80 year old chap still loves his F40

[WCZ]

LotusOmega375D said:

I was a bit confused. At the start he said he walked away from a few in 2009 that were too low mileage and decided on this one which had covered more miles (presumably cheaper), so that he wouldn’t have to worry about using it. Then by the end he’s telling us how often he likes to drive it, but that it’s now super low mileage (5000), so he’s bought a 16M to use instead. Magnificent car all the same.

he said he bought it as an investment that he could occasionally drive until DK engineering told him he shouldnt be driving it or putting any miles on it

[rat rod]

WCZ said:

LotusOmega375D said:

I was a bit confused. At the start he said he walked away from a few in 2009 that were too low mileage and decided on this one which had covered more miles (presumably cheaper), so that he wouldn’t have to worry about using it. Then by the end he’s telling us how often he likes to drive it, but that it’s now super low mileage (5000), so he’s bought a 16M to use instead. Magnificent car all the same.

he said he bought it as an investment that he could occasionally drive until DK engineering told him he shouldn't be driving it or putting any miles on it

As a investment DK are wright , One of the most coveted Ferrari's of all times even if they are almost mass produced compared to say a GTO ,
As a owner driver not an investor they should be used as and when possible and viewed as a bonus if they increase in value,I'm aware that i am at a dangerous age ,either for unforeseeable illness which could end my ability to drive or take a sudden left turn to the race track in the sky so would drive the wheels off it as long as i was capable to do so and this guys got 11 years on me so must be wright when they say age is just a number,

My bother is 10 years younger than me and thinks like he's 20 years older if not more but has done so even he was young, mind you he's been playing golf most of his life for his excitement.

Not sure if i would have taken the F40 out in all that heavy rain and i don't think he would have if he had a choice but with Super Car Driver with
all the camera crew on their way i doubt if he had much choice.



,

Edited by rat rod on Thursday 22 October 13:22

[priley]

Agreed, sort of ironic that the most use its had in years was in a downpour! Fair play to the owner though. And as to minimal use it looks like he has lots of other cars to choose from on a sunny day. Personally I’d pick the F40 more frequently though.

[Bispal]

So we have a man who tells us:-

"Cars are meant to be driven aren't they"

"Anyone who owns one get out there and drive it"

"Its alright to have an investment but you do need to go out and enjoy the cars"

F40 - 5 years between MOT's 218 miles = 43.6 miles per year
16M - 5 years between MOT's 515 miles = 103 miles per year

The F40 has driven to the MOT test centre once a year.

A nice chap he may be and a very enjoyable video too but not sure he practices what he preaches?

Or perhaps these Ferrari's suffer from broken odometers like so many others seem to?

Edited by Bispal on Friday 23 October 09:11

[BigMon]

Well, I for one very much enjoyed watching that and salute John as a massive petrolhead.

[Bispal]

I Just don't think F40's appear to be driven much at all any more, such a shame.

2015 - 2020 - 5 year total mileage figures below of well know cars:-

F40DP - 140 miles - ex Sultan of Brunei car
F40JKE - 218 miles - topic of this thread
F40NPG - 293 miles - Nick Masons car but in fairness he has done over 40k kms in it. In the same period he did 1,000 miles in his 250GTO.
F40BLU - 825 miles - Sam Moores car
F40ABU - 2,430 miles - as featured in EVO - almost being used!

[LotusOmega375D]

I sold a very low mileage Lotus Omega (LHD Carlton) to a collector 5 years ago. Here are the annual mileages as per the MOT intervals in his ownership.

2016/17. 6 miles
2017/18. 6 miles
2018/19. 9 miles
2019/20. 0 miles (he must have trailered it to the MOT station, so perhaps it was raining!)

It begs the question as to why you would bother with an annual MOT at all!

[Bispal]

LotusOmega375D said:

I sold a very low mileage Lotus Omega (LHD Carlton) to a collector 5 years ago. Here are the annual mileages as per the MOT intervals in his ownership.

2016/17. 6 miles
2017/18. 6 miles
2018/19. 9 miles
2019/20. 0 miles (he must have trailered it to the MOT station, so perhaps it was raining!)

