The Berlinetta Letter - Summer, 2010

Dear Doug, this is Stuart Hayim, at FMLI. I was happy to see this joint marketing piece until I heard of your recent actions handling the 365. Now I am really happy. Doug, just when I thought there were no more honest folks left, you go and prove me wrong! Thank You. Gregg and Gianni just told me of your recent handling (re the 365) and I wanted you to know I am both aware and most appreciative. It is not often that 1 honors a deal, especially when they could have “copped out” and made a few bucks more for themselves.

Doug, I guess that is why you (and I hope me) have the reputation that you do. Best of all, it is honorable actions like yours that, in the long run, will make you a far “richer” person. I hope this is just the beginning of us making more money and having a good time, together. Thank you again

Stuart

Stuart Hayim
Ferrari-Maserati of Long Island
Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale
Maserati of Manhattan
Owner

My friend, I have bought 3 amazing cars from you. I respect your integrity, honesty and loyalty to do the best in your power to provide your friends the best car, exceeding their expectations. Also was impressed the follow up that Doug did with the Daytona, and Janet's persistence to make sure all the shipments were done to my satisfaction.

I know I'm young (comparing to most of your clients), but if I ever want any car, not only a Ferrari, you are the FIRST one I will approach. An example of my trust is that please let the money stay with berlinetta, and we will adjust it to my next purchase.

I thank you (all) for the experince of knowing that there is one company that I can fully trust.

- C.B. Arya

PS: my special regards to Janet. -- She's always been very nice to me.

â€œWhen asked, â€˜ What most impressed me with the car ?â€™ my answer related to the fact that not only did I purchase the car, but also commissioned modifications solely by telephone.â€

-Ron Busuttil, M.D., Ph.D.

"Doug, your reputation is beyond reproach. I have bought several Ferraris in my lifetime, and I know when I buy from you I am buying a car from a reputable person."

-Joe Perella

"The exhaust and engine work you did are spectacular! The car sounds completely wonderful - I can actually hear it swallowing air, and I have no doubt the bad headers were causing all kind of backpressure issues -- the increase in power is kind of breathtaking. Obviously the timing correction has a lot to do with that as well. I feel pretty sure the car runs better than it did when it was delivered new to Sonny Crockett back in 1997. And it sounds like a Ferrari again, not a landscaping truck!"

"The engine compartment is vastly improved as well, and the resurfaced console etc. looks most excellent."

"None of this was cheap, but it was all well worth it. A job really, really well done!"

-Mike Offit

© 2005- J.M. Pirrone

Berlinetta Motorsports Ltd. is an independent enterprise and is not affiliated with Ferrari S.p.A.,Ferrari North America Inc., any club, Ferrari dealer or distributor."

By: Carbon McCoy
Summer, 2010

What's In Store...

Before we begin, I just want to mention that if you're having trouble viewing this text - if it's too small - you can simply make it larger by holding down the control (CTRL) button on your keyboard and scrolling up with your mouse WHEEL simultaneously. Additionally, you can also make the text smaller with that same process, only scrolling downward with your mouse wheel.

...aaaand we're back!

It's been three months since our last issue - did you miss me? A lot has happened in the past couple of months - for starters Schumacher's got a new gig and so do I! That and more in the Spring issue of The Berlinetta Letter...

...so what are you waiting for? Scroll down!

This Issue's Trivia Question!

Last Issue's Fun Fact and trivia question:

When did Ferrari switch from using Glasurit paint to PPG paint? The correct year would be sufficient, but the closest month/year combination will win. The exact date will win instantly. Good luck!

Our Fun Fact winner is:

Cindy Meitle: "Glasurit was utilized in early 1997 and I believe the transition occurred later in the year when PPG was picked up. It was definitely in full swing in 1998."

Aside from the F50, Ferrari began painting cars with PPG as of 23 October 1996. Between October, '96, and June, '97, Ferraris were painted with both Glasurit and PPG paint.

Honorable Mentions:

Gary Shaw: The year Ferrari switched to ppg paint is late 1998.

Now for this issue's Trivia Question . . .

The first person to submit the correct answer will get a free Berlinetta Motorcars baseball cap. What is the chassis type for the new 599 GTO?

