Past supercars, can they still cut it? F512BB??
Discussion
Not sure exactly how I stumbled onto this thought, it might have been seeing past supercars on GT5 that got me thinking about it 
But anyway. I'm never likely to own a supercar, but I was wondering, how do some of the older ones stack up in a modern world.
The focus of my thoughts was one of these:
To my eye they still look thoroughly modern, sleek and fast looking. In fact looking at modern supercars I'm amazed how none look as good, as pretty and as well proportioned as this 1970's example!
Performance stats that I've read suggest 188mph top speed and 5.4 sec 0-60mph with 340-360hp.
I understand these times would also have been recorded on narrow period tyres.
So lets say you had £90k or so for a weekend toy, you could spend it on this 512BB: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3220262.htm
Or you could buy something like this 2006 F430: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3387493.htm
I know on a race track the modern tyres and tech should make the F430 quicker, but out on the open roads and when used just for fun, would the 70's Ferrari really disappoint by comparison?
But anyway. I'm never likely to own a supercar, but I was wondering, how do some of the older ones stack up in a modern world.
The focus of my thoughts was one of these:
To my eye they still look thoroughly modern, sleek and fast looking. In fact looking at modern supercars I'm amazed how none look as good, as pretty and as well proportioned as this 1970's example!
Performance stats that I've read suggest 188mph top speed and 5.4 sec 0-60mph with 340-360hp.
I understand these times would also have been recorded on narrow period tyres.
So lets say you had £90k or so for a weekend toy, you could spend it on this 512BB: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3220262.htm
Or you could buy something like this 2006 F430: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3387493.htm
I know on a race track the modern tyres and tech should make the F430 quicker, but out on the open roads and when used just for fun, would the 70's Ferrari really disappoint by comparison?
I'd take the 512 over the 430. Something so depressingly dull and cold about modern supercars. I suppose that's down to their design being dictated by aerodynamics.
I'd be interested to know if those performance figures for the 512 would be attainable. 188mph is still seriously quick by today's standards.
I'd be interested to know if those performance figures for the 512 would be attainable. 188mph is still seriously quick by today's standards.
I suppose it depends on what you find fun - neither speed nor handling has ever really been the main point of supercars IMO, because you can't use most of the former on the road and there are other cars that do the latter just as well for far less money. I haven't driven either, but I strongly suspect that I'd prefer driving the older car simply because I generally prefer older cars and I suspect it'd be more challenging to drive.
I also think the 512 is vastly better looking.
I also think the 512 is vastly better looking.
300bhp/ton said:
Not sure exactly how I stumbled onto this thought, it might have been seeing past supercars on GT5 that got me thinking about it
But anyway. I'm never likely to own a supercar, but I was wondering, how do some of the older ones stack up in a modern world.
The focus of my thoughts was one of these:
To my eye they still look thoroughly modern, sleek and fast looking. In fact looking at modern supercars I'm amazed how none look as good, as pretty and as well proportioned as this 1970's example!
Performance stats that I've read suggest 188mph top speed and 5.4 sec 0-60mph with 340-360hp.
I understand these times would also have been recorded on narrow period tyres.
So lets say you had £90k or so for a weekend toy, you could spend it on this 512BB: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3220262.htm
I drove past that particular 512 last week, it looks amazing. Much more head turning & interesting than the other Supercars down there. But anyway. I'm never likely to own a supercar, but I was wondering, how do some of the older ones stack up in a modern world.
The focus of my thoughts was one of these:
To my eye they still look thoroughly modern, sleek and fast looking. In fact looking at modern supercars I'm amazed how none look as good, as pretty and as well proportioned as this 1970's example!
Performance stats that I've read suggest 188mph top speed and 5.4 sec 0-60mph with 340-360hp.
I understand these times would also have been recorded on narrow period tyres.
So lets say you had £90k or so for a weekend toy, you could spend it on this 512BB: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3220262.htm
I was parked up next to a 512 on the Ferry on the way back from Le Mans, the owner was kind enough to honour my request for some noise in the lower deck. It filled the place with blue smoke
Top chap, it sounded evil in the enclosed deck
If I win the Lottery this weekend, i'm straight down to Cummings to buy it.
