The day you bought your first Ferrari

As I was headed off to war during September 1990 a promise to myself was made; "If I come back in one piece I will own a Ferrari."

Being the pre-internet days and living in a small coastal town in the Florida panhandle my search for a 308 was limited to the Pensacola newspaper and Hemming's Motor News. I looked at a few examples here and there locally but they were either overpriced (90's exotic car bubble) or needed too much work (and still overpriced).

Then one day in February of 1993 my wife (at the time) found a listing in the Sports Car Trader for an 1982 Mondial at a "high-line" dealer in Clearwater. So I thought, wth, time for a road trip. Saturday morning and seven hours later I was looking at a very nice red and tan Mondial 8. Although it was 11 years old with 34,000 miles, it needed some TLC. But it looked great, drove well and was priced fairly at $23,500.

Totally hooked, I wrote a check for $2000 as a deposit and told them, "Please do not cash this check until I get back to the bank and transfer the funds".

Of course, Monday morning they get to the bank before I do... and the check bounces. (see attached)

But I had it covered...

Next, I needed to pitch my scheme to the bank's Loan Department Manager and convince her that this was a win-win for both of us. Especially since almost nobody financed 11 year old cars back then.

Approval came with a nice rate (at the time).

The following Saturday I drove back to Clearwater in a friend's borrowed truck and a U-haul trailer to retrieve my first Ferrari.

About three years later I paid off the loan early and, at that point, I truly and fully owned a Ferrari.
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Awesome story, Phil. Quiet moving, in fact. I understand your passion. I always wanted a 308 as well, but after having the great fortune to drive a number of Ferraris on the road and the track, I eventually decided that the 348 was the best of all worlds for me. Loving mine, and enjoying reading the tales of others who have fulfilled a long-time dream.

 

Thank you for your service, Wade. Very happy that you made it home safely and were able to fulfill a long-held dream.

 

It's amazing how that happens. Some joker has a car/boat/plane that runs fine for years and you buy it and---boom----the failures begin!

 

Phill very well writen, I sat in awe reading your story, just love it.
The reactions from family are priceless.

Cheers
Graeme

 

May 1, 2000. 1996 F355 F1 GTS. 6000 miles. Red/black. Tubi. Wonderful sound. Th sun was shining and I took the long long way home.

 

1999...

From the first time I saw a 550 my goose was cooked and it was only a matter of time until I got one. One day I went into FBH with a friend who had purchased many cars there. Not only was I not planning on buying a car at all, at that time 550's were hot and virtually unobtainable. After a while the guy offered me a test drive in one so I said sure, why not (duhhhh). I drove the thing around for about 15 minutes, returned to the dealership and started sweating. Then came the tour. We were upstairs in the garage looking at all the cars up there. After he told me I could have it for nothing if I could sit in it, I tried in vain to fit my 6' frame in Schumacher's Monaco car, nope! ..

And then...

In the far back corner was a titanium 550 all bagged up awaiting the PDI. We walked over there and he starts with the story. "Yeah, this is a customer's car that's been sitting here for 60 days and he's been wavering. If he drops officially out will you take it right now?" Um, **** YES!!!!! So, we went into his office and he picks up the phone. The guy answers and he says, "Look, someone's sitting here and wants the car, yes or no right now?" (Cue: Jeopardy theme) Then he says, "I'll get you another one when you're ready" looks at me and says, "It's yours!" Come back tomorrow and it'll be ready for you." Boom!

Needless to say that was a very, very long night.

 

I flew to LA to pick it up. Made it 50 of the 400 miles home before it broke down. The 350-mile tow home plus repairs were > $5000.

Also, I broke the windshield ($3800) on the test drive. So that's nearly $10K on day one. What do I win?

 

Win .... a big bill............how about the story has its own thread!.... may be not

 

The guy who bought my last 550 (two weeks before I did) was headed back to LA from Phoenix and had a 14K cat fire after 25 miles. I did everyone a favor by plucking it out from the middle of their lawsuit over the bill.

 

Having sold my Maserati Khamsin after 23 years and bought some disappointing non Italian cars and after 12 months of going to Italian car events, I really felt there was something missing.. I started thinking about all sorts of Italian cars, 3 liter Urraco "nar" , Silhouette great shape bad reviews, and even a Gallard.. a V12 Ferrari wasn't in the equation due price but I always liked 456s from the day I saw it at the 1996 Sydney Motor show.