Okay, okay, so the 599 GTO is too new for you folks to find out the chassis type. So let's go with this: What is the chassis type of the 250 GT Spyder California? First person to answer that gets the aforementioned prize (but if you can also tell me the chassis type of the new 599 GTO, we will be quite impressed) and a 5% discount on a total restoration.

Just remember to e-mail your response to berlinettamotorcars2@gmail.com.

Ferraris for Sale

Before we begin, I'd like to list the Ferraris that are currently for sale at Berlinetta Motorcars. Let's start with the Daytona...

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona

Yellow/Tan with black inserts. Recent ultra high standard paint and new interior, including proper "mouse fur" dash. U.S. car with power windows and AC. 36,000 miles. Just completed at Berlinetta Motorcars: engine out full service including valve adjustment, cylinder heads retorqued, carbs rebuilt, cam timing, complete resealing including gasket and O-rings under timing chest cover and new crank shaft seals. Overhaul of brake system and detailing. Overhaul and replacement of all bushings in suspension as well as fanatical detailing of suspension, brake system, brake lines, engine and engine compartment. Transmission out service with complete reseal and detailing. New stainless Tubi exhaust system. This car is complete. Click here for photo album $389,000.

Additional pictures of this Daytona can be seen here.

1972 246 GT Dino, S/N 3418, U.S. car.

Same owner for the last 20 years. Maintained at Ferrari dealer. NEW paint by Berlinetta Motorcars. Original interior. 77,000 miles, excellent compression, excellent mechanicals, excellent transmission. This car runs GREAT! Fastest Dino in the shop. This car runs so beautifully, that there is absolutely no need to rebuild the engine or transmission at this time. New shocks and new ball joints. Power windows. Click here for photo album $139,000.

1969 246 GT Dino, S/N 0582, Black/Black

44,000 km. Knock off wheels, Daytona seats with red inserts and beautiful red carpets. Mirror finish black paint by Berlinetta Motorcars just completed, excellent chrome. Recent engine out major service, including new head gaskets, valve adjustment, overhauled carburetors and fuel system, cooling system overhauled as well.

Engine compartment neat, clean, partially detailed. Center-lock knockoff wheels. This is a very cool, very elegant car. Click here for photo album $174,500.

1966 275 GTS Silver/Black

2010 Cavallino Classic Platinum winner. Silver with black seats and red carpets. Totally original, Borranis, superb condition with original paint, 36,000 miles. First delivery: the New York plate from Chinetti is still on the car. Original top and plastic window, original tool roll and tools. An absolute time capsule and an excellent Classiche and Preservation Award candidate.$575,000.

1973 365 GTB/4 "A" Daytona, Fly Yellow/Black

Original 49,000 kilometers. This is the very fast, high performance European "A" model. New mouse fur dash and all new leather interior. Rebuilt and detailed undercarriage and suspension. Engine-out under hood detailing. Incredible new paint by Berlinetta Motorcars, all new perfect chrome; new body gaskets. New front and rear glass, new windshield. 5 Borranis, books and tools, Becker Mexico radio.

Cavallino gold winner prior to books and tools. Now at Platinum level. Absolutely stunning. For the serious collector. Click here for photo album $450,000.

Ferraris on Colorado

MISSING PERSON: Marv Landon. Have you seen this man? I don't know who he is, but he throws one hell of an event. I need to meet this guy!

Every year, in Old Pasadena, California, Marv Landon organizes a Ferrari Concorso called Ferraris on Colorado.

"California, Colorado - what are you talking about, Carbon?"

Ferraris on Colorado is an annual get-together that takes place on Colorado Boulevard. And what that means is that a whole section of Colorado Blvd. gets shut down so that hundreds - yes, hundreds - of Ferraris can line the streets from curb to curb, all for your ogling pleasure.

I didn't see a 250 GTO or a 458 Italia, but every Ferrari era was properly represented. Was there a Daytona there? Yeah. How about an Enzo? Definitely. F512 M? Absolutely. Lusso? Um, lemme check ...yep, there were a few of those too.

I'd heard about the event a few months ago, but forgot about it. Then, the morning of, I was down the street from my house at another car gathering (seriously, car shows practically grow on trees around here). Someone asked me if I was going to the Ferraris on Colorado event and I said,

"Yeah, I heard about it, it sounds awesome. When is it? Like next month or something, right?"

