Classic Car: Ferrari Daytona

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 is one of the all-time greats among sports car. When it first hit the streets in 1968, it dethroned the Lamborghini Muira as the fastest street-legal production car, reaching a top speed of 174 mph. Unlike the Muira, which is a rear-mid engine rear-wheel drive two-door coupe, the 365 GTB/4 is a front-engine rear-wheel drive two-door grand tourer coupe. There is a spider version of this Ferrari, called the Ferrari GTS/4. The unoffical name for the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 and Ferrari 365 GTS/4 is the Ferrari Daytona, which commemorates Ferrari's 1-2-3 finish at in the February 1967 24 Hours of Daytona with the Ferrari 330P4. From 1968 to 1973, 1,284 365 GTB/4 Daytonas were made. From 1971 to 1973, only 122 365 GTS/4 Daytonas were made. Between the coupe and the spider, 1,406 Ferrari Daytonas were produced. This car got notoriety from car publications. Sports Car International named the Ferrari Daytona the top sports car of the 1970s. Motor Trend Classic named Daytona the second best Ferrari of all time. The Daytona is very popular among car collectors. The Daytona coupe can cost from $250,000 to $350,000 at auctions. The Daytona Spider goes for prices over $1 million at auctions.

I first saw the legendary Ferrari Daytona at the 2010 Houston Classy Chassis: Concours d'Elegance. This is one beautiful Ferrari. After seeing Ferrari Daytonas on televised auctions, What's My Car Worth, and Chasing Classic Cars, and Top Gear; it is nice to see a Daytona up close in person. Its got a very sleek design. Pininfarina did a great job designing the body of the Daytona.

The Ferrari Daytona is powered by a 4.4L V12, paired with a five-speed manual transmission, that produces 347 hp and 318 lb-ft of torque. The Daytona goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of  174 mph. Getting a Ferrari Daytona costs between $250,000 to over $1 million. That is a steep price for a classic Ferrari. However, there was nothing like the Daytona in the 1960s and 1970s. The Daytona was one of the quickest and fastest cars of the 1960s and 1970s.

Top Gear celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Ferrari Daytona with a race against a modern superboat from Portofino to Saint-Tropez during Series 12, Episode 5. The car has also been featured on a few episodes of Chasing Classic Cars. It also has been featured a few times on What's My Car Worth. A red Ferrari Daytona was one of the star cars in Gumball Rally. It was also featured in A Star is Born, The Long Goodbye, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Swiss Conspiracy, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, and Rain Man. A Ferrari Daytona Replica was used in Miami Vice. The Ferrari Daytona is playable in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Chrono Q Park, Project Gotham Racing 3, Project Gotham Racing 4, Twisted Metal Head On: Extra Twisted Edition, Ferrari Challenge, TORCS, Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, and Outrun2 SP.

It is a classic Ferrari and a must for any Ferrari collector. It was also very fast for 1960s and 1970 standards. If you want one, prepare to pay a hefty price. The Daytona Spider goes for over $1 million dollars. The Ferrari Daytona marked an end of an era. It was the last of the classic Ferrari super grand tourers. It wasn't until 1996 when Ferrari came out with a super grand tourer when the Ferrari 550 Maranello was released.

CarJunkie
Daytona Coupe picture was taken from a camera phone. Daytona Spider picture was taken from the Ferrari Daytona Wikipedia page

First Impression: Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari is known for producing fast, high performing supercars. The car brand started making rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive V8 supercars in 1975 with the 308 GTB. In 2009, Ferrari started production on the 458 Italia, the latest rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive supercar from the Italian car brand. The 458 Italia is a unique Ferrari. It is one of the few cars that redlines at 9000 rpm and it is the first rear mid-engine Ferrari with direct fuel injection.

I first saw the Ferrari 458 Italia outside a restaurant in Houston. This was right after I saw Top Gear's review of the 458. I love the styling of this car. It also makes appearances at Houston Car and Coffee events. Two 458 Italias were drivable at the 2011 Houston Classy Chassis: Concours d'Elegance for a minimum fee of $40. My first thought is that the 458 looked more aggressive than its predecessors, 360 and F430. The deformed winglets on the front grill lower at lower speed to reduce drag. The body is designed for aerodynamic efficiency and producing downforce. The exterior design of the 458 not only improve performance of the car, but the design also makes the 458 stunning to look at.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is powered by a 4.5L V8, paired with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, that produces 570 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds. It reaches a top speed exceeding 202 mph. Prices for the Ferrari 458 Italia start at $225,000. This is the one of the least expensive cars of the current Ferrari model range and it is also on of the fastest current Ferrari. The price is on par for a car that exceeds 200 mph and a 0-60 time of under 3.5 seconds.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Ferrari 458 Italia during Top Gear Series 15, Episode 6. Clarkson raced the 458 against a Ferrari F430 in a drag race and won. James May drove the 458 Italia during the 2010 USA Road Trip Special. The 458 Italia will be the vehicle for the autobot Mirage in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The Ferrari 458 Italia is playable in Gran Turismo 5, Forza Motorsport 3, Ferrari: The Race Experience, GT Racing: Motor Academy, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Car Town, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon Video Game.

