Automezzi Colorado Pictures - June 3, 2007

1X83Z · Jun 3, 2007

All,

We had an Italian-only car show today called Automezzi, in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. Here are some photos of the entrants:

LANCIA SCORPION

FERRARI F355

FERRARI DINO GTS

FERRARI DINO GT

LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH

FERRARI 360 MODENA

FERRARI 330 GTC

FERRARI 330 GT 2+2 (no photo of the car - gotta love me)

FERRARI 288 GTO

FERRARI 275 GTB/4

During the show my friends and I walked around a little and enjoyed the Ferraris, particularly the 288 GTO. We made our way over to the Alfas and were looking at them when I noticed it in the parking lot...

I have never in my life viewed an F40 before. Ever. The vehicle was sitting in the parking lot, just like a normal car, except it was taking up two spots and had a cone behind it. No one - NO ONE - noticed it. But as soon as we did, people flocked to it. One by one people kept trickling out to look at the car. After we had stared at it for about twenty minutes, an announcement came over the loudspeaker: "To the owner of the Ferrari F40 in the parking lot, could you please get that car in to the show?! It's sitting all alone in the parking lot!" Five minutes later the owner came out and drove it away, turning down people asking for rides saying he had to return to work. The owner was a short, older obviously Italian man smoking a cigar and extremely proud of his supercar. I eventually took thirty shots of the vehicle, plus some more with me and my friends next to it, before he finally drove away. Unfortunately I can't count this spot in the 'Did You See Anything Good Today' thread because, as per my own rules, it was parked at an event (despite not being a participant). I had a long argument with one of my friends who was there about whether it 'counts' (he said it did, since it wasn't being shown) but I'm too strict to count it - despite it not being an exhibitor, it was at a show. No dice.

More shots:

And the vehicle driving away:

I'll never forgive my camera for blurring that last shot - we ran up to the road to hear it speed by, and man what a noise - truly incredible to hear and see. Not an 'official' spot, but it certainly made my week.

Hope you enjoy the photos - sorry there's so many, but the subject matter is good.

Joey D · Jun 3, 2007

Awesome pictures Doug 👍! And that F40....wow! I've never seen one in person either, the closest thing I've seen has been an F50 on the road.

I'd +rep you if I could.

1X83Z · Jun 3, 2007

Joey D
Awesome pictures Doug 👍! And that F40....wow! I've never seen one in person either, the closest thing I've seen has been an F50 on the road.

I'd +rep you if I could.

Thanks!

Seen two F50s (both at shows) and I can state unequivocally that it doesn't touch the F40 - that vehicle simply has more presence than any automobile I've ever seen in my entire life, Enzo included.

The F40 is now added to my 'one day' list, and becomes the third vehicle on the list along with the Lamborghini Diablo and the Bugatti Veyron. I wasn't convinced until today, but now it's a sure thing - holy crap.

exigeracer · Jun 4, 2007

Did he put the cone in the passenger seat before driving off?

JCE · Jun 4, 2007

I've seen 2 F40's in person--they were at Ferrari of Dallas (McLaren knows what I'm talking about) but I have NEVER had the ultimate pleasure of hearing one. God I wish that was a digitcal camcorder you had to record that audio.

Conversely I've not seen an F50 or Enzo in person yet--and frankly don't care. The F40 is the ultimate Ferrari--ever--in the history of ever.

exigeracer · Jun 4, 2007

They sound amazing. Those two turbos - you hear them loud and clear.

-Fred- · Jun 4, 2007

I hate you, Doug.

1X83Z · Jun 4, 2007

exigeracer
Did he put the cone in the passenger seat before driving off?

Come to think of it, I don't even know what happened to the cone - but it looks like he moved it behind the Grand Am before drving away. He certainly didn't load it into the car - although the one item inside the vehicle that wasn't stock was a pillow on top of the seat, presumably because those seats aren't the most comfortable things on Earth.

JCE
God I wish that was a digitcal camcorder you had to record that audio.

Conversely I've not seen an F50 or Enzo in person yet--and frankly don't care. The F40 is the ultimate Ferrari--ever--in the history of ever.

I had a digital video camera on my digital camera, but unbelievably it doesn't record sound. With regards to your second comment, I have now seen each of the Ferrari supercars - two 288 GTOs, two F50s, an F40, and the Enzo (I've also seen a 365 GTS/4; I personally consider the Daytona to be a supercar) and completely agree. All are amazing, but none are the F40. I've been lucky enough to hear both the 288 GTO and the F40 (both today). They sound similarly. I've heard the Enzo has a monster sound - a car that I'd still love to see on the road one day.

Fred
I hate you, Doug.

The Ferrari for the Porsche lover.

McLaren · Jun 4, 2007

JCE3000GT
I've seen 2 F40's in person--they were at Ferrari of Dallas (McLaren knows what I'm talking about) but I have NEVER had the ultimate pleasure of hearing one. God I wish that was a digitcal camcorder you had to record that audio.