"No! It's today! It starts in an hour!"

So, naturally, I high-tailed it out of there, bulleting my motorcycle down the freeway, anxiously anticipating a collection of Ferraris on some street. But what I found was nothing short of overwhelming.

I started at one end and slowly waded through a throng of contemporary Ferraris. Everything from the last 30 years was lined up, gleaming in the sun: 348s, 599s, Challenge Stradales, Maranellos, Testarossas, 355s, 328s, 360s, F430s - like I said, everything.

The next street was a flash back of the '70s. Dinos, Daytonas, 365 GT4 2+2s, Queen Mothers, and C/4s - in a range of colors so psychedelic you would think Jerry Garcia ordered all of them new. It was as if Rosso Corsa hadn't yet been invented.

The next street was like a concrete version of Pebble Beach. What it lacked in neatly manicured golf course lawns it more than made up for with historical significance. There was no ocean in the background, but there was a steel-bodied short wheelbase in the background behind an alloy-bodied short wheelbase.

There was a sunroof-equipped 400 Superamerica. There were two TdFs. There were PF Cabs and PF Coupes. There were Spyder Californias, 330s, 275s, GTEs and Lussos.

And it only got crazier from there.

One of each super car was present. There was a 2001 Formula 1 car. Bruce Meyer brought his 625 TR. And a 1952 Touring-bodied 225 Barchetta Superleggera was on hand - just in case the other cars from the '50s didn't interest you.

Seriously, all of these cars showed up to an event that one guy put together. And it was free! You didn't have to buy tickets in advance or sport some hundred-dollar name tag. If you happened to be in the area, and didn't have anything else to do that day, you could've blown four hours on looking at cars. Some people there never made to their original destination because they were driving by and saw this amazing car show!

You know what? I'm not even gonna say anything else about it. I'll let the pictures do the talking. But if you ever meet this guy Marv Landon, be sure to befriend him. He puts on a kick-ass car show.

599 GTO

I know you all enjoy reading my armchair assessments. But it doesn't hurt to have actual first-person feedback once in a while. That's right, I'm talking about real-life hands-on experience...

...from someone who actually knows what they're doing.

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical about Ferrari using the legendary GTO name on the final iteration of the 599. I mean, if I may speak candidly, it seemed like a money making angle. First came the 599 GTB Fiorano. Then Ferrari spruced it up with the 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE for the road, and the 599 XX for the track. Rumor has it that Ferrari will unveil a convertible version of the 599 at Pebble Beach. But the latest version of the 599 bears the name of two iconic cars from Ferrari history, the 288 and the 250.

When I first heard of the name, I expected something visually intense. I expected a massive aesthetic overhaul, exhibiting direct styling cues from the 250 GTO.

But alas, my expectations were let down. There was no half circle front bumper nostril trifecta letting air into the engine. ...okay, that was really all that I hoped to see. But still, it wasn't there.

So, what then? If they only changed the wheels and threw a GTO badge on the back, where was the change? Well, apparently, the change was in an aspect I couldn't discern from pictures; the change is in the experience.

As some of you may know, I spend an exorbitant amount of time on FerrariChat.com - a fact about which my boss is none too happy. But my time trolling the forums allows me to come across some real gems; like real world, in-car experiences from actual Ferrari owners.

So there's an individual in Europe who took delivery of his 599 GTO and, after 1,200 KM, has shared his impressions with the community. Here are some excerpts...

"When I saw the car in the delivery area at the dealer my heart started beating very, very fast. It looks good. Very good. I know, we all have different taste but for me ... she looks just stunning. Aggressive, sporty, ... ready to attack. The color combination of the red with the matte gray roof and the matte gray CF goes very well together. Pictures don't do the matte gray CF justice at all. One has to see it in the flesh to appreciate it. The Grigio Charcoal interior came out really well in combination with the CF. That's the reason why I picked Grigio Charcoal and it worked out just the way I expected it."

Okay, so things are starting out well with this review. Then the owner, we'll call him M, gets into the meat of the matter...

