Were They Ever Just Cars?

[Alfa02]

This post reminds me of a good friend of my Fathers, who after coming back from Viet Nam, saved his money there, was going to buy a "NEW" 67 XKE his dream car. At the Jag dealership just happened to be a 65 Ferrari 250GTE, which was $2000 more than a new Jag, made the deal, with the extra $2000 bank loan, and the Ferrari's off to its new home. Only problem was Doug was a welder by trade and didn't have any money left for a truck to haul his welding supplies, you guessed it, for a year that Ferrari hauled welding tanks in the trunk One Saturday my dad asked if I wanted to go for a ride in Doug's Ferrari (Oh You Bet) when we pull up to Doug's shop the DIRTEST looking Ferrari you could ever imagine was sitting there, but once in inside that V12 sound oh'lordy 7000 grand in 3rd gear was good for a 100mph, with two more gear's to go!! I will always remember my first Ferrari ride Cheers Tom.

[Chicagowil]

I was a senior in High School in Concord, CA in 1969. I had a 55 Chevy BelAir 2 door hardtop that had been repainted dark green metallic. One of my school buddies had a next-door neighbor that had recently gotten out of Dental school, was single and in his own practice.

I had popped by to pick up Hale for an event. As I pulled up in front of Hale's house, I could see this dark green 2-seater sports car in the next-door driveway. A guy had just come out of the house and when I got out of my car, he shouted "nice car- love the color". I said the same back to him. The colors were so close you could have thought they were painted together!

He came over and wanted to know more about my car, so I gave him the nickel tour.

I them asked him about his car. He took me over and said it was a Cobra. I had seen them in my Road & Track mags of course but was unsure. Just remember it had some of the sexiest lines I had ever seen on a car! As I remember it visually now, I think it was a most likely a street version 427 in what I suspect was ivy green metallic.

He asked me if I had ever been in a Cobra and of course I said "No". So, he took me for a ride. What a car! I think it was the 2nd fast accelerating car I have ever been in (the 1st was a MG TD about the same time with w "built" Chevy 350, about 400 HP- scariest ride I have ever had). He said it was his only car and it was his daily wheels. He said he would enjoy his life as long as he was single.

That was how I became "Snake bit". Don't know whatever happened to him and the car.

Reconnected with Hale about 10 yrs ago thru one of the social pages- he lives in Hawaii now. He remembered the car, he was not much of a car guy, but lost track of the neighbor when he went to college. I think he said the neighbor had moved away when he came home.

[Harpoon PV2]

I only had one ride in a Ferrari, though I have driven a few. Back around 1966, my parents had a detail shop in Tucson. My dad had a sense of humor, so he sent me out as passenger, I didn't know much, just a funny looking little foreign convertible, but I recognized the name. The driver was a guy named Clem, yes he looked just like his name, a mountain of a man! It must have been quite the sight, me, just looking over the dash, and Clem looking completely over the windshield! I had no fear, so I didn't notice how fast we were going. Oh how I wish some one would of had a camera. Cheers, Dennis

[rms427]

I purchased csx3225 in 1968 by getting my dad to cosign on a loan as I graduated from college. I spent a week convincing it would be worth more than the $4,995 asking price. I was 6'7" at the time and didn't tell my dad that when the seller offered to let my drive it I couldn't figure out how to get behind the wheel. When I purchased it I found I could just step over the steering wheel and slide in. I removed the seat frame rails and bolted the seat directly to the floor that added head room with the top on. I drove it as my everyday car for the first 4 years. It had 9,000 miles when I purchased it and I added about 48,000 miles over those 4 years. The longest trip during that time was about 800 miles on our honeymoon. I also slalomed the car and went on number of ralley's including several 12 hour SCCA ralley's. Currently the car has about 85,000 miles on it.