One quite day at work just after Christmas and a lunch time I went to look at some classic Maserati’s a local classic car shop in north Sydney for something to do, and a quick look at their website I spotted a 456 , that will be sold I thought. and not in my reach "ah well I'll still go".

When I got there and no 456 to be found, I was talking to one of the sales guys I had often spoken to on my regular trips to the shop, I heard a very distinctive sound, and appeared at the back lane the 456, gee I thought that’s nice . After they parked it I was reading the sales blurb..

Manual, dark silver but I love the red interior I think I can afford this.

I then asked a bunch of questions only to be told that someone has dibs on it and the principle dear is looking at his trade in.

OH well I thought to myself “If I miss it there will be others, shame its very nice”,
Let me know what happens and left.
Much later that day I got a text saying the car is “on the market”
I rang first thing on the Friday and orgainsed a test drive on the Monday lunch time, not wanting to appear over keen.

I was then told someone else was very interested.. Yep I thought typical sales ploy….

Monday morning was one of the slowest I can remember, since being a kid at Christmas.

Lunch finally arrived and after the usual pretest drive, paper work, the time finally arrived.

The sound of a V12 starting is an event of its own and remains that way every time I start it.

The test drive was very short and very restricted, as it needed belts doing which was in the price,...... but I was hooked.

456 is a very easy car to drive as they shrink around you, I had one brief squirt in third gear just WOW, the sound the torque... I’m in love.

I did a deal on return and checked out what was thrown in registration and a full belt service.

I went back to the office and told a fellow Ferrari owner and he said “about bloody time congratulations”.

6 pain full weeks passed and small issues delayed delivery.

The whole time I kept walking around saying to myself I bought a V12 Ferrari, and this hugh wave of pride would wash over me.
The day I picked it up I was in a bit of a daze of excitement and anticipation, not a good thing when driving a V12 Ferrari across Sydney on a Friday afternoon for the very first long drive.

A 456M in Titano Grigio tends to blend with the silver and black dominated car colour in Sydney, however the sound of a Pair of TUBIs gets attention.

But the car surprised me the most as I drove it the more relaxed the car and I felt and I finished going the longest way home possible to avoid traffic.

On a quite stretch of road I succumb to want to give it some stick …… Hummmmm this thing is F...ing fast ……….I going to be in BIG trouble if I keep that up.

Home still shaking from the adrenaline, I parked and just stood in awe and still do each time I drive it. What a nice thing V12 Ferrari’s are.

 

Made an appointment with the seller (a dealer) and went to see the car two weeks later after a 7800 miles flight and several hours of drive. Saw the car in flesh at Blackpool UK, gosh, no way I can resist the urge to bring her home. Flew back and waited almost a month as the car being readied and sailed more than 10000 miles to her new home.

Customs cleared and sent the car to local dealer having it sorted out for inspection. And the bad news hit that the engine number was wrong! Took me almost 18 months to get the papers straight.

Finally drove it legally after about 2 years owning the car! My longest wait except for the searching it, which took a little more than 2 years. Itch scratched at last.

 

Thanks Mike, it was a great opportunity (Air Force career) and I miss it, a lot.

 

I was actually pretty lucky considering it was a 170 mile drive home and it didn't overheat on me until I was literally on my street a few blocks from home.

Side note: that water pump a friend and I installed the next week is still on the car. That will be 18 years and over 60,000 miles next month.

Not bad. Probably need to go ahead and swap it out this fall.

 

Mine was cat-related also. It would have been probably been about $10K more if we hadn't been able to find a good used cat!

 

Auto Gallery did the work and the cat was new...

 

Did not actually buy my first Ferrari. My father gave me his 1986 Testarossa on the day I graduated from medical school in 1997. Still not sure which achievement excited me more on that momentous day!! That began a nearly 20 year love affair with the Prancing Horse. My dad was one hell of a nice guy!!!

 

Acquired my first Ferrari on Feb 28 of this year. Can't believe it took me so long to finally get one, but now it's 2000 miles later and it just gets better and better