RE: Steve McQueen's Ferrari: Time For Coffee?
Thursday 2nd January 2014
Picture the scene: you've been invited to drive a Ferrari 275GTB/4 in Italy. And not just any old 275GTB/4 (if such a thing exists), but one previously owned by Steve McQueen. And not just on any Italian road either, but at Fiorano.
Steve McQueen's Ferrari: Time For Coffee?
Classic and Sports Car drive an iconic 275GTB/4 on its first post-restoration outing
Then the camera equipment fails. This is the cruel bit of luck experienced by the guys over at Classic and Sports Car, who had to use an iPhone as the ersatz alternative for recording their Ferrari drive.
Fortunately, both phone and Ferrari do an exceptional job. It's far from a hot lap, not surprising given the car's provenance, but the noise most definitely compensates. And it's Steve McQueen's Ferrari!
Discussion
A beautiful car but too expensive for my wallet. Fabulous expression of the penultimate front engined Ferrari of the 60-70's, but I still prefer the breathtakingly beautiful Daytona, but suspect that both are very solid Grand Turismo drives rather than lithe sports cars, but having driven neither I could be wrong. So anyone who wants to lend me either for a week across Europe drive please get in touch-Ha Ha.
Lovely. The light in that film clip reminds me of the September evening when I saw Fiorano for the first time. Such an evocative atmosphere, a lovely, early-evening fade to the light and an F355 road car being tested by someone. I'd never "got" Ferrari until I saw and heard that scene and then suddenly it all made sense. Can you get my lottery numbers up, please, and then I'll bid on the car?
I love the design of lots of classic Ferraris (250SWB, 250GTO and 288GTO are my favourites), but I've always thought the 275 is pretty ugly.blade7 said:
I read a story that he was sitting at a stoplight in his Ferrari and a young kid piled into the back of him writing his Ferrari off, the kid was in tears but he just told him not to worry about it and went straight to the dealership and bought another one 
.
It was his NART Spyder (that got whacked) and this was the car McQueen bought to run around in while it was off the road..Just to clarify, during the filmed laps it was the owner driving the car not C&SC.
This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
jamesatcandsc said:
Just to clarify, during the filmed laps it was the owner driving the car not C&SC.
This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
Puts me well and truly in my place...This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
The changes did sound pretty ponderous though; particularly the upchanges
Ex Boy Racer said:
jamesatcandsc said:
Just to clarify, during the filmed laps it was the owner driving the car not C&SC.
This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
Puts me well and truly in my place...This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
The changes did sound pretty ponderous though; particularly the upchanges
! Just wanted to make sure people were aware that there were extenuating circumstances for them and the pilot actually has a fantastic pedigree.Ex Boy Racer said:
jamesatcandsc said:
Just to clarify, during the filmed laps it was the owner driving the car not C&SC.
This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
Puts me well and truly in my place...This was the first time he had ever driven it and it didn't take him long to be flying. For the record, he didn't used to drive a mini cab, but is a former F1 racer and Le Mans winner so it was quite a thrill to be in the passenger seat.
Naturally, when I was driving it was much much more impressive, but sadly my amazingness wasn't caught on film.
And yes, I did forget to charge the GoPro, which is why it is on an iPhone!
The changes did sound pretty ponderous though; particularly the upchanges
Still maybe practice and use will make the clutch and accelerator combinations a bit smoother.
The car does look a little cumbersome and bloated but sure it is loved by many, not as elegant as P.4 etc etc but just my views of course.
carl_w said:
aeropilot said:
The car with the man himself...
Blimey the ex-minicab driver/F1 star/Le Mans star looks just like Steve McQueen! Obviously I knew he'd done Le Mans -- I've seen the film, but I was never aware he'd been minicabbing *or* was still alive!jamesatcandsc said:
blade7 said:
I read a story that he was sitting at a stoplight in his Ferrari and a young kid piled into the back of him writing his Ferrari off, the kid was in tears but he just told him not to worry about it and went straight to the dealership and bought another one .
It was his NART Spyder (that got whacked) and this was the car McQueen bought to run around in while it was off the road..
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