Final Thought: This is an incredible car. The price is average for a car that can exceed speeds of over 200 mph. Most cars that have the performance similar to the 458 Italia start at prices around $225,000. Its rival, the Lamborghini Gallardo, starts around $210,000 dollars. Compared to the LFA, which has the same performance as the 458 Italia and costs $375,000, the 458 Italia is a bargain. The 458 Italia continues the tradition of stylish high performing Ferraris.

CarJunkie
Photo taken from a camera phone

James Glickenhaus Ferrari P4/5

In 2006, American car collector James Glickenhaus took the world by surprise with his Enzo-based one-off Ferrari P4/5, built by Pininfarina. In the meantime, Mr. Glickenhaus decided to build a race version, too, dubbed P4/5 Competizione, which, initially, was scheduled to make its racing debut at this year�s 24 Hours of N�rburgring. Unfortunately, that never happened.

However, we're happy to report that the build is still underway. And there�s more: thanks to an update on a dedicated Facebook page, we can show you pictures depicting key moments of the assembly, available after the jump.

Eyewitness Update on the Ferrari F430 Spider vs Taxi Cab Incident

Yesterday, we told you about a recent Las Vegas incident involving the drivers of a Ferrari F430 Spider and a yellow taxicab. In our original story, we wrote that the cabbie �allegedly rear-ended� the Italian exotic. It turns out though that there was no collision between the two cars with the Ferrari driver exploding simply because the cabbie cut him off.
Patrick Fritz, the person who filmed the video outside of Fry's Electronics, came in contact with Carscoop and detailed the events that eventually led to the Ferrari driver punching the cabbie.
Here�s what Patrick told Carscoop:

�I saw this altercation from the very beginning. The Ferrari was trying to leave the Fry's Electronics parking lot as the Taxi driver pulled in front of him, cutting him off. The Ferrari driver was pissed that he got cut off. There was NO collision.
The Ferrari driver then peeled out as he drove up past the cab and stopped in front of him and began yelling at him for "driving like an a$$hole". Then the Ferrari driver got out of his vehicle and approached the cab driver. That's the beginning of the video.�

Ferrari F430 Spider Owner Attacks Cab Driver for Rear-Ending Him

A sad tale of road rage between the driver of a red Ferrari F430 Spider and a Taxi Cab driver took place in front of the parking lot of an electronics store in Las Vegas recently.
Story has it that the cabbie allegedly rear-ended the Italian supercar, but did not cause any significant damage to the vehicle � or at least non that can be seen in this amateur video that was filmed after the two cars parked on the side of the road.
Unfortunately, instead of exchanging information, the driver of the Ferrari was in the mood for some talking with his�fists. We can�t hear all that was said between the two men, but it looks like the only person going overboard here was the F430 driver. Watch the video right after the break.

Alleged Dealer Employee Slams Ferrari 456 into an Oncoming Volkswagen Gol

A violent accident between a Ferrari 456 and a Volkswagen Gol that took place in Martinez, an affluent city located near the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires was caught on tape by a nearby security camera.
The video shows the blue Ferrari 456 after the driver lost control of the car as it heads slideways towards an oncoming Volkswagen Gol hatchback. The impact, as you can see for yourself in the security footage, is severe. Both drivers were taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Although we could not confirm this, media reports from the country citing police sources state that the driver was not the owner of the car but a dealer employee who was taking the Italian supercar for its technical inspection.

Ferrari World Design Contest: 7 Schools move on to 2nd Stage

Ferrari has announced the seven design schools that have been selected among 50 contestants from all over the world, to participate in the second stage of its World Design Contest that is organized in collaboration with Autodesk.
The schools that made it to the second round are: IED and IAAD from Turin (Italy), the London Royal College of Arts (UK) the European Design Institute Barcelona (Spain), Seoul�s Hong-ik College (Korea), the DSK Supinfocom from Pune (India) and the College For Creative Studies in Detroit (USA).

First Impression: Ferrari 599 GTO

In 2010, Ferrari decided to take the 599 GTB Fiorano and modify it. Ferrari removed 220 lbs off the 599 while adding an additional 50 hp and 12 lb-ft of torque to the 6.0L V12 engine. The result is the is a quicker, faster 599. Ferrari calls the improved car the 599 GTO. It is only the third time that Ferrari has used the GTO designation. The other two times Ferrari has used the GTO designation are 250 GTO and 288 GTO.

