Suppose Jim Glickenhaus really did run Ferrari...

jim's plan would be a breath of fresh air to this long time Ferrari owner / lover.

 

It certainly never did the F40 any harm that they built so many.

 

He's spot on with the LaFerrari / revenue comment. Same with Pininfarina, can't for the life of me figure out why Ferrari / Fiat didn't acquire (coming from someone that is ignorant to the situation, so if there were some internal reasons or politics, I'm clueless to them).

 

Napolis is a true enthusiast. I love these ideas.

It is great to see what a car enthusiast would do with the company, rather than some elitist, self-entitled aristocrat. Put a car-guy in charge, and that's Napolis.

 

All good except that F1-road car relevance thing. I want to see speed and excitement. Leave "relevance" to the GT and prototype classes where it belongs.

 

Some are very good ideas and some are very bad ideas. Basically if he ran Ferrari nothing would change.

 

I second all this.

 

I wonder if Jim has any updates for 2016?

What about an entry level Ferrari? Something priced under $200k, like the McLaren 570S.

I like the idea of cutting F1costs because that would leave more money for the road car side of the business. However, from the inception, Ferrari has been about racing (mostly in F1) and funding the program with sales of customer cars. I actually think that Ferrari should evolve to mirror Porsche's business model. Ok, no SUV for now, but there's a lot over there to embrace.

 

I'd be mopping the floors at Ferrari -- cool!

 

Me too!

 

Check his FB....

 

We'd also get some B movie horror flicks featuring a Fezza or two. :^)

 

I wouldnt can the FF.

Id love to see an LMP1 but when you see the ones running today, they are all ugly. Not sure if it's the regulations.

I would really love to see them make a mid engined V12 again. Something between an F12 and a LaF. Raw, lightweight and if possible with a manual. V12 with KERS or without it.

 

Rob, Ferrari are basically already 'built to order' in so far as nothing comes down the line without a build sheet that is either a customer or dealer order. There is NO inventory at Maranello these days. Would the world really be much different if there were 2000 instead of 800 La Ferrari scattered around? All that would happen is that the scramble for first orders would be among those now 'anointed' and then the lesser would have to wait a few months or more for their order to be filled.

 

i agree with making as many laf's as the market wants. why not? the current first owners just flip them and cash the money that ferrari could be making. it didnt hurt the f40, and i dont think it will hurt any genuinely good car.

jim's angle is always bringing relevant racing tech to roadcars, and to make that link more visible and useful. that is the way the supercar business started, so its a proven business development method.

the difficulty with running a company like ferrari is always the balance between being a company for car guys, and making money. jim is pretty good at both of those things, but you never know if the two attributes can be brought together into one entity with success - even enzo didnt manage it very well.

but i can tell you that if jim were heading ferrari, i would make a lot more visits to the factory !

 

If Jim ran Ferrari I'd be a shareholder.

I had the pleasure of meeting him here over 10 years ago and I can say without hesitation he is among the greatest people I've ever met-not because of the cars. The content of his character and his way of doing things, living life etc. is a inspiration to me and I'm sure many others.


Jim has always treated me with the highest respect and he will always have my hugest respect. I've went for several years not spoke to him, we pick up where we left off.

And the exciting news is I'm up his way next week , possibly I'll get to see him, last year he wasn't there. As I stated its not about the cars, of course I love his collection. But the man behind them is even better.

Best
Eric

 

So Jim, any recommendation for Ferrari for 2016?

 

If Jim was CEO of Ferrari the cars after LDM era would be great and more track focused i believe!

Just pure driving.

 

He really is a great guy, on so many levels.

Quick story:

Were on the putting green at Pebble the P4/5 was unveiled the night before( I got a early peek), Jim is there with his hat on and bright yellow cloths, cool as can be. I parked my Enzo next to the trash dumpster about 100 Meyers away(thought that was ironic). When Jim sees me and my girl Kelly he was so happy. I was thrilled to be there and a part of it all.

So Jim opens the door of the car and I noticed the seat fabric, thought it was very nicely designed. So I mentioned it. Jim was so excited to tell me that was his daughters idea, and the whole back story about the seat fabric. His pride in his family on that small detail in the grand scheme of the whole day and how it all stopped so he could share that with us really illuminated his true character. That one little thing right there, I'll never forget. He has his priorities right, I know one other person in LA who is like that. I admire that and do my best to be like that.

That's why Jim impresses me, anyone who has $ can have the cars. But to have character in addition to the toys and not lose your way in life is more impressive than any car collection.


Best

Eric

 

It has been a few years, circa 2010, when I was hoping to attend that years Targa Newfoundland as a volunteer so I contacted Jim about treating him to dinner during a stop-over. He was very gracious and friendly and accepted (unless business pulled him away) and that said a lot about the person/man he is in my opinion.

 

My understanding is Jim is NOT ITALIAN. So the odds of him running Ferrari are about the same as winning the lottery without buying a lottery ticket.

 

Until relatively recently there was no such thing as a non-Italian Pope. Just sayin'.