motor

sameerrao · 09-12-2004, 01:10 PM

Yesterday, I went to the Italian Car festival yesterday held at a Vineyard in Grapevine, TX close to Dallas. This was co-ordinated by the Ferrari enthusiasts from Dallas and most of the cars were from in and around Dallas.

There were about 70 cars or so and about 15 bikes on display. Certainly not large by any standards but the sheer variety on display was awesome - there was Ferrari, Lamborghini, MAserati, Lancia, Alfa, De Tomaso, Abarth and several other smal players. No Pagani though.

From the bikes there was Ducati, Aprilia, Laverda and couple of others that I hadn't heard of.

On the same day in another part of town there was a Viper festival going on and the streets were filled with Vipers. Nice to see

The first car I saw was a Ferrari F40 prototype.

This car was displayed to the public for the Paris Auto Show in 1987. It is the first Ferrari F40 ever (excluding the F40s using the 288 GTO mules). There are several things different about this Ferrari compared to the regular production F40s
1. Has 600 bhp - special turbos

2. Is 400 lb lighter
3. 5 slots instead of 4 in the rear wing
4. Different rear window
5. Untrimmed door panel

Special, special car! Rated to hit 220 mph but not been verified. The car has only 300 km on the clock.

This was one of two F40s on display.

There was a "garden variety" F40 on display also:

Nice woman

Enzo - registered on the road - owner was not to be seen ...

Several Lamborghini Murcielagos in various hues

Lamborghini Diablo Roadster (like Jabba's though in diff colour)

Lamborghini Countach

The same car with a young mesmerized fan

The same car with a pretty filly on the side. Gallardo on its right

Lamborghini Gallardo

Other Lamborghinis

THE FERRARI 250 SWB
My fav car of the show ... my first sighting ever. The car looked original with paint gently faded after 40+ years. it was simply stunning. While there was a mad rush around the F40s and the Enzo, the SWB was sitting quietly by herself ... it was generally the older crowd who visited it ... not many knew that this was the most expensive car of the show ... I remember silently standing next to another guy taking in all curves of the SWB. Minutes passed but not a word was spoken. It was subdued reverence on our part. Finally we just looked at each other and smiled ... both of us were really fortunate to see this magnificent animal in the flesh.

Ferrari Dino - one of 2 on the show

Ferrari 512BBi - this won the best car of the show

Ferrari 360 CS
Owned by a real enthusiast ... this car is extensively driven with 10000 miles on the clock for a car that was bought this year.Its license plate "USE IT"

Ferrari 575 MM - looked very ordinary here

Several Testarossas

The above car was special - here's why

The special motor

A regular TR

Ferrari 348

Ferrari 355

De Tomaso Panteras - There were several present

No two Panteras had the exact same engine

Maseratis from the 60s and 70s - Ghibli, Indy and others

Alfas - Montreal, Spider

An Abarth