250GTO replica - passenger and 275GTB/4 driven.

[irrational_i]

Well I apologise in advance for the lengthy post and at the same time for the lack of complete information!
First of all some thumbnails and a link to the photos.

The URL for full sized shots.
They will take a long time to upload as they are 2200X1700 in size.
If you click on a thumb and the main doesn't load, please try again later.
http://e.co.za/Cars/250GTOReplica/index.html

Some thumbs:







The story:
The GTO was built around a real 250GTO gearbox. The chassis and some parts where donated by a 250GTE as expected.
The car was finished in Italy by Carlo Bonini. To the extent that the original body guy was found in an old age home and asked to come supervise the construction! The engine was built by Cosworth to the exact specs of the original cars. I have been told that David Cottingham, a real expert, thinks this replica is probably better than most originals. The body is alluminium and even the fueltanks where made to weight specifications. And it really looks the part as you can see from the photos.

The Drive:
Well we took the GTO out on the road. It has a very characteristic sound. A kind of rough, ripping sound that makes the hair on your neck stand up. At some stage we pulled off the road while another guy got to play passenger. It was on a straight and on the return run the GTO blasted past with that well-known Ferrari hooter being drowned out by the exhaust note!
My turn now!
So impressions. Its very raw. Really raw. Only bare metal inside. And the heat is a real issue. If you accelerate for a while you can feel the temperature rising. The noise is quite ear-numbing too. Its good, make no mistake, but noisy. The ride is very nervous. This is a car that will keep you on your toes. The view accross the bonnet is really pretty. The fenders curve away around the nose in a way that can only be describe as sexy. A word I do not like using, but it applies. If you look at the side shots and follow the line of the fender you will understand what I mean.
The acceleration is good, but of course no match for a modern supercar. I'd guess around 6 seconds 0-100ph. It gave me a lot more respect for the people who drove this car in the 60's at Le Mans. 2 hours in a GTO in a racing suit must have been murder.!

The 275 Drive.
Afterwards me and my friend compared the GTO and the 275GTB/4. We both agreed that the 275 feels faster and better on the road. Well we did spend 2 weeks in it in Europe!
http://e.co.za/Cars/Europe/TheStory/thestory.html
So after the GTO left we took the 275 out. Indeed it feels faster!
What made it better for me is this: I like the looks more. The exhaust note, not being a racing car, is musical. Its is still the best note I have heard. Of course its a little quieter, more comfortable and not so hot.
The slightly larger engine makes it more tractable too. The 275 is still the best in my opinion.
Then I got behind the steering wheel for the first time.
And boy was it amazing!
The gearbox is so smooth and sensitive that you can feel the cogs slide into place! Where has Ferrari gone wrong since the 275!!?? The accelerator is truly sensitive too. I curl my big toe and I can see the revs change and hear the engine note change. So off we go. I am immediately comfortable in the car. I am about 6 ft tall and it is not too uncomfortable. First engages easily and as I pull onto the tarmac I gently accelerate. Shifting to 2nd at +/-4500rpm and the same for 3rd. The car jumps forward eagerly and the rise and fall of the engine song accompanies a rising feeling of exhiliration. Wow, wow, wow, wow! Why did Ferrari even bother building more cars? Into 5th and settling at 160kph. (Not highway BTW. Just a clean back road). The car is not nervous at all. It does track a bit but you get used to it very quickly. The steering wheel is very slim and wood. Every little imperfection in the road is transferred to my fingertips. You are truly one with the car. Its just a mass of sensation! Even in 5th I can play with the engine with the slightest movements of my foot. Then for fun I downgear to 4th and put the foot down. Instant response! Awe all over again. Ths 275 inspires confidence like no other car I have driven. It is so stable too. The only thing that shows age is the brakes. Progressive, but a very long travel. If not for the brakes, this would be the perfect car.
Later the owner takes over. Just to show me how stable it really is we take a the highway to a certain offramp that turn 180degrees. basically an open hairpin. He enters at 120kph (80 is really scary in my Porsche SC) and just before the apex lifts off to let the back step out and then on the power again all way around. No mess, no fuss. Completely stable and easily controlled. No body roll either. The 275 just squats down and stays there.
This car wants an open, winding road where you can play. It wants to play. And I want one really badly!.

Sorry if anyone was bored by this book, but if you drive one you will understand. Suddenly the 300k-400k euro pricetag seems entirely reasonable!
I am still grinning after 2 days.

[TT]

What a day you had!! I'm moving your topic in the "what you saw" section since we give priority to it instead of the kind of cars pictured

can we know maybe how you had this opportunity?

[23790554]

so did u buy it?

[irrational_i]

Well my friend owns the 275GTB/4 and a 365GTB/4 Daytona (Which you can see in one of the shots). And while we where in Europe for the 275 tour I had no chance to drive it.

The GTO was shipped back to South Africa in October/November and we have been trying to get the owner to come show it to us. My friend knew the guy who started the Replica project very well and he knows the current owner from Ferrari club days.

So we finally got the GTO owner to come and it was the perfect opportunity to compare the cars. A great South African summers day, not too hot and not too much traffic. 8)

As for buying a 275, I will have to do something rather spectacular to afford one! But I wouldn't mind trying. My friend said there is no reason, as he has one we can drive every once in a while. 8).

He has had offers for the 275, but refused all of them. The car is really irreplaceable and as I said, if you drive it, you would not let it go either. 8D

[irrational_i]

Oh and I forgot to mention that my friend, who has driven a huge amount of Ferraris including F40 and F50, says the closest in feel and responsiveness to the 275 is an F40(once you are past the turbo lag). The F40 is a lot more raw, probably closer to the 250GTO, but that should just add to how special the 275 is.

[irrational_i]

The photos are a bit huge. 1.5MB in size. So I am resizing all to 1280X960 (About 200-300k).
If anyone wants a bigger image for whatever reason, PM me and I will mail it.

[raphaelws]

uh! lckuy boy!
congratulations!!!

[bmwmpower]

fantastic one of most legendary cars, 275,


BTW where are you from

[RC45]

Originally Posted by bmwmpower fantastic one of most legendary cars, 275, BTW where are you from

Originally Posted by irrational_i A great South African summers day, not too hot and not too much traffic. 8)

No secret there...

[stradale]

Amazing! I envied you after your trip through Europe with the 275GTB/4 already, and this is only making matters worse....

I wish I could have witnessed that in real life. However, your words and pictures are a respectable second. Thanks a lot! I have admired the 275 before and it is great! The replica looks fantastic as well. I couldn't have spot a difference with an original GTO from looking at the pictures. Not to say I WOULD spot a difference when seeing it in person... It looks amazing!

[irrational_i]

When you are standing next to the 250 it is very hard to keep telling yourself that it is a replica.

And my friend promised that the next time I can drive the 365GTB/4 Daytona so that I can compare the two. He says the extra power is great, the gearbox is a little less smooth and the weight definitely noticable. But quite a different ride from the 275. I have been a passenger in the Daytona too and my first impression was that it "pulls like train"!
Unfortunately I do not control the times so can't say when the drive will be. But I am looking forward to it!

[Vansquish]

Replica or not, that 250 is just gorgeous. The 275 is beautiful too, but somehow looks a little bloated compared to the 250, not to mention ever so slightly bugeyed. Still, you're incredibly lucky to have an opportunity to see those cars and ride in them.