Conversely I've not seen an F50 or Enzo in person yet--and frankly don't care. The F40 is the ultimate Ferrari--ever--in the history of ever.

I take it you saw them at the old Ferrari of Dallas when they were in that tiny-arsed building.

I remember seeing one there. I think it was yellow, but I'm not sure anymore, and was packed next to other cars.

Good spot Doug. The F40 is truely something to see and hear, esp. on lonely roads like the ones outside Lake Grapevine.

Rue · Jun 4, 2007

Great pics Doug. Once again! Jealous of your day, I hope you enjoyed it. Love the 288 GTO and 275 GTB/4. Two of my favourite cars!

1X83Z · Jun 4, 2007

chaser_fan
Great pics Doug. Once again! Jealous of your day, I hope you enjoyed it. Love the 288 GTO and 275 GTB/4. Two of my favourite cars!

To the 288 GTO, mine too. Not sure how many there are in this country (perhaps twenty) but I've viewed two.

As for the F40, after lengthy debate, I've decided to count it as a 'true sighting' on the road, since it was in the parking lot of the show and decidedly not being exhibited. You expect to see cars like this in the show, not visiting it, so my rules had to be examined hard for this one. The eventual decision was that a Carrera GT seen two years ago outside of the Denver Auto Show counted, and this one should too as the sole difference is the venue.

Early pick for 'Car Sighting of the Year.'

Rue · Jun 4, 2007

Yup! I would definately agree that the F40 should be counted. I saw a good many at Ferrari's anniversary at Silverstone 10 years ago, but have only ever seen one on the road. That was in Bristol (England) where a local owner regularly took his out on the roads. The first time I saw it, I almost rear ended the car in front of me.

This is the actual car from Bristol that I used to see, but unfortunately not my photo...

Jay · Jun 4, 2007

Great photos doug 👍

M5Power
and man what a noise - truly incredible to hear and see.

I must agree, a couple F40 enter our yearly Classic road rally we have here through our hill, standing on the side of the road when I F40 comes by wide open throttle spooling its turbos is amazing! My favorite Ferrari.

McLaren · Jun 4, 2007

M5Power
To the 288 GTO, mine too. Not sure how many there are in this country (perhaps twenty) but I've viewed two.

As for the F40, after lengthy debate, I've decided to count it as a 'true sighting' on the road, since it was in the parking lot of the show and decidedly not being exhibited. You expect to see cars like this in the show, not visiting it, so my rules had to be examined hard for this one. The eventual decision was that a Carrera GT seen two years ago outside of the Denver Auto Show counted, and this one should too as the sole difference is the venue.

Early pick for 'Car Sighting of the Year.'

I don't think it counts, dude.

I mean, you went to an Italian Car Show you knew Ferraris and Lamborghinis would be at, and a F40 just happened to show up. Wasn't in the show, but you went to see such cars, and that happened to be one.

I mean, I guess that would mean the Bentley, GT3s, Ford GT, and Z06s as well as few other Ferraris that weren't in the FCA Show would count.
But they don't since I went to the show expecting cars like that to be there.

I'm not trying to start an arguement, but I think you might want to re-think your decision since you expect to see sports cars when you go to a sports car show, regardless of where they are in the surrounding area.

daan · Jun 4, 2007

Nice photos, Doug.

Did you take any of the De Tomaso Panteras that were there?

ferrari_chris · Jun 4, 2007

Nice photos - I can never see too many Ferraris.

I especially like the 'classic' ones.

1X83Z · Jun 4, 2007

*McLaren*
I don't think it counts, dude.

I mean, you went to an Italian Car Show you knew Ferraris and Lamborghinis would be at, and a F40 just happened to show up. Wasn't in the show, but you went to see such cars, and that happened to be one.

I agree in large part. However, I was eventually talked out of this viewpoint after it was pointed out to me that the vehicle was not in the show, not meant to be exhibited, and furthermore was simply being used as transportation to and from the show for the owner. One thing that swayed my viewpoint slightly is that the owner drove it away as soon as it was announced by the announcer - as if he didn't want people to see it. Even if I had followed the 288 GTO all the way home, I would have never counted it, but the F40 was simply not being shown - it is therefore a 'street sighting.'

It's a tough call because, as I told my friends, who the hell drives an F40 to an Italian car show and then doesn't show it?

Thanks all for the kind words regarding the sighting!

TheCracker · Jun 4, 2007

Some nice Ferrari pictures you've got there 👍

I especially like the the 288 GTO shots, much rarer than the F40 and they've got to be the prettiest looking Ferrari of all time. They look so much better in the flesh then they do in pictures - much wider and lower.

