It could have been easy to say that the 2011 Ault Park Concourse d’Elegance took the easy way out when it chose Ferrari as its featured marque. But when looking at all of the beautiful and classic models on display, the trick was surely in which Ferraris to choose and which to leave out.
The selection committee did a magnificent job in compiling an excellent sampling of cars from all eras.
There was a 1956 410 Super America belonging to Tom Cody of Paxton, IL. His is one of only 17 Series 1 cars out there. The Pininfarina bodied beauty was the first car to use the shorter 2600mm wheelbase chassis.
Also on display was a 1958 250 Drogo Coup owned by Hugh Ruthven of Barrington, IL. It has a 3 liter V-12 engine beneath a one-off Pierro Drago alloy body.
Rochester, IN native William Todd Hudkins’ 1962 250 GTE was also on display. The Pininfarina body covers a 12 cylinder Columbo engine and uses three Weber carbs and a four speed manual with overdrive. The original owner of this car was sports and race car builder Piero Dusio who was president and founder of Cisitalia.
One of only 200 275 GTS models ever built was on display. Andy Manganaro of Xenia, OH bought this 1966 model in 1984, two years after it had undergone a complete restoration at the Ferrari factory.
Andy also showed a 1967 330 GTC, a 300 horse power V 12 with a body by Pininfarina that, despite having an extensive racing record, is in un-restored condition.
Only 100 330 GTS models were produced between 1966 and 1968. One belongs to Dayton, OH native Rick Grant, III. This V 12 can go from zero to 60 in 6.9 seconds, topping out at 146 miles per hour.
Also on display from Rick’s stable was his 1967 275 GTB/4. This Scaglietti design is one of only 350 produced between 1966 and 1968 and can still go from zero to sixty in 6.2 seconds.
Tom and Connie Jones of Nicholasville, KY brought their 1972 365 GTB/4. Commonly referred to as the Daytona because of its 1-2-3 finish in the 1967 24 hour Daytona, this 4.4 liter DOHC V 12 is traditionally front mounted engine with read wheel drive.
The Western Reserve Historical Society out of Cleveland lent its 1967 365 California to be shown at the Concourse. One of only 14 built by Pininfarina, only eight were exported to the US. It is also the only series convertible with seating for four.
Wyoming, OH’s Joel D. Pranikoff brought his 1984 440i. A little over 1300 of this model was ever made, only 239 in 1994. This Pininfarina design featured a 4.8 liter front mounted fuel injection V 12 and was the first Ferrari with a factory installed automatic transmission.
From 1968 to 1976, Ferrari released a mid-engine design under the Dino label. The distinction was made because Ferrari wanted to release a car with an engine smaller than the classic Ferrari 12 cylinder that had risen to fame. While there were several models released, the V 6 246 GT and GTS are perhaps the most famous.
The 308 GTS was originally released under the Dino brand to replace the 246 models. A 1978 308 GTS owned by Ian A. DeBarros of West Chester, OH was shown at the Concourse. This is the model that gained fame as being the ride of choice for Magnum P.I. DeBarros’ 3 liter V 8 features four dual Weber carbs and has the original paint and interior.
Testarossa translates from Italian to English as “red head.” It is also the model of Cincinnati’s Michael Kelly’s 1990 Ferrari. This is a true racer with a 380 horse flat 12 that can boast that half of its miles were earned on the race track.
1989 was the first full year for anti-lock brake systems on Ferraris and Jerry Solimine of Cincinnati has them on his ’89 328 GTS. This Pininfarina design featured a 3.2 liter transverse mounted V 8.
One of Ferrari’s most striking supercars is the Enzo. Appling Formula 1 engineering to a street legal car this 6 liter V 12 boasts 660 horses and can prance from zero to sixty in 3 seconds flat, turning out a top speed of 218 mph.
Overall there were enough Ferraris on display that I overheard one visitor admit, “I never thought I’d say this but I’m actually getting tired of looking at Ferraris.” There’s no way he was serious.
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