Farewell Old Friend

On August 31, 2002, I became the third owner of a left-hand-drive 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS. It was my first F-car, and it's been eight years of absolute pleasure, but now it's time to say goodbye. My beloved car is now for sale, and it's time to start looking for a worthy successor.

The search for my 328 let me to FerrariChat in 2002, and introduced me to a whole new circle of people who have become true friends over the years. The car moved with me from the Czech Republic to the UK and went on some amazing adventures in the process - the first F-Chat meeting in Andermatt in 2004, the first Maastricht raid in 2005, New Year's parties in Belgium in 2005 and 2006, the first Deil meeting in the Netherlands in 2006, Maranello for the 60th anniversary of Ferrari in 2007, followed by the second Tuscany raid right after that.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjinsan/3948160698/in/set-72157607408375300/

My car is immaculate, and I've been a proud custodian, but the time is right to trust her to a new owner - only the fouth in 25 years:

• Herve Gachon - Lyon, France & Fort Lauderdale, USA (Nov 1985 - Oct 1992)
• Johannes Simml - Munich, Germany (Oct 1992 - Aug 2002)
• Mark Pautz - Prague, Czech Republic & Hertfordshire, UK (Aug 2002 - Mar 2010)
• A.N Other - lucky custodian!

I have many thousands of photos of the excellent times I've had with my 328, and you can share a small sample of them here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjinsan/sets/72057594115569189/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjinsan/sets/72157607408375300/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjinsan/sets/72157618232118879/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjinsan/sets/72157623443726709/

And feel free to bid her "bon voyage" here: http://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/view/365407/Ferrari-328-GTS---LHD

So what will I be getting as a replacement? Watch this space! ;-)

Cheers, MARK

 

Hi Wolfie!

Thanks very much for the kind words! Yes - I have shed-loads of data on my car and have really enjoyed collecting it over the years. I have a trip and fuel log documenting every centimetre I have driven in the car, where it went, who was driving and who was the passenger. Every millilitre of fuel and oil that have gone into the car has been recorded and the costs all converted to a base currency (i.e. €). I can tell you how much it costs to run the car per kilometre, km/l, l/100km or almost any other crazy statistic you can think of!

It's been fun...but now's the time to give another car the same pampered treatment! The dark side is always tempting my friend, and I am open to brain-washing!! I am considering all types of toys, and right now don't know what I'm going to end up with. Time will tell.

Thanks you for the important part you played in my 328's history. I remember with fondness my 341.4 km drive from Prague to Laubach-Röthges on June 28, 2003 to meet with you and Robert Fehr. It was my car's first service under my ownership, and the first time we ate and drank too much together Oh, and looking at my data, that particular drive cost 0.13 €/km, and burned fuel at 8.85 km/l at a fuel efficinecy rate of 11.30 l/100km !!

Kiss her goodbye :-( http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1568198.htm

Regards to you and Anja - hope to see you both again this year!

Your friends on the Isle of Mud,

MARK, DEBS & KARL

 

Damn it Eugenio. We're all "growing up" eh? Progress? I wonder!

Remember the great photos of the 328 gang in Andermatt - Mark, Marc, Simon and Eugenio. A wonderful time and permanent memories...

Cheers, MARK

 

Hey guys - remember this cool shot of our cars? Andermatt...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/malfark/1115709/

Cheers, MARK

 

Bringing my passions together: http://www.flickr.com/photos/malfark/4366556102/

Cheers, MARK

 

Hi Simon. Yes - I was thinking of that last night. Be strong, and keep the flame burning...it's still the best looking (commercially available) Ferrari in the world IMHO.

She's also here BTW: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C144321/

Cheers, MARK

 

Appreciated Marc I'm still at the "internet phase" of my search, and have not yet looked at any cars in the metal. But I'm starting to get itchy feet...as there's a garage space to fill!

Thanks for your valuable counsel.

Cheers, MARK

 

Thanks Alex...but both exercises are challenging!!

 

Hi Przemek. I know, I know...

Adding another F-car to teh collection is naturally appealing, but I don't drive the one I have enough and like Eugenio I have three competing motorcycles here, and an Alfa Spider and another motorcycle in South Africa. I can't carry on hoarding!

Strangely, this was a spontaneous decision for me when I saw the smiles on the faces of Eugenio, Ton, Marc and Marc when they got their new cars over the past months. I wanted that feeling again!! The straw that broke the camel's back was being with Ton when he collected his new baby here in the UK. I need that excitement again!

My car is being offered by The Ferrari Centre in Kent - just across the Channel, and close to the Eurostar station at Ashford. The same place Ton bought his car - it's really accessible to the mainland.

Look forward to seeing you in Tuscany...and to being a passenger in Simon's 328!! :-(

Cheers, MARK

 

...and I'll be his overjoyed passenger

 

Thanks Roel - I appreciate the kind words Time for a change - perhaps a 355 or a 360 (if budget permits)! Cheers, MARK

 

Hi Simon,

Lots of bait nibblers, a few bites, but no buyers on the hook just yet. The big issue has been the strengthening Pound. When I put the car on the market, the exchange rate was about € 1.06 = £ 1.00. Today it's at € 1.20. So I guess the car has become a little less attractive for European buyers.

In response I have dropped the price. So if anyone's interested in a left-hand drive 328 GTS in top condition, please take a look on the website of The Ferrari Centre. If you don't know them, this is where Ton bought his 355 earlier this year and they only deal in quality cars.

Also feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the car - it has a history second to none, inculding a spreadsheet of every kilometre, litre of fuel and drop of oil that it's consumed, and detailing all the services, passengers and exotic places it has visited! My email address is my FerrariChat name at gmail-dot-com.

Cheers, MARK