Back from Ferrari Land with Pics...

Great pics, thanks for posting. That Zonda is amazing!!

 

What's that rounded beastie?

 

Mythos on TR basis.

 

Welcome back Tod!
I want to make the same trip someday... thanx for posting the pics, please post more!!!
Chelle

 

Tod,

Those pics are amazing. Sharp view of the F1 cars and 575. And wow, a true spot of a Zonda! (Not the I heard from my cousin's friend who's boss knows a guy in Canada who saw one in the United Arab Emrites.) How would you compare the looks of the Enzo to the Zonda? From people I met who have had exposure to both, they claim the Enzo looks bland next to the Pagani. The SuperAmerica looks even more strange to me now... what was your favorite part about the trip?

RocketBoy

 

I saw a Pagani and an Enzo a few years back at Goodwood, static and driving. The Enzo doesn't even come close to the Pagani. I like the Enzo a lot and am happy Ferrari had the courage to make that wild design, but compared to the Zonda it looks quiet, Japanese almost. Oh wait, it is...

The hottest part of the Zonda is the quadruple exhaust that looks more like a jet engine. Its downside is the Merc engine. Nothing compares to the roar of a Ferrari 12 cylinder.

When I did Tod's trip, my favourite part was actually all the Ferrari memorabilia all over Modena. Every restaurant has Ferrari and F1 inspired menus and every shop sells Ferrari inspired souvenirs. It is like dropping into a Disney theme park with the topic being the prancing horse.

 

Awesome pics...Thanks for the post..

I plan visiting the motherland after Jr. gets a bit older. I would love to see that stuff firsthand..It's been 20+ years since I have been there.


Thanks!
Vince

 

Nice shots.

Yup, you can park the Smart perpendicular (as in the shot you took). Smart dealers have huge glass towers in which they store/show these things. They are fun and pretty zippy.

I wish you had gone to the Rosso museum. You should plan that for your next trip.

 

How were Tuscany and Siena? I have not been to those 2. I went to the factory, Rome, Venice and Florence. Contrary to most views, I found Venice to be clostrophobic, dirty and a little boring. I loved the others though.

 

Tuscany being a region it is probably one of the nicest pieces of Italian soil altogether. We followed the Mille Miglia route in our rental and enjoyed the hilly area. Some of the pics in Tod's second batch are from Siena, where they have the annual horse race in the town's plaza. It is a lovely town to visit, good for a day I'd say.

At the risk of repeating myself: Go visit the Rosso museum in San Marino. Probably the world's best collection of 250 type Ferraris. Unreal.

 

Too European.


<<Yup, you can park the Smart perpendicular (as in the shot you took). Smart dealers have huge glass towers in which they store/show these things. They are fun and pretty zippy.>>

 

Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes fame was driving one through the streets of NY and loved it. Fast enough for city traffic, small enough to park and attention gathering like a Ferrari.

 

No they don't. There were some plans, but I think they haven't found a distributor's net.

 

Guys, check out the following web site. It is a tour package designed for CAR GUYS like us who enjoy Italian cars. Cost is a little high, approx. $4000/person not including air fare. I would love to go and also did this past March as a divorce present to myself. Maybe next year.

 

ZAP has converted them for US compliance and have sold some.

lots of info and links here:
http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smart_moreInfo.asp

Chelle

 

The story on how the Smart came to life is fascinating btw. Originally it was a project by Hayek, the guy who brought the Swiss watch industry back from its death bed with the Swatch. However he wanted an eco friendly battery powered car. After long back and forth Daimler (?) won and ended up with the combustion engine driven golf cart on steroids. They are a lot of fun, reach US speed limits and come even in convertible shapes (where they really look like oversized golf carts).

I even saw one in the Caribbean this year. Perfect for tiny roads etc. It would be the ultimate Chicago downtown vehicle.

 

They had the Smart Cars at the Chicago Auto Show. I asked if they were coming here and was told "Yes...Eventually"....But,as my 14 yr.old Daughter would say...."As If!"....Like in,"As If I (Me) could fit my large frame into one of those things".... And "As If I'd let my Daughter have one"....Too Small.

 

Sooooo sweet!
Going to have to make my pilgrimage very soon!

 

I'd be happy to help you with the planning. There is so much to do and see there that it always pains me when people miss out.

 

If you really need a Smart and can't wait till they arrive, in the meantime you can get a Fiat 500, which may be even smaller I saw one parked on Clark street somewhere in the general vicinity of Wrigley Field yesterday...unreal!

 

The difference is: The Smart actually works.

 

My buddy, Jimmy is looking for a Fiat 500. If anyone knows of a nice one For Sale. I worry about him driving around on that Little Vespa.....wait....the 500 isn't much bigger... we need to talk him into a Ferrari!!!!...