"Off we went and my dealer told me to step on it ... so I did. The gates of heaven opened instantly. Acceleration is nothing short of phenomenal, even with cold tires and the gearbox is so good. Shifting is so fast and accurate, it takes your breath away. Last but not least, there is this sound. This loud, screaming, sound. High pitch ... just the way a car of this pedigree should sound like. Every hair on your body stands up. It just adds so much more dimension to the whole experience. That was only up shifting. What goes up ... must come down and boy, the GTO is good at it. One has the impression Ferrari installed an army with canons in the back of the car. It bangs, blows and backfires. People walking in the street dive away looking for cover. And that's just the impression after driving it for a couple of kms."

And it only gets better from there! By that point in the article, I feel like I'm in the car. I keep saying to myself, "What the hell are you doing reading? Keep your eyes on the road!" But I'm compelled to keep going...

"How does the GTO handle on the track? Well ... it's fun, lots of fun. The brakes are very, very powerful yet somewhat tricky to handle. You really need to hit the brakes hard and then let go or they will start to wear faster than the 1st generation CS brakes. But, such a driving style is perfectly possible as the car's chassis works like a charm. You point the nose into the corner and in she goes. No under steer whatsoever. Traction coming out of the corner is perfect. Scuds and 458 Italia's ... the GTO runs away. It handles better than a Scud imo and better than a 458 Italia. Ferrari put together a great package. The gearbox is perfect and the car is very, very stable at high speed. 270 km/h at the end of the straight in Spa is fast, very fast and one can brake late, very late. Just start to imagine what this car could be capable of with slicks ...?"

If you want to read the whole review, you'll have to buy me a 599 GTO and wait while I rack up the miles ...or you could just click here.

All pictures courtesy M-Individual via FerrariChat.

Formula One Report - Monaco!

Monaco, in my opinion, is the best race of the season. Maybe you feel differently, but it's definitely my favorite (don't like it? Get your own newsletter). But alas, the anticipation that built up inside of me since mid March was deflated in mid May with an anticlimactic ending in the south of France.

Fernando Alonso started eighth and finished sixth; Felipe Massa finished fourth. Not the end of the world, but I was really hoping to see some Scuderia red splashed across the podium. Schumacher originally finished sixth but had 20 seconds added to his race time after he illegally passed Alonso during a flag, putting him back to 12th place. Rubens Barrichello had an accident, after which he had a fit and threw his steering wheel on the ground.

Nico Hülkenburg crashed in the tunnel, Jenson Button retired with an overheated engine, and Jarno Trulli's Lotus ended up on top of Karun Chandhok's Cosworth equipped Hispania. But it the hair-raising wasn't caused entirely by accidents and temper tantrums.

Fernando Alonso started in last place. Dead last. He didn't even start at the back of the pack, he had to start from the pits. He was so far in the back, part of his car was still at the Spanish Grand Prix. And you know how hard it is to pass in Monaco. But he passed. He passed every chance he got. The only thing he didn't pass was an opportunity to pass someone. I didn't breathe for 90 minutes! I sat on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, watching him zip by Lotus and Virgin and BMW and Renault and Mercedes and whoever else might've been out there acting as a moving chicane.

Yet, at the same time, pole-sitter Mark Webber wouldn't even consider looking at the back of a race car unless he was lapping it. He started first and finished first, never letting a single car pass him. Not since '04 has the Monaco lap record been broken. But Webber and Massa shattered it in qualifying, and Webber came close to doing it again during the race with an average speed of 160.

So there I was, watching Alonso chase after Webber; and at the same time, I'm watching Webber increase the distance between his diffuser and the ensuing nose cones. It was an intense race! But the Trulli/Chandhok accident at the end of the race brought out the safety car for the last few laps and that's how it ended. All of that suspense and activity and lap records and accidents and near misses - and the most exciting race of the season ends in the least exciting way.

Oh well. There's always next year.

Since then, the teams have competed in Turkey and Spain. The current standings are led by McLaren-Mercedes with 248 points. RBR-Renault is a distant second with 218 points, and Ferrari is way back there in third place with 165 points. Things just get grim from there: Mercedes GP has 109 points, Renault has 89, Force India-Mercedes has 43, Williams-Cosworth has 20, STR-Ferrari has 10 and BMW Sauber-Ferrari has just seven points.

