Factory Visit August 30, 2005

I have just returned from a visit to Italy which included the GP at Monza on September 4th, and before that a visit to the Ferrari factory on 30th August. The factory tour was superb, I think it's a must for every Ferraristi some time in their life. I saw the very production line my 308 QV was made on in 1984. If anyone is thinking of making the pilgrimage - go for it! The assembly process is like seeing a work of art being created. I never realised that the same group of guys followed a car from start to finish. I thought if your job was to bolt on the front suspension, that was all you did. These guys are talented! At the end of the assembly line in the quality control area, a guy was even using a hammer to 'adjust' the door hinge on a Superamerica to ensure it closed better! I can't see Porsche doing it this way!

Our tour guide was excellent, it was her last tour after 5 years, she is being transferred to the marketing department. The other guests that were meant to join us never arrived so my wife and I, and brother- and sister-in-law had the tour to ourselves.

My brother-in-law is a staunch Porsche fanatic, and a Jenson Button supporter! By the end of the tour though, I could see him becoming more and more impressed, and I think he started to realize why I am so obsessed with Ferrari's. He even bought a Schumi cap and dressed in red for the GP! Maybe we have a convert on our hands.

While we were there, we saw the cordoned off production line where the specials models lie the F40, F50 and Enzo have been produced. It's off limits to the public, but I stuck my head through the door and could see the front of one of the 26 Enzo FXX's! Apparently twice the price of the normal Enzo and not even road legal.

Accross the road is the Ferrari store, where I got a new key ring for my QV and a few bits and pieces, and then we had the obligatory lunch at the Cavallino Ristorante surrounded by rows of drivers helmets and signed photos.

Then on to the Galleria Ferrari. Even better than the factory?? To sit next to a row of world championship winning F1 cars, gave me goosebumps. Also the recreation of the pits, the timing stand, and the cabinets full of F1 trophies were excellent.

There are also a couple of prototypes such as the Mythos, and Le Mans and other sports racers, dotted around.

Lastly on the way out of town we stopped at the edge of the road to look through the fence at the Fiorano track and catch a few glimpses of a 430 being put through it's pre delivery paces on the track. There's no holding back considering this is someone's new car, and the driver seemed on the edge all the time. I wonder how long the waiting list is to get a job as one of the 25 test drivers?

Anyway, I now have lots of happy memories and photos to remind me of my trip to my baby's birthplace (and to bore people with when they come round for dinner).
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Unfortunately you can't take a camera inside the factory, but here are a few of the outside of the factory, the reception area, the restaurant across the road, the museum and Monza.
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Hey Ferrari 360 CS. Good to see another SA F-chatter. Where in SA are you?