Trip to Maranello
Discussion
Got back last night, apologies for the ramble but I hope you will enjoy sharing a little of my trip with you.
We drove down on Sunday evening - myself and my dealer - in a Quattroporte S. Unfortunately not the demo MC Stradale that was just delivered, but the QPS was very good nonetheless, too soft and large for my tastes but you can't knock it for what it is. Anyway, after a great dinner in Modena (I recommend Caffe'Concerto), and not sleeping much, I awoke to a glorious sunny Monday. The programme started with refreshments and a video in a private room at the Galleria followed by a tour of the exhibition. It was just me, my dealer, and a nice guy from LA called Brian who was hoping to see his grigio silversone California (I think we saw it parked up outside one of the buildings).
Then by bus to the factory, passing through the famous archway and touring first the engine plant. This is an amazing building, lots of glass and trees, so it feels light, airy, and much quieter than I was expecting. They produce all the V8 and V12 engines, including for Maserati, and also the 8C. There are some exhibits of interesting cars at either end of the building, including an F40 prototype, a 288 GTO, and a special 360 spider with canvas interior made for LdM’s wedding.
After this we visited the V12 construction line, on the 3rd floor of the assembly building. This has 35 stations and the cars spend an hour on each, so it takes about 4 days for the painted chassis that comes in one end to exit as a built car ready for the testing/QA building near the main entrance. Saw a few 599 GTOs, a couple of SA Apertas, at least one 599 HGTE, and a couple of 458 challenge cars (they build these upstairs on the V12 line). Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the clean, modern, airy environment. It feels much less cramped than the lines at Sant’Agata.
Next we took the minibus to the Corsa Clienti area and spent a long time looking at the customer F1 cars – they had several in various stages of strip/build, including a 3-seater which I believe is a Phillip Morris car. There is an amazing storage area where the F1 cars are kept under their red dust covers, although we were lucky as a few were uncovered, eg. returning from a young driver programme in the days before. Next to the building with the F1 cars is another for the 599XX and FXX cars. Looked around a very special black FXX with Italian flag livery and a number of the 599XX’s. I believe an Evo upgrade for the 599XX is being considered. Surprised me some of the 599XX’s had brake donuts and some didn’t.
Brian left us at that point and my dealer and I then did a few additional things.
First we visited the Atelier and talked about all the different spec options, looked at the coloured carbon fibre, and had a close look at a lovely matt white 458 with matt roof, as well as a Rosso fuoco California with a gloss black roof. Next we went to the Classic department, which was for me one of the highlights of the day. There were so many special Ferraris here, so much passion and heritage in one place. A red 250 GTO undergoing what looked like a full strip and rebuild. A red 250 LM. Parked between these a light blue Daytona spider. A period F2 car. Two 288 GTO’s, one with Texas plates the other was described to me as ex-Niki Lauda (it had the red horizontal stripes on the seats). And many more wonderful cars. The Classic guys were a delight to talk to also, they clearly love what they do and view it as preserving the heritage of the marque.
Then another absolute highlight was the visit to the testing/finishing area near the old archway, where I was able to see my 599 GTO undergoing final QA. It looked perfect to me, and I wanted to get in and drive it away, but unfortunately I need to be patient for another couple of weeks!
After lunch at the ever-excellent Montana, we went to Fiorano and I met the head of the Corsa Clienti and special vehicles section who was kind enough to spend over an hour with me talking about the F1 cars and the FXX and 599XX programmes. It was a relaxed and open discussion and I got a very good impression of the family atmosphere they create here which resonates well with me and is a good balance to the other side perhaps people see of Ferrari with all the branding and the people queuing up to buy the next car without really considering what makes the place, the cars, and the people what they are. It took, and is taking, some effort of willpower not to buy the beautiful matt white 599XX I saw. Especially after we saw a rosso car ponding round Fiorano making the most incredible, loud music – utterly insane and brutal sounds especially downshifting. There really is nothing like a V12.
So there we have it. A fantastic day at Maranello, and I am of course very grateful to the many people who gave generously of their time to make this happen.
