'My little pony'. Kramer with beloved 308
We like ogling at pristine Ferraris in beautiful settings as much as any other car enthusiast. However, there’s something really appealing about an Italian exotic that just racks up the miles and is no stranger to everyday traffic; a Ferrari that’s seen some action and wears the odd battle scar with pride.
So we love the story of Mark Kramer’s 1981 308 GTSi. He’s owned it from new and during 26 years of ownership has clocked up 153,000 miles. Yes, you read that correctly…
"The best thing about owning a Ferrari is driving it," Kramer said (‘good man’, we say). "If you maintain them, change the oil and keep them tuned, they stay in good shape."
"It's not real fast, but it's fun to drive," he added. "There's a real mystique when you get in behind the wheel and see that stallion."
The 308 is on its second engine after the first was replaced early in its life under warranty. Other than routine maintenance and parts replacement – plus a re-spray – it’s as it was when Kramer bought it from Ferrari of San Diego.
Kramer first saw a Ferrari on a family holiday to Rome when one pulled up outside the café where they were eating: "I've wanted a Ferrari since I was about 13. It made an unbelievable sound" he recalls.
Kramer now owns six Ferraris, including a mighty 1972 Daytona GTB/4; two Porsches and a 1999 Maserati.
"I never set out to be a car collector, but I grow sentimentally attached to them." You’re not wrong there Mark, it’s in the blood…