probably always have a project car parked next to the Ferrari so I can have the best of both worlds.

 

The truth of the matter is most of those Panteras are Fu*ked up. You can't find a stock example anymore. Too bad because they are a great car, stock!

 

A part of it is judging standards. Ferrari FCA, Cavallino etc are laser focused on originality. Pantera is not. Same for Corvette judging. Both are more concerned with creativity, mechanical beauty etc. A different viewpoint not necessarily bad. F car judging and I have done it is in my view too anal e.g. points off for Cavalino tire caps.

 

Not at all! We Lotus guys know there's a point where tinkering is over rated. I'd rather have a trouble free car and be driving as well.

Ken

 

Tillman, you should have come out Sunday... the real fun... driving the cars... there were far more Ferraris on the track than there were Panteras. The Pantera that was out seemed to be going alright, but needed some more tinkering... sounded a bit like a Volkswagen.

Fun depends upon the person... I want to drive, listen to, and feel my Ferrari perform, not work on it in the garage. Others want to build something unique in the garage. Different kind of fun.

But it was fun looking in the engine bays of the Panteras... you never knew what you might find in the next one.

 

A close firend of mine has a bone stock white 74 Pantera with 10k miles. He has said recently that he may sell it. It is in Columbia Md.

 

yes

 

I would say yes to more fun for the dollar. But overall they do not have more fun. I had a 1958 Alfa convertible and there was no big group to get together with like you get with the Ferrari. But other Alfa owners were always pleasant and friendly when I was in my Alfa.
BT

 

No, i dont think so. I've been to my fair share of italian car shows and i think alfa people are weird. Hate to say it, the cars are cool but the people are kind of hippyish, anyone know what I'm saying. Still I'd love to have an early 70s gtv, great ride.

 

Well of course. Guys who are buying Subaru STi's are having more fun than Ferrari owners on a much smaller budget. The Ferrari is not about anything but passion. It is unexplainable. They cant be compared with any other car market/demographic.

 

I'll post a pic of my '74 later, pretty much stock except for side mirrors and paint.

 

My '74..

 

try again...
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Nice near stock example!

 

You guys are funny. I was on the verge of buying a 308 QV when a very smart friend talked me out of it. For less than what I would have "invested" in the 308 I have 2 Alfas that put a smile on my face every time I turn the key.
Neither is a garage queen yet both have exquisite Pininfarina styling.
Every time I drive them I beat the piss out of them and bounce off the rev limiter on a regular basis. Do they break, hell no, they love me for it.
Are we Alfisti an odd bunch? You bet and damn proud of it.
Do we have more fun than Ferrari guys? How would I know, but we definitely tend to have fun with our cars.
There are plenty of Alfa owners who are obsessed with originality and enjoy standing around at car shows discussing the finer points of what is "correct". My completely subjective observations lead me to conclude that the majority of Alfisti would rather drive than dress up and stand around a car show while a larger percentage of tifosi would prefer a glass of pinot grigio at pebble beach or a parade drive through downtown.

Oh, almost forgot the necessary hippy part..
"Eat the rich", "Off the man", etc, etc.

Viva Alfa
Hope you all enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login