Michael Sheehan
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Your First Ferrari
The words “Ferrari” and “affordable” are usually mutually exclusive. But for the lucky demographic with a spare $100,000 or so (for what will be at best a second car or a Cars & Coffee weekend toy), there are a surprising number of Ferraris built over the past seven decades that are indeed affordable. In the…
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The Cadillac of Ferraris
In early May, Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 s/n 11429, a non-running project, was sold on Bring a Trailer for $78,750, including buyer’s premium. A bargain price! At least until one digests that it was fitted with a 4.6-liter Cadillac Northstar V8 backed up with a 4-speed automatic GM 700R4 trans, a non-original aluminum radiator and…
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1972 Lamborghini Jarama S
Ferruccio Lamborghini’s first production car, the Touring-styled 350GT, was launched at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show, featuring a glorious 4-cam 3.5-liter V12 engine by Giotto Bizzarrini, which was housed in a chassis that was the work of Gian Paolo Dallara. The line of front-engine grand tourers continued with the 4-liter 400GT and Islero 2+2s, the…
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Ferraris Ride Unusual Tides
The Monterey auctions have again redefined the auction world’s segment of the collector car market, and, as usual, Ferraris are in the top tier of cars. Gooding offered 13 Ferraris with one no-sale for a 92% close rate and $40,276,500 in sales. RM had 14 Ferraris on offer, with all selling for a 100% close…
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An Evil, Clever 599 Sting
The 2007 Ferrari 599 at the Cavallino Classic concours that year, before it later became the object of an elaborate scam attempt Our story begins with 2007 Ferrari 599 s/n 150098, the 26th U.S. model 599 built, in Grigio Silverstone with Bordeaux leather and heavily optioned with carbon ceramic brakes, luggage, carbon upper and lower…
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High-End Ferraris Booming
We all know that the planet went into recession in 2007 — and fell off the proverbial economic cliff on September 15, 2008, when Lehman Brothers was thrown into bankruptcy. The Dow dropped 500 points on that day — and then even further. Banks and businesses failed, and the gloom set in. Many markets slowed…
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Ferrari’s Perpetual Parts Problem
We continually have older Ferraris in pre-sale or pre-purchase inspection and stay involved in the follow-up work or additional work requested by clients. There isn’t a day that goes by without hearing of ongoing parts problems from the many shops we deal with. Federal law requires all manufacturers to supply replacement parts for 10 years…
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Just Used Cars
I am often asked why I don’t traffic in or write about more Fiat-era cars, such as the 308s, 328s, 348s and the 400s, BBs and TRs. The answer is simple. One of the great realities all Ferrari dealers and brokers know all too well is that the brain-damage factor—from both the buyer and the…
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Avoid Conflicts with Pre-Sale Inspections
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 I’ve been selling Enzo-era cars since there were only Enzo-era cars. It is both interesting and telling that the Enzo-era cars (built from 1947 to 1974) closely parallel my age group—the all-too-rapidly aging Baby-Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964). When it comes to age, much like the Baby-Boomers, almost all of…
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When is Fast too Fast?
This month’s column focuses on three related points. First, I do a lot of expert-witness work, so I’m consulted on many horrifically wrecked Ferraris, which is very sobering. I also get emails from Ferrari Internet chat groups monitoring the relatively new trend of punitive traffic fines in Europe and Canada. Finally, because I drive most…