Author: Steve Ahlgrim

Steve Ahlgrim cut his Ferrari teeth as general manager and vice president of FAF Motorcars, a former Atlanta-area authorized Ferrari dealer. Today he owns Italycars LLC, a Ferrari appraisal, inspection and consulting service. Steve is an IAC/PFA council member and judges Ferraris at many of the top concours. He has been writing for SCM since 2002.

1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB Boxer

A serious, high-speed missile which rewards the serious pilot and frustrates the casual driver {vsig}2005-5_1839{/vsig} The all-new 365 GT4 BB appeared on the world stage at the 1971 Turin Motor Show and received a rapturous reception. Of monocoque/tubular steel construction, it featured a mid-mounted, flat-12 engine derived directly from Ferrari’s […]

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB

Perhaps no car better epitomizes classic Ferrari design than the 275 GTB. Penetrative nose, long bonnet, low cabin and a short, neat tail are the ingredients that make for a masterpiece of sports car design. The 275 GTB drew inspiration from the preceding 250 GTO, and along with its timeless […]

1969 Fiat Dino 2000 Spider

Is a Fiat Dino a Ferrari? This question is sure to heat up the conversation the next time you’re kicking tires at an auction {vsig}2005-3_1825{/vsig} In the present ownership for the past seven years, this Fiat Dino Spider benefits from partial restoration at the hands of recognized specialists Garage Auto […]

1990 Ferrari F40

Playing with the F40 in our 70-mph society is like going deer hunting with a rocket launcher Introduced in 1988 to celebrate Enzo Ferrari’s 40 years as a carmaker, the F40 was the last car with a design personally approved by the great man himself. With a top speed of […]

1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

I was the one who sold 308 GT4 S/N 10540 for $23,500 back in 1990   {vsig}2005-1_1720{/vsig} Ferrari’s family of immensely successful V8 road cars began in 1973 with the 308 GT4. The Maranello factory’s first V8-engined road car and first mid-engine 2+2, the 308 GT4 was styled by Bertone […]

1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder LWB

It lacks reasonable weatherproofing, rusts easily, and has a chassis that is way too flexible, but the California Spyder proves that people will always buy beauty and performance over practicality   {vsig}2004-12_1539{/vsig} Convincing Enzo Ferrari to produce an open version of the highly successful competition 250 GT Berlinetta was an […]

1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Berlinetta

Once described in a magazine as the world’s most beautiful Ferrari, the 212 was somewhat unfairly known in my neck of the woods as the world’s ugliest {vsig}2004-10_1443{/vsig} Whatever the chosen medium, artists’ earliest works are always among their most desired and sought after. Artist-in-metal Enzo Ferrari is a case […]

1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast

The Shah of Iran was so impressed with his 500 Superfast that he bought a second one. {vsig}2004-6_1225{/vsig} The high-performance, luxury gran tursimo was a new automotive idiom in the prosperous years following World War II. Powerful, limited-production GT’s supplanted the great cars from Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, and the grandes […]

1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spyder

Following a number of conversion attempts by various independent shops, Ferrari’s rationale for not building an open TR became obvious: Chopping the roof created serious spatial and structural challenges The Testarossa was designed by Ferrari specifically for the U.S. market’s strict safety and emissions rules. Its signature elements were a […]

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

Ferrari’s 250 GT reached a level of true dual-purpose perfection with the Short Wheelbase Berlinetta. It coalesced three parallel and mutually supporting paths of Ferrari development. Ferrari’s continuing focus upon both Grand Prix and endurance sports car racing emphasized power and reliability. Production of high quality gran tursimo automobiles delivered […]