I first saw the Ferrari 599 GTO at the 2011 Houston Classy Chassis: Concours d'Elegance. It looks just like the 599 GTB Fiorano, except for aluminum floors and the carbon fiber body. The black roof helps the 599 GTO stand out in a stadium filled with classic cars and modern supercars.

The Ferrari 599 GTO is powered by a 6.0L V12, paired with six-speed F1 gearbox, that produces 670 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and its top speed exceeds 208 mph. Prices for the Ferrari 599 GTO start at $426,000. It is quicker and faster than the 599 GTB Fiorano, but the 599 GTO costs nearly $100,000 more than the 599 GTB Fiorano. There are quicker and faster cars than the 599 GTO and at a fraction of the price.

Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear reviewed the Ferrari 599 GTO during Series 16, Episode 2. It was 1.4 seconds faster around the Top Gear test track than the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. The 599 GTO is playable in Test Drive Unlimited 2 and Asphalt 6: Adrenaline.

Final Thoughts: It is a fast car, but it does not warrant the $426,000 price tag. It is another stunning, fast Ferrari. Ferrari claimed that the 599 GTO is the fastest Ferrari production car, but the Ferrari Enzo is 12 mph faster than the 599 GTO.  It is a great car, but it is just too expensive for what it is.

CarJunkie
Photo taken from a digital camera.

First Impression: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

When people think of Ferrari, they think of an Italian supercar with the engine in the middle. Actually, most of the supercars in Ferrari's current range have the engine in the front. In 2006, Ferrari started producing the 599 GTB Fiorano. It is a two-seater grand tourer that Ferrari used to replace the 575 Maranello, a grand tourer with a V12 in the front of the car. Ferrari also has a 599 GTO and a prototype 599 HY KERS hybrid.

I first saw the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano at the 2010 Houston Classy Chassis: Concours d'Elegance. It is a nice looking car, but it was displayed next to the Ferrari California, which is one of the best looking cars on the market. The 599 GTB looks fast and is stunning supercar produced by Ferrari.

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is powered by a 6.0L V12, paired with six-speed manual or F1 transmission, that produces 620 hp and 448 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of over 205 mph. Prices start at $310,543. It is very expensive for a V12 grand tourer. Not many grand tourers can match the performance of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

Top Gear reviewed the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano during Series 10, Episode 3. Top Gear named the 599 GTB its 2006 Supercar of the Year. Evo magazine named the 599 GTB Fiorano its 2006 Car of the Year. Motorweek reviewed the 2007 model. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is playable in Gran Turismo HD Concept, Project Gotham Racing 4, Gran Turismo 5, Forza Motorsport 3, Death Track: Resurrection, Need For Speed: Shift, Forza Motorsport 2, Ferrari Challenge, Test Drive Unlimited 2, and GT Racing: Motor Academy.

Final Thoughts: This is one fast, stunning grand tourer. Not many grand tourers can match the performance of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. But there are several cars on the road that cost half as much as the 599 GTB Fiorano. It is another car in the long line of high-performing Ferraris.

CarJunkie
Photo taken from a camera phone

Aussie Supercar Buyers Paying More than Anyone

In today�s economy, AU$1.0 will get you US$1.06, but it seems Australia�s overseas automakers have yet to acknowledge this. A Lamborghini Aventador, for example, costs a hefty AU$754,600 � or more than twice the price you would pay for one in the U.S. of A. And its 51% pricier than a V12 powered Lamborghini Diablo was ten years ago. This was tolerable when the Aussie dollar was worth 64 U.S. cents a few years ago, but those days are over.
While TV�s, computers and mobile phones have all become more affordable, supercars have not. It�s so bad that one prospective Lamborghini buyer, businessman Ra Hazouri, has flat out refused to pay.

Investigators Uncover Multi-Million Pound Tax Scam in India; European Exotics, Foreign Diplomats and Bollywood Actors Involved

In what sounds more like the plot of a The Fast and the Furious movie than real life, investigators at India�s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence office (a.k.a. India�s IRS) have uncovered a massive exotic car smuggling operation in the nation�s capital of New Dehli. It all has to do with India�s notorious 100% import tax on new luxury vehicles.
It began with one New Dehli luxury car dealer, Sumit Walia, importing brand new luxury cars on forged invoices. These invoices listed the cars as second-hand, which saved Walia � and his customers � some 40% on import tax. Some of the cars � which included Porsches, Bentleys and Aston Martins � were found to have been stolen from the streets of Britain, France, Singapore and Japan.

