The Invisible Car

Hi Everyone,

Today a lady we know showed up with a man we did not know with the intention of fishing off our dock. The man turned out of be an auto body and paint craftsman. I had both roll up doors open and was working on the 40' Lincoln Zephyr.

The guy got out of their van, walked straight to the LZ, oooed and awwed over it and then went down to the dock to fish.

Hours later they came back up with a fish dinner in a pail and hung around the garage oooing and awwing some more as I cleaned up the mess I'd made while working on the LZ. They stayed for 20 minutes!

At no time did either one of them notice the '84 400i sitting right next to the LZ. I even had the Ferrari's hood up so droppers in could see the V-12.

Evidently people really are oblivious to the 400's design.

Greg

 

To me I get some of the same with my black Mondial Cab. I consider it a blessing. I never have the issues of gawkers and can slip in and out of traffic and park at grocery stores without attracting much attention. I really enjoy driving the car, but I don't need to be seen. I'm also a big fan of the 400. Not in a place to have two Ferraris though.

 

Well for sure I get a lot more looks in my Yellow 355!

Today I was going down to a commercial building I own to meet a tenant- driving the silver 412- Got some ridiculous stares at the gas station, sitting at a red light a guy in a pickup truck was staring across the intersection at the car and I could see his lips say "What The F#ck??"... Passing the local traffic cop working a construction site- I'm doing 1 MPH... He leans into the car and says "Nice Ferrari"!!!

Some days nobody notices it at all- other days EVERYBODy wants to check the car out.

When I had it at the Newport Concours last month it got very steady interest all day- and some really favorable comments.

 

It is good to know that the law enforcement types know what these cars are.

On day one, while bringing our 400i home and driving into our metropolis of 500 souls for the first time, I got the "What the f#*$ is that?" look from our local constabulary of one.

Thanks for the "heads up" about the wider world.

Greg

 

In all fairness, the 40 Zephyr is a breathtaking design. I like the 400 series, but given the choice I'd be staring at the Lincoln too.

 

that's a big part of why i love mine so much...it was such a pleasent change from my first 2 red 308's.

 

I really don't think people are oblivious to the design- not at all. Since it is not a low slung sportscar and usually not painted red or yellow- they don't catch the same kind of attention.

I test drove a 2007 Bentley Continental recently- Black with cream interior- A car so gorgeous it should be illegal- NOBODY noticed it- it's the kind of car only "Car Guys" notice and people notice AFTER they see the Bentley badge. Hopped back into my 412 and headed out- got a couple of thumbs up at honks on the way home. (Oh yeah- a 4 year old Bentley Continental is a little bit nicer than a 23 yr old 412!! but the 412 sounds better)

 

Brett-

On another note- I found an absolute "Time Capsule" 308 GT4...75 13,000 original miles- books, tools, trunk carpet is clean an unfaded- original paint is glossy, original interior has no rips, tears or fading... This car has NEVER been wet in it's life- The first owner told the second owner (Who i bought it from) "Don't ever drive a Ferrari in the rain- in fact, don't EVER wash a Ferrari- you clean a Ferrari with compressed air and a damp cloth..."

And thus it is the most rust free example that I've ever seen... Gonna change everything rubber and see where we are. The care and feeding of 4 Ferraris is like a very, very bad drug habit.