Sunday, March 27, 2011

My Testarossa

...my "redhead"...even though black, was designed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. And I'd say that of all the Scaglietti concoctions, the pontoon fendered 1957 Ferrari 250 TR is his best work of art.
If you can't see art, beauty and God in this machine, then I question whether or not you have a soul. Art and beauty live everywhere...if you view the world through the right lens.
One of the many things that intrigues me about this beauty is the 300hp 12 cylinder engine. Intrigue but not surprise...Enzo Ferrari's passion...his strategy...was racing. 
Commercialization of Ferrari was a utilitarian move neccesary to raise the dosh for racing. The lovely shrouding created by Scaglietti was an afterthought of the Enzo heart. The powerhouse was his passion.
And the scale of the car becomes obvious when you see a driver strapped in. Twelve cylinders and three hundred horses make this one of the most beautiful death-traps imaginable.
The fact that this, my Testarossa, sold at auction two years ago for twelve million dollars is testament to the passion that Ferrari arouses. Pontoon passion. Shut up.
Here's some of the back story on this beauty..."In December 1957, this car was delivered to its first owner, racing driver and future coachbuilder, Piero Drogo in Modena, Italy. Drogo debuted the car as a privateer in the celebrated 1000 km Buenos Aires in January 1958 with a respectable fourth place finish competing with such legendary drivers as Phil Hill, Peter Collins, Wolfgang von Trips and Olivier Gendebien. Following entries in the Grand Prix of Cuba and Portugal, the car was sold by American Ferrari agent Luigi Chinetti to Texas rancher and entrepreneur Alan Connell whose competitive driving skills and affluence afforded him several wins on the 1959 North American racing circuit. 0714TR continued its prowess on the track with subsequent owners and competed in its last professional race in June 1963 at the Elkhart Lake 500."
Seeing the fuel lines running so close to the hand crafted leather shroudings kinda makes me think about cashmere and silk draped across ones chest. Elegant coverings laid within inches of arterial lifelines.
Functional leather hood straps. I won't be buckling these any time soon.
True to the Scaglietti passion for elegant detail...red leather seats.
A spare strapped in.
Knockoff wheel spinners that work. Yes, I'm a child. Shut up.
Come on over. See my etchings. And if you play your cards right, I'll take you for a ride in my car. And please, if anyone can arrange a test drive for me...please.

The Auction...when was the last time you watched twelve million bucks being spent?


Onward. Reveling in cars...till L.F(errari)G. wakes.

ADG II

16 comments:

James said...

Awesome.

Anonymous said...

One of these days you're gonna come down here, if for no other reason than to show these people how to dress...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gswetsky/3369033127/in/gallery-antoniolombardi-72157622705097796/

Death Bredon said...

Excellent post. Very apropos of the start of the Formula One season!

yoga teacher said...

I agree that these are very cool cars, but when I see Testarossas and Lotuses being driven around on city streets I can't help but thinking they are being used as a sort of extension device for a certain body part!

lisa golightly said...

I get it. ( and that's not just the red hair talking )
Molto Bella !!!

CeceliaMc said...

"If you can't see art, beauty and God in this machine, then I question whether or not you have a soul. Art and beauty live everywhere...if you view the world through the right lens.'


Truest thing you've ever said.

ADG said...

Cecelia...thanks. But I'm gonna have to work on my true-isms then.

LisaGo...bella indeed. Like you!

YogaOne...I agree. But the ones you see on the streets in Houston or anywhere for that matter, aren't these classics. They are the gaudy ass new money "hey look at my wanker" cars. I can see where the broth, especially in Texas (sorry), becomes toxic...that bouillabaisse of fifty-eight year old man, hair plugs, money, Kiton suit, Ferrari and Viagra has to be a nightmare for most women.

Death...F-1 is almost a computer game these days.

Flo...I ain't never coming home again.

James...awesome yes. But my little version is hard to get in and out of.

Patsy said...

You wonder if the drivers knew these cars would stand the test of time. Just perfect.

Cecelia said...

"that bouillabaisse of fifty-eight year old man, hair plugs, money, Kiton suit, Ferrari and Viagra has to be a nightmare for most women."


Not hardly.

That's an injustice to the boyishness in the egoism of men, and to the female gender that understands it very well.

MAH said...

Took my Father In Law to Boston MFA for the Ralph Lauren car show a few years back- he's an ex-race car driver and car nut, so he was in heaven. Just reviewed the shots I took....you would love them, my friend.

MAH said...

where'd you get the model? I gotta get that for the old man

ADG said...

Cannonball...google CMC Diecast ... but also look on ebay to see if you can find a deal. And yes, I regret not seeing the Ralph collection in person!

ADG said...

Cecelia...ok, ok.

Sandra said...

Great conversation last week between David Letterman and Dario Franchitti about Formula One and Indy Cars and the tradition that accompanies the sport. xoxo

T said...

I've been holding out hope that CMC or Kyosho will do a 1:18 250 GT Lusso some day. That or a DB4GT Zagato. I'd be willing to sell somebody's kidney for one that isn't Hot Wheels, Yat Ming, or Maisto.

That said, does anybody have a kidney they aren't currently using?

Patsy said...

The Ralph Lauren show was incredible. A friend of ours has a shop on the north shore that does restoration work for the Lauren collection.

You should try and time a Boston trip in the summer, so that you can take in a lawn event at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline.