RE: Ferrari 512 TR: PH Fleet

RE: Ferrari 512 TR: PH Fleet

Author
Discussion

9mm

3,128 posts

211 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
DonkeyApple said:
Lovely car but the 512 was the Ferrari that ended my Ferrari dream as a kid.

I grew up with access to many wonderful cars as a child but there was a heavy English bias and so I never crawled around a Ferrari until later in life. I always liked the look, the sound, the basic iconography of Ferrari.

Then one day I had the chance to sit in and climb over a Ferrari for the first proper time. It was a 512. I was sitting in the driver's seat and that is the exact moment my Ferrari dream basically died. It was the moment that I realised if it weren't for the noise and being able to see some of the exterior you were sitting there looking at the interior of what could have been any cheaply and mass produced box. Horrible plastic cowels, switches and dials. I just couldn't fathom how something so exotic could be so unbelievably mundane and ghastly.
You're not wrong. Incredibly badly put together.

NotNormal

2,360 posts

215 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Great buy, great read. Love it.

Little request if possible Mr H. Every time I read your reports or posts in twit world you keep referencing cars you've owned in the past. Would love you to post up the full list of you previous cars. I can imagine it would make great reading as you certainly sound like you've lived some great dreams car wise.

Here's hoping... smile

The Don of Croy

6,002 posts

160 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Great report - nice to read.

Can we run a sweepstake on just how disgustingly large the first big bill will be? Four figures or five?

gofasterrosssco

1,238 posts

237 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
9mm said:
DonkeyApple said:
Lovely car but the 512 was the Ferrari that ended my Ferrari dream as a kid.

I grew up with access to many wonderful cars as a child but there was a heavy English bias and so I never crawled around a Ferrari until later in life. I always liked the look, the sound, the basic iconography of Ferrari.

Then one day I had the chance to sit in and climb over a Ferrari for the first proper time. It was a 512. I was sitting in the driver's seat and that is the exact moment my Ferrari dream basically died. It was the moment that I realised if it weren't for the noise and being able to see some of the exterior you were sitting there looking at the interior of what could have been any cheaply and mass produced box. Horrible plastic cowels, switches and dials. I just couldn't fathom how something so exotic could be so unbelievably mundane and ghastly.
You're not wrong. Incredibly badly put together.
You're paying for the engine though, the interior comes free.. wink

Ian_C

193 posts

211 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Is that Chris's previous one at William Loughran Ltd reading 6,837 miles?

Twilight1

168 posts

179 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
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Very well written. Thank you. Oh and BTW I love the feedback of the Bridgestone S-02's. They must provide nice feeling to the 512's steering as well.

garypotter

1,506 posts

151 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Sorry i do not agree - one built for excesses of the 80's, not one for me and wonder how these models rate with corrsion like the 348s of that era....

P4ROT

1,219 posts

194 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
These are bound to rocket in value in the next decade...

Raudus42

163 posts

134 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Compared to modern supercars they don't seem so huge as they did at the time. 512 is so much better looking than the TestaRossa - saw a rosso with tan leather (so much cooler than crema) example being driven with spirit about a month ago - looked and sounded fantastic.

k-ink

9,070 posts

180 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
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As per the post above, the OutRun reference is sooo cool. I'd have to put a small SEGA sticker in the rear window.

Escort Si-130

3,273 posts

181 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
I think I prefer it as Testarossa than 512TR

TinyCappo

2,106 posts

154 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
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Sega Sticker reference is cool smile

Got to hear one of these running on throttle bodies....Nothing has sounded as good or probably ever will after experienceing that!

rubystone

11,254 posts

260 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
garypotter said:
Sorry i do not agree - one built for excesses of the 80's, not one for me and wonder how these models rate with corrsion like the 348s of that era....
I haven't seen a rotten TR or 512 yet. Unlike their BMW contemporaries of that era

errek72

943 posts

247 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Totally not my cup of tea. Zero appeal from where I am sitting. About as interesting as a 911 and probably would not want one when offered for free.

But I can't express how much I like the author for being a free-thinking car enthusiast.Godspeed.


Mad Chrissy

8 posts

140 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
I love the personal registration number Chris did you buy it specifically for the car? smile

fatboy69

9,373 posts

188 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Chris Harris - a true petrolhead. I salute you for buying a proper car.

Dreadful driving position, probably very badly put together, many cylinders so the potential for some catastrophic bills,dire fuel consumption, quite a fat backside, lots of noise & most important thing of all - the gearbox.

A proper gearbox & a clutch pedal.

If only the supercars of today were built like this.

Chris Harris is a leg end imo & the 512TR is magnificent. A truly inspired purchase - a video is needed please of the noise.

bikerPaul

1,674 posts

211 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
walsh said:
I followed one of these for 20 miles or so on the m25 this weekend. Overtaking, then being overtaken, mainly so I could gawp at it. After this happened a few times, the chap driving cottened on, pulled along side my open window, Grinned, drop a couple of cogs, and stood on it.

And I turned into a ten year old. Much to the bemusement/amusement of the OH. "Why is it so noisey, and why cant you stop giggling"

Brilliant cars, and top marks to the guy on his way to kingston on saturday. Made my day
Very funny, have a rofl

cerb4.5lee

30,747 posts

181 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Excellent choice Chris, enjoy it & I love that its old school with a manual & I would imagine its a handful to drive quickly which equals fun & enjoyment in my book.

grosserbaby

142 posts

169 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
gofasterrosssco said:
9mm said:
DonkeyApple said:
Lovely car but the 512 was the Ferrari that ended my Ferrari dream as a kid.

I grew up with access to many wonderful cars as a child but there was a heavy English bias and so I never crawled around a Ferrari until later in life. I always liked the look, the sound, the basic iconography of Ferrari.

Then one day I had the chance to sit in and climb over a Ferrari for the first proper time. It was a 512. I was sitting in the driver's seat and that is the exact moment my Ferrari dream basically died. It was the moment that I realised if it weren't for the noise and being able to see some of the exterior you were sitting there looking at the interior of what could have been any cheaply and mass produced box. Horrible plastic cowels, switches and dials. I just couldn't fathom how something so exotic could be so unbelievably mundane and ghastly.
You're not wrong. Incredibly badly put together.
You're paying for the engine though, the interior comes free.. wink
As a car with its roots in the mid eighties the interior is only as you would expect but with nicer leather than the norm, a sort of slightly rounded lego, go look at nearly any near super or supercar of that era and the parts bin raid of lowly marques will have been comprehensive. Ok so not well put together but neither was nearly anything else.



Jonny1984

287 posts

163 months

Tuesday 30th July 2013
quotequote all
Just bought a Revell plastic model kit of the same car. Probably as close as I'll ever get to Ferrari ownership smile