Will put some pics and a short video up later.
We drove down on Sunday evening - myself and my dealer - in a Quattroporte S. Unfortunately not the demo MC Stradale that was just delivered, but the QPS was very good nonetheless, too soft and large for my tastes but you can't knock it for what it is. Anyway, after a great dinner in Modena (I recommend Caffe'Concerto), and not sleeping much, I awoke to a glorious sunny Monday. The programme started with refreshments and a video in a private room at the Galleria followed by a tour of the exhibition. It was just me, my dealer, and a nice guy from LA called Brian who was hoping to see his grigio silversone California (I think we saw it parked up outside one of the buildings).
Then by bus to the factory, passing through the famous archway and touring first the engine plant. This is an amazing building, lots of glass and trees, so it feels light, airy, and much quieter than I was expecting. They produce all the V8 and V12 engines, including for Maserati, and also the 8C. There are some exhibits of interesting cars at either end of the building, including an F40 prototype, a 288 GTO, and a special 360 spider with canvas interior made for LdM’s wedding.
After this we visited the V12 construction line, on the 3rd floor of the assembly building. This has 35 stations and the cars spend an hour on each, so it takes about 4 days for the painted chassis that comes in one end to exit as a built car ready for the testing/QA building near the main entrance. Saw a few 599 GTOs, a couple of SA Apertas, at least one 599 HGTE, and a couple of 458 challenge cars (they build these upstairs on the V12 line). Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the clean, modern, airy environment. It feels much less cramped than the lines at Sant’Agata.
Next we took the minibus to the Corsa Clienti area and spent a long time looking at the customer F1 cars – they had several in various stages of strip/build, including a 3-seater which I believe is a Phillip Morris car. There is an amazing storage area where the F1 cars are kept under their red dust covers, although we were lucky as a few were uncovered, eg. returning from a young driver programme in the days before. Next to the building with the F1 cars is another for the 599XX and FXX cars. Looked around a very special black FXX with Italian flag livery and a number of the 599XX’s. I believe an Evo upgrade for the 599XX is being considered. Surprised me some of the 599XX’s had brake donuts and some didn’t.
Brian left us at that point and my dealer and I then did a few additional things.
First we visited the Atelier and talked about all the different spec options, looked at the coloured carbon fibre, and had a close look at a lovely matt white 458 with matt roof, as well as a Rosso fuoco California with a gloss black roof. Next we went to the Classic department, which was for me one of the highlights of the day. There were so many special Ferraris here, so much passion and heritage in one place. A red 250 GTO undergoing what looked like a full strip and rebuild. A red 250 LM. Parked between these a light blue Daytona spider. A period F2 car. Two 288 GTO’s, one with Texas plates the other was described to me as ex-Niki Lauda (it had the red horizontal stripes on the seats). And many more wonderful cars. The Classic guys were a delight to talk to also, they clearly love what they do and view it as preserving the heritage of the marque.
Then another absolute highlight was the visit to the testing/finishing area near the old archway, where I was able to see my 599 GTO undergoing final QA. It looked perfect to me, and I wanted to get in and drive it away, but unfortunately I need to be patient for another couple of weeks!
After lunch at the ever-excellent Montana, we went to Fiorano and I met the head of the Corsa Clienti and special vehicles section who was kind enough to spend over an hour with me talking about the F1 cars and the FXX and 599XX programmes. It was a relaxed and open discussion and I got a very good impression of the family atmosphere they create here which resonates well with me and is a good balance to the other side perhaps people see of Ferrari with all the branding and the people queuing up to buy the next car without really considering what makes the place, the cars, and the people what they are. It took, and is taking, some effort of willpower not to buy the beautiful matt white 599XX I saw. Especially after we saw a rosso car ponding round Fiorano making the most incredible, loud music – utterly insane and brutal sounds especially downshifting. There really is nothing like a V12.
So there we have it. A fantastic day at Maranello, and I am of course very grateful to the many people who gave generously of their time to make this happen.
Will put some pics and a short video up later.
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