I suspect a large part of the allure of the older car is that it's much rarer. I've seen dozens of 430s in the last six months (admittedly there's a Ferrari dealership on my way to work and I saw about 50 of them racing at Le Mans this year, but the point still stands 
) whereas I don't recall seeing a 512 outside the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the last ten years.
That alone makes it more striking.
) whereas I don't recall seeing a 512 outside the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the last ten years. That alone makes it more striking.
Performance will be less easy to exploit/ extract, smells and noise will be increased, maintenance will be important, you'll understand it better and with that will come greater respect.
People will look at you with admiration, not pretend they couldn't see you. Your car may appreciate in value too but most of all you'll own a piece of motoring heritage devoid of electronica that saves you from dying.
And that, for me, is why the classics outgun the latest showroom exotica
People will look at you with admiration, not pretend they couldn't see you. Your car may appreciate in value too but most of all you'll own a piece of motoring heritage devoid of electronica that saves you from dying.
And that, for me, is why the classics outgun the latest showroom exotica
I've been looking into this myself - albeit at a lower budget.
A 355 or a 308/328
And actually I'm tempted to go for the older cars.
I think that in a modern Ferarri I'd feel I had to prove it was fast but not so in an older one (which lets face facts an Evo / Scooby would be much faster)
Modern Super Cars are too fast for you to ever get anywhere near their limits on the road without the likelihood of ending up in jail so they seem a bit pointless to me and I have never striven to own one.
A 355 or a 308/328
And actually I'm tempted to go for the older cars.
I think that in a modern Ferarri I'd feel I had to prove it was fast but not so in an older one (which lets face facts an Evo / Scooby would be much faster)
Modern Super Cars are too fast for you to ever get anywhere near their limits on the road without the likelihood of ending up in jail so they seem a bit pointless to me and I have never striven to own one.
redgriff500 said:
I've been looking into this myself - albeit at a lower budget.
A 355 or a 308/328
And actually I'm tempted to go for the older cars.
I think that in a modern Ferarri I'd feel I had to prove it was fast but not so in an older one (which lets face facts an Evo / Scooby would be much faster)
Modern Super Cars are too fast for you to ever get anywhere near their limits on the road without the likelihood of ending up in jail so they seem a bit pointless to me and I have never striven to own one.
This is kind of my thoughts too.A 355 or a 308/328
And actually I'm tempted to go for the older cars.
I think that in a modern Ferarri I'd feel I had to prove it was fast but not so in an older one (which lets face facts an Evo / Scooby would be much faster)
Modern Super Cars are too fast for you to ever get anywhere near their limits on the road without the likelihood of ending up in jail so they seem a bit pointless to me and I have never striven to own one.
Although, I'd have thought, if the performance figures of the 512BB are accurate, then it's certainly no slouch. And I guess there's a healthy opportunity to modernise/upgrade some of it's performance potential while making it more durable, more reliable and without sacrificing any of it's classic feel and charm.
300bhp/ton said:
This is kind of my thoughts too.
Although, I'd have thought, if the performance figures of the 512BB are accurate, then it's certainly no slouch. And I guess there's a healthy opportunity to modernise/upgrade some of it's performance potential while making it more durable, more reliable and without sacrificing any of it's classic feel and charm.
Also progress doesn't always mean 'Better'. Take F1 for example. Lewis Hamilton not so long ago got a chance to drive an 80's McLaren MP4 and he absolutely wet himself with enjoyment. Although, I'd have thought, if the performance figures of the 512BB are accurate, then it's certainly no slouch. And I guess there's a healthy opportunity to modernise/upgrade some of it's performance potential while making it more durable, more reliable and without sacrificing any of it's classic feel and charm.
OK The modern car is safer, does quicker lap times, is far easier to drive etc, but it was the over 20 year old car (which in F1 terms is an absolute dinosaur) which left him grinning like a Cheshire cat.
I couldn't count the number of track laps which I've done in all ages of cars and so far it was the simplest of them all (a Kart) which was the most fun.
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