Editorial

Over the years, Ferrari’s staff drivers for road car testing and driver training have become the stuff of legend. At Goodwood this week I was able to sample their unique skills at close hand - sitting next to the newly-appointed Ferrari Maserati UK Chief Driving Instructor (and ex F1, and Le Mans pilot) Enrico Bertaggia, in the first RHD F430. You can read my impressions below, but I can only imagine what sitting with Enrico in a well run-in car at Fiorano must be like, and you have to admire the man’s restraint given the newness of the car.

Also at the Goodwood Press Day (as part of the ‘Supercar Run’, but sadly a static exhibit only until the event proper in June) was Aston’s AMV8, and this was the first time your Editor had a chance to have a good look at the car. It certainly lives up to all pre-launch expectations, and is well worthy of joining the long queue snaking its way round your local Aston dealer. Unfair comparison perhaps (in the UK you’re talking another £40,000) but how do Ferrari get another 110 bhp from their 4.3 litre V8 compared to the British car?

We’ve also got the latest news from Sebring ‘hot off the press’, and I think all true GT racing enthusiasts will be eagerly awaiting news of the DBR9s when the 12 Hour race in Florida finishes late tomorrow night. Full report of course on Classic Driver over the weekend.

On the ‘got to have one’ front, I just love the Concertino for iPod, the valve-based amplifier and speaker system for Apple’s market-defining audio player. Expensive (like some many things in life) - but very nice.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5

Dark Green (DB291 - Dark Olive) with Cognac leather interior and dark green canvas convertible top, superb one owner Beverly Hills car, factory air conditioning, Becker Europa, excellent throughout, books, tools and records, drives superbly.


colour DB291 - Dark Olive
interior colour Cognac Leather
year 1971

Price USD 86.500


Dealership:

Heritage Classics
8980 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood California 90069, USA

Phone +1-310-657 9699

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Ferrari F355 F1


sequential gearbox / touchtronic, leather
August 1998 Ferrari 355 Berlinetta F1. Azzuro California with Blue Scuro hide. A very classy and rare colour combination on a lovely example of this model. Supplied with 6 disc CD auto changer, fire extinguisher and regularly maintained by MHT and Stratstones. The car is a two owner car showing only 11,500 miles. Available for viewing at our Northleach showroom.

colour Azzuro California
interior colour Blu Scuro
year 1998
Mileage 18.507 km / 11.500 m

Price 59.995 GBP

Dealership:

Bob Houghton Racing
Midwinter Road, Northleach, Cheltenham, GL54 3JD

Phone +44(0) 870 90 40 430

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see complete stock from this dealer

Porsche 911 Turbo Gemballa GT

LHD, 650 bhp, all leather, ABS, climate control, stability control. Price when new: 302,632 EURO

colour Metallic Green
year 2003
Mileage 7.200 Km / 4.474 M

Price 214.600 EURO


Dealership:

Gemballa Automobiltechnik
Mollenbachstr. 17, 71229 Leonberg

Phone +49 (0) 7152 979 90 33

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Techno Classica, Essen, Germany
7th - 10th Apr 2005

Barons Classic, Collectors, Thoroughbred and Sports Car Auction, Esher, UK
21st - 22nd Mar 2005

Tour Auto Lissac, France
25th - 30th Mar 2005

Royal Windsor St George's Day Festival of Aston Martin, UK
21st - 23rd April 2005

see further event details

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