With the withdrawal of Toyota and BMW, engine diversity in Formula One has dropped to a 30 year low with just four engine manufacturers powering the entire grid. The Great Britain Grand Prix is this weekend. Let's hope Ferrari storms the podium and McLaren-Mercedes forgets to set their alarm clocks.

Gerald Lee Roush - 1941-2010

There are some articles that no writer wants to author. Then there are some articles that some writers aren't qualified to write. This is both.

More than 40 years ago, a young Ferrari enthusiast thought it might be a good idea to begin documenting the Ferraris he saw. Today, his name is known around the world. Unfortunately, that world is a little darker with his passing.

Gerald Roush, 68, the foremost authority on all things Ferrari, passed away Friday morning, 21 May 2010.

After years of taking notes and organizing index cards, Gerald started the Ferrari Market Letter in 1976. The Ferrari Market Letter is known to all as the bible of the Ferrari market. In addition to Ferrari related articles and classified ads every two weeks for 34 years, Gerald's Asking Price Index has become an invaluable resource to current and future Ferrari owners.

I had the opportunity to work under Gerald for nearly three years from 2004-2007. And I learned about a lot more than just Ferraris.

I first met Gerald in late 2003 at the Ferrari French Quarter Classic in New Orleans. At the time, neither of us knew that I'd move to Georgia less than a year later and study under his tutelage. I'd heard about Gerald; read the Ferrari Market Letter; but I didn't know the man.

In May, 2004, I moved to Georgia and began working for the FML. The Ferrari Market Letter office is like a museum of Ferrari history. There are book shelves on all of the walls. Every Ferrari book ever written is somewhere in that office. There's a glass cabinet adorned with rare Ferrari models. There are Mille Miglia helmets and Colorado Grand stickers and autographed photos from famous race car drivers. There are Jay Koka paintings and entire magazine volumes and big bronze race car sculptures. Hats and banners, pins and scarves, pennants, trinkets, license plates, a steering wheel from one car, a shift knob from another, and a damaged cylinder from his Tojeiro.

But for all of his Ferrari memorabilia, Gerald was more than his Ferrari obsession. Gerald loved to cook and did it often. He even had his own apron, an award winning recipe, a very expensive bottle of red wine vinegar from Modena, and a wooden sign hanging above the stove that read: I like wine when I cook - sometimes I even put it in the food! Gerald loved his MG Midget and his Tojeiro (LOY 501), a rare, one-of-three British race car.

Gerald wasn't just some car-crazed nut with great organizational skills. He had a Masters degree in history, and so it seems that fate somehow intervened and appointed him a Ferrari historian. I often wondered how one man could retain so much information. So I asked him. And he said:

"You don't need to know everything. You just need to know where to find the answers."

And then he looked around at all of his books - most of which he knew inside and out.

For all of his expertise with vintage Ferraris, Gerald was no stranger to the contemporary models. One year, while attending Italian Car Day, there was a discussion about which car we'd all take home if we could. Among the entrants was a 275, a Daytona and a Queen Mother. I asked Gerald which one he'd like to take home. He said:

"The Challenge Stradale."

Perplexed, I asked him why.

"Because it's probably the most comfortable, and it has air conditioning!"

Gerald's wit and wisdom were matched only by his sense of humor and his passion for life. Knowing Gerald, he's probably up there right now ribbing Enzo about mis-stamped engines and re-stamped chassis.

In the grand scheme of things, I lament that I knew Gerald for only a short amount of time. There are those of you who knew him for far longer. His memory lives on not only in his accomplishments, but in our interactions with him. We hope you'll share your stories with us. You can also e-mail your stories to his son, Chris Roush, at croush@email.unc.edu.

Gerald is survived by his wife Carol, his daughter Cathy, his son Chris and three grandchildren. Rest in peace, Gerald. The man upstairs better have his stuff in order lest our mailboxes be filled with the Heavenly Market Letter.

Next Issue!

Next month is the week long annual Ferrari extravaganza in Monterey, California. Concorso Italiano, Quail, Pebble Beach, auctions - not to mention everything you can imagine racing around Laguna Seca. So stay tuned as we'll be bringing you all of the goings on up there in September.