How wold were you, where were you and what emotions did it create? For me it was a two stage thing - first saw one in about 1978 - it was a boxer - one of the kids dads had brought it to school sportsday, kids crowding round it to sit in. God i was envious! My dad only had a ford Granada But then I sort of forgot about them until 1998 when i drove past the showroom in Loughborough. Didnt have the guts to go in, just peered through the windows ... Two weeks later i heard a loud rumbling from a neighbours driveway, his brother had popped round in a 355 GTB... god that sound was incredible! I was hooked
1976 i was at a car show with my Dad and there it appeared in front of me, a silver boxer it made an impression that still stands to this day.
Mid 60s, Ingliston race circuit near Edinburgh. I was taken by my godfather's son, who was a car nut and had a Jag Mk1X. He pointed out a car to me and told me it was a Ferrari. No idea what it was, but from a dim recollection it was probably a 250 Pininafarina coupé or a 250GTE. First one I got up close to was a green Daytona in 1971, belonged to a stylist we used at the photo studio where I worked.
I remember seeing a Testarossa when I was about 12 or so. Just incredible. It was parked in a no-parking zone in front of a shop, but nobody seemed to mind - it was drawing a huge crowd of admirers. I just love the side strakes. Then when I was about 20 or so, I followed a 328 around a roundabout near Durham while I was an undergraduate. When I got to Scotland, sightings dramatically increased - I saw a 355 on a country road, lowered my windows, and tried to keep up with it for as long as I could to listen to it. Naturally, it disappeared into the distance pretty rapidly and I wasn't in audible range for very long, but what a treat! Before the owners of the last house I was renting sold, I used to live near someone who has a 360 Spider - and is also reputed to host dinner parties that Debbie Harry (Blondie) attends. There's also a 360 Modena at a private exotics dealer (various marques) I occasionally drive by. I went to Knockhill last year and saw a 348 in person for the first time - that was terrific!! I even posed next to it for a quick picture. I tried to talk to the owner for a bit, but he got a phone call that seemed urgent and wandered off to take it. When I checked back later, he'd gone. Oh, and three days ago I saw a 430 Spider on the M8 - I gave the driver a thumbs up but he either didn't see me or was ignoring me. Oh well, it was still a pretty big thrill. So yea... sightings for me have been pretty few and far between, but I've appreciated them all! All the best, Andrew.
Not sure about my first Ferrari in the metal, but the first Ferrari which I remember and made an impression was the 246 dino - The Persuaders. All I could think of was such a stunning car in a beautiful location. I guess that has stuck with me all my life, and to be fortunate to have driven & parked my fcars outside of Hotel de Paris on more than one occassion is something which never goes away Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mate of my dad's had a 330 America (though I didn't know that's what it was!!!!!!!!!!) Which he used to smoke about in & generally create mayhem in South Wales circa mid 70's (& at the same time my dad was seen as a trendsetter for owning a series of Toyota Celica's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Had the same car, in the same colour (Argento) in my Top Trumps pack. So that's the 1st. BUT I'd also say that going back into the mists of time that were my childhood (effoff Steve - before you make any comments about the 1870's) that even seeing a Porsche then was an event! Al.
b******!!!! Can't remember the first time I saw a Ferrari, but I can remember the first time I ever saw a supercar. Lamborghini Countach parked up near my home. First Ferrari I ever had a ride in was a blue 348 and then a black 308 GTS on the same day and owned by the same 19 year old.
At school in Broughty Ferry (outside Dundee) in the early 70s there used to a regular drive by of a green Dino reg. was CAT 17 knew then it was special and a Ferrari, unfortunately though I still occasionaly see the plate it is no longer on a Dino in fact last spotting(of the plate) was on a cavlier!!!!! Andrew if you ever spot me on the road or at knockhill always wave(or talk) as I always return the compliment, silver 355 GTS F1 reg C6 DMG.
Very rich family. I think the black 308 caught fire whilst driving. He also had a 928GTS and a few other cars. His older brother also had a yellow testarossa with blue interior. This was around 1993/94 Must be good to be rich
Will do, Dave! Do you run your 355 all year or is it currently snuggled up in the garage away from the salt? Indeed. When I was a teenager, I once babysat overnight for my figure-skating coach and her husband. They were part-owners of a private hospital and he was a consultant oncologist on call. My coach was out of town so they needed someone to stay in the house in case of any emergencies. Anyway, I played hide-and-seek with their boy...... well, let me tell you: big mistake in a 12 bedroom house! After about 20 minutes of not knowing where he was, I started to panic so figured out the house's intercom to ask him to come out. I told his dad about that when he came back and he thought it was pretty funny. Nice place though... they had an indoor pool, a half-size basketball court, their own gym, and a room where they installed a miniature golf course. They had a few Mercs, but I can't say they were particularly 'car people' and didn't choose anything exotic. While I was there, they let me try tea-spoon of Beluga caviar... interesting experience. When I told my parents about that they were pretty surprised and said that was probably a $50 mouthful. Haven't heard from them in years... I wonder if my old coach still has her skating school. I wonder what their premiums were like.
Daytona and an Espada parked side by side in the local Vauxhall dealer !, must have been about 1975, both cars were £5k
It was when i was a kid with my dad at the motor show, i think it was Birmingham. I cant remember the year but it was before 1990. There was an F40 on the stand amongst some other Ferraris and i think also a Porsche 959 there too
Can't remember my first sighting, but I do remember watching Magnum PI and saying that one day I would have to own a Ferrari. 25 years later it was job done
1985, driving a 7.5 truck, spotted a bright red Mondial parked up outside a dealership near West Bromwich, swung around and parked up to take another look. I never was too bright as a kid... I used to deliver to Redditch alot and often stopped at Paul Matty Sportscars in Bromsgrove, a Lotus and Lotus Sunbeam specialist, loved pouring over the various 'Beams, Esprits and Elans.
Nowt new there then. Dont remember the first one I saw,too long ago,but my gaffer gave me his 308 for the week,as long as I put it on the rolling road we used for the race cars.I drove it once,most disappionted in the performance,parked it up for the week.It was 30 years before I drove another.
I moved to Zandvoort (holland) when I was 4... There's only 2 roads leading to the track so I saw supercars often. First one was a Testarossa when I was just about 5. My uncle took me to the track every weekend (dad neither had the time nor the interest to go there with me, mum loved to but was busy with my brother who was about to be born). When I was 7ish me and my best friend (we conveniently lived opposite each other) went to the track every friday + weekend (his dad raced). A few years later, when the 550 was launched his dad loved the car so much he ordered his first Ferrari... red on cuio. He took me out in it and to this day I long to own one. Hopefully everything goes well at the bank this/next week and I'll be able to start my business and in about 18 months get my own one! Me and my best friend went to the track more often and where there practically everyday when I got my first quad. Porsche days where so common they became rather boring to me! (although they have fixed that nicely now with the 997 GT3 and GT3 RS) The Italia a Zandvoort days where the highlight for me every year.