Too Much? Graf Weckerle-Tuned Ferrari 458 Italia

It seems that there is a tune for just about everyone and everything these days, from subtle to extreme, and all points in between. We do not know where exactly this Ferrari 458 Italia from German tuning firm Graf Weckerle fits in that spectrum, but those odd-looking alloy wheels are sure to catch the attention of every passerby.

FAIL: Ferrari 599 GTO in Reverse hits a Pole

Bumping into or even just scraping against an object while pulling you car out of a parking space has probably happened to everyone at least once or twice. However, you would expect an owner of a spanking new Ferrari 599 GTO worth north of �260,000 or close to $400,000 to be far more careful that usual when attempting to reverse out of a parking space. Apparently, being careful was not in the nature of the owner of this blacked out 599 GTO in Cologne, Germany. Video follows after the break.

For The Man Who Has Everything: Ferrari Racing Helmet

You would think a company that sells US$200,000+ supercars would have no need to hawk merchandise, but apparently not. Along with the expected assortment of watches, polo shirts and key rings is this US$331.40 racing helmet. You�re sure to look dapper when cruising around in your dilapidated �89 Mondial cabriolet 250 Testa Rossa in this fine helmet made of satin-finish aluminium, metalised thermoplastic and genuine leather.

Ferrari Opens Shop in India, Cheapest Model Costs Half a Million Dollars

The first ever Ferrari dealership in India opened its doors today in the heart of New Delhi. The Grand Opening, which was hosted by Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari Commercial and Marketing Director Enrico Galliera, and Ashish Chordia, Chairman of the Shreyans Group, the official Ferrari importer for India, was devoted to the members of the local and international press. India is the 58th country where Ferrari is present in the world.

Feds Won�t Pay the Bill for a Ferrari F50 Wrecked by an FBI Agent

Back in 2009, an FBI agent made headlines after crashing a rare $750,000 Ferrari F50 that had been stored in a government impound lot. The story has it that the Italian supercar was stolen from a Pennsylvania dealer in late 2003, and while the insurance company paid off on the loss, the F50 was eventually found in August of 2008 in Kentucky. The V12-powered model from Maranello was then impounded and kept in Lexington, Kentucky, as part of an active criminal investigation. And here�s where the story gets interesting.
In May of 2009, FBI agent Fred Kingston invited Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Hamilton Thompson for a �short ride� in the 1995 Ferrari F50, of which 349 were ever made with only 50 coming to the States. Unfortunately, the joy ride was cut short after the driver lost control of the Italian supercar.

2011 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti cars wallpapers and reviews

2011 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti cars wallpapers and reviews
http://bmwtopcars.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-audi-sports-car-rs5-car-features.html

2011 Ferrari F430 Spider review cars wallpapers and reviews

2011 Ferrari F430 Spider review cars wallpapers and reviews

Classic Car: Ferrari Testarossa

Growing up there was one Ferrari that I had a scale model of. It was a red Ferrari Testarossa. It was one of my favorite cars growing up. The Testarossa was produced from 1984 to 1991, with 7,177 produced. It succeeded the 512BB and was succeeded by the 512 TR and later the 512 M. It was the third to last Ferrari with a flat-12 engine.

I saw the Ferrari Testarossa for the first time at the September 201 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. It is nice to see one of my favorite cars growing up in person. It is a little wide, but still a stunning car with its side intakes.

The Testarossa is powered by a 4.9L flat-12 engine mounted in the middle, which is paired with five-speed manual transmission. The engine produced 390 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. The Testarossa goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180 mph. It was one of the fastest cars of the 80s. It cost $181,000 when it was brand new in 1989.

The Ferrari Testarossa was featured in Miami Vice. It is playable in Top Gear, Outrun series, Test Drive, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, London Racer series, Super Stock Cars, Project Gotham Racing 2, Smash Up Derby, Die Hard Trilogy, and several other games. To see all the games featuring the Testarossa, check out www.igcd.net. Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear says this car is too wide, but I disagree.

Final thoughts: It was a childhood favorite and is still one of my favorite cars. There are better looking Ferraris than the Testarossa. At the time I wrote this article, a Testarossa is on sale for as low $37,500 on autotraderclassic.com. It is one of the cheaper classic Ferraris and makes a great addition to any car collection in need of a classic Ferrari.

CarJunkie
Photo take from Cargurus.com

Ferrari's One-Off Superamerica 45 Special Drops its Top at Villa d'Este

The coachbuilt Ferrari Superamerica 45 special commissioned by American billionaire Peter Kalikow has arrived at the Villa d'Este for the Concorso D'Eleganza contest. Not surprisingly, a by-passer took advantage of the occasion and filmed the car's roof mechanism in action at its first outing under the sun. This is the first time we see the supercar�s rotating top on the move and we have to admit it's pretty fast.