It begs the question as to why you would bother with an annual MOT at all!

Continuous history, ownership and mileage evidence? I see lots of cars with several years MOT history missing, there are always a few on collecting cars which have several consecutive missing MOT's, it just makes me suspicious. I think your buyer is doing it the right way, he is a collector not bought to drive so fair enough. Do you miss it? I have heard conflicting views on the Lotus Carlton / Omega?

[Bo_apex]

priley said:

Agreed, sort of ironic that the most use its had in years was in a downpour! Fair play to the owner though. And as to minimal use it looks like he has lots of other cars to choose from on a sunny day. Personally I’d pick the F40 more frequently though.

+1
Not every owner would take their F40 out in the rain. Kudos to him.
Perhaps if DK hadn't intervened it would be out more often !

[moc]

Loved the video and his attitude to enjoying the car.

But at 80 years old, surely this is no longer an investment, it's just now a thing to own and enjoy....

Edited by moc on Friday 23 October 14:48

[WCZ]

same with La Ferraris.

I was arguing with a broker on Fchat that they never get driven, and the Taxtherich video of one being drifted around his estate was fun and pleasing because it was being driven.

his response was that 'these cars shouldn't be driven this way and a level of class should be maintained' also 'I know several drivers who drive their la ferraris'

when in reality they are fking cars and anyone with money can buy them and do what they want, most don't drive them and it's a statistical fact. also the public agrees it's refreshing to see them driven as displayed in the youtube comments.

[Gregor-lun1d]

I just wish there was one of these threads that isn't ruined by the "drive it more," .. "Dont! You'll lose a fortune," types.

Appreciate there's an 80 year old that took his cash out of investments and bought an F40. That he uses in the rain. That he allows other people to drive.

Chapeau, sir.

[WCZ]

Gregor-lun1d said:

I just wish there was one of these threads that isn't ruined by the "drive it more," .. "Dont! You'll lose a fortune," types.

Appreciate there's an 80 year old that took his cash out of investments and bought an F40. That he uses in the rain. That he allows other people to drive.

Chapeau, sir.

it's just about the reality of it vs how it's presented.

and yes he drove it in the rain for this video

[LotusOmega375D]

Bispal said:

Continuous history, ownership and mileage evidence? I see lots of cars with several years MOT history missing, there are always a few on collecting cars which have several consecutive missing MOT's, it just makes me suspicious. I think your buyer is doing it the right way, he is a collector not bought to drive so fair enough. Do you miss it? I have heard conflicting views on the Lotus Carlton / Omega?

Good point about the paperwork : £50 per year for a new MOT is peanuts in the overall scheme of things.

I miss most of my old classics. But if I kept them forever, than I wouldn’t have the wherewithal to buy the next one. It’s a bit like the property ladder! My Lotus Omega was a stonking car. I bought it at 5000 miles and it was still as good as new when I sold it about 5 years later. I used to hit triple figures accelerating down the slip road onto a motorway and wonder why everyone else on the main carriageway was driving so slowly! Great for family outings too. There’s a lot of maintenance guff spouted about them on the internet but if you buy a good low miler, you’ll enjoy it.

This was the original advert photo from 10+ years ago. Lots of other classic car dealers have subsequently copied this studio style photo technique for selling their stock , but I think these guys were the first.

[SSO]

cgt2 said:

Nice to see it being driven in the wet. SSO's F50 looked stunning in the rain.

Thanks. F50 did handle well in the wet. F40 is a bit more of a handful. Just spent 3 hours in the McLaren 650S Spider in heavy rain and it performed perfectly.

[SSO]

Bispal said:

I Just don't think F40's appear to be driven much at all any more, such a shame.

2015 - 2020 - 5 year total mileage figures below of well know cars:-

F40DP - 140 miles - ex Sultan of Brunei car
F40JKE - 218 miles - topic of this thread
F40NPG - 293 miles - Nick Masons car but in fairness he has done over 40k kms in it. In the same period he did 1,000 miles in his 250GTO.
F40BLU - 825 miles - Sam Moores car
F40ABU - 2,430 miles - as featured in EVO - almost being used!

Still drive mine regularly.