It's a shame your F40 had all the heavy-handed 'federal' detailing 👎

Did you get a close look at it, i mean really close look? I went to a classic car auction about 18 months ago and was stood next to an early F40 which was on display. You can clearly see the weave of the CF bodywork under the paint. They gave them only a couple of light coats to keep the weight down. I just love touches like that.

Appie · Jun 4, 2007

Those Ferrari's and the F40 is one of the most beautiful car ever seen:tup:

UnoMOTO · Jun 4, 2007

M5Power
LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH

Doug...All this great stuff and you left out the most important detail!?!?! The big pink tower in the back round of this picture is a restaurant named CASA BONITA. The coolest themed restaurant on the planet! Which also may have the worst food on the planet! But where else can you eat in a gold mine...a Victorian stage room...a cave with stalagmites...along side a waterfall...and see cliff diving all at the same time. Not to mention the sopapias, sheesh.

McLaren · Jun 4, 2007

Wow. I heard of the restuarant on South Park, but didn't know it was real.
+rep for the info. 👍

Nightmage82 · Jun 4, 2007

UnoMOTO
Doug...All this great stuff and you left out the most important detail!?!?! The big pink tower in the back round of this picture is a restaurant named CASA BONITA. The coolest themed restaurant on the planet! Which also may have the worst food on the planet! But where else can you eat in a gold mine...a Victorian stage room...a cave with stalagmites...along side a waterfall...and see cliff diving all at the same time. Not to mention the sopapias, sheesh.

This is why i love GTPlanet :lol:

But yes, fantastic post, great pictures. The only time I've seen an F40 up close has been at a motorshow from the early 90s. I can't remember what year but I have a few photos. I was too young to know what carbon fibre was at that time. But I still loved it.

I love the F40 because when it came out it was a ferrari and a 200mph car (although I was never sure if it was verified at the time or just a lofty Italian claim). A countach was a 180mph car though so was a Lotus Carlton. Though I loved the countach too. Anyway I digress!

I've had a poster of the F40 on my wall at home since 1987, the year it came out, and the poster has a date mark of 1987 on it. It's badly crumpled and as I've grown older I can see just what an awful photochop it is but I'm guessing the photographer didn't have much of a chance to get clean shots of it. But it's an F40 and I love it.

I posted a video link to the sound of one going around a track, you can find it in my signature, I hope to hear it one day in the flesh too. Been waiting 20 years, I can wait 20 more

👍

Keef · Jun 4, 2007

Doug, are you kidding me!? You had never seen an F40 before? I had an opportunity to sit in one when I was 14, but I was too mesmerized by the yellow Saleen S7 sitting behind it. So I got stuck in that driver seat instead. Now I realize what a terrible mistake that was and I do regret it.

It was the greatest congregation of supercars I've seen in my life. There was a Ferrari F40--man, I remember the green glue; the bare carbon fiber; the rough, single-coat paint with weave showing through; all those you can see in your pictures--and a Jaguar XJ220, Saleen S7, Lamborghini Diablo, and Lamborghini Countach. The lucky owner of all five was showing them at a massive swap meet, believe it or not. :lol:

UnoMOTO · Jun 4, 2007

*McLaren*
Wow. I heard of the restuarant on South Park, but didn't know it was real.
+rep for the info. 👍

OHHH YEAH....its as real as the heart burn you'll get from the food. Thanks for the +rep. I would have never expected some rep for an off topic post about a resturant. :sly:

Fiesta Time

1X83Z · Jun 5, 2007

daan
Nice photos, Doug.

Did you take any of the De Tomaso Panteras that were there?

No - me and car show photos are really spotty; you guys are lucky I even remembered my camera. When I get to a show I'll just take random photographs of vehicles that few people want to see (such as the Lancia Monte Carlo) and leave out vehicles that people probably would actually get a kick out of (like the two Ferrari 550s, and all the Panteras).

TheCracker
Did you get a close look at it, i mean really close look? I went to a classic car auction about 18 months ago and was stood next to an early F40 which was on display. You can clearly see the weave of the CF bodywork under the paint. They gave them only a couple of light coats to keep the weight down. I just love touches like that.

Hadn't noticed that - very F40.

*McLaren*
Wow. I heard of the restuarant on South Park, but didn't know it was real.
+rep for the info.

I could've given you the same info, choosing not to as South Park is the single worst thing that ever happened to Colorado.

Keef
Doug, are you kidding me!? You had never seen an F40 before? I had an opportunity to sit in one when I was 14, but I was too mesmerized by the yellow Saleen S7 sitting behind it. So I got stuck in that driver seat instead. Now I realize what a terrible mistake that was and I do regret it.

Never in my life.

Sorry to keep the replies short but I'm out to go car spotting!

harrytuttle · Jun 5, 2007

M5Power
Come to think of it, I don't even know what happened to the cone - but it looks like he moved it behind the Grand Am before drving away. He certainly didn't load it into the car - although the one item inside the vehicle that wasn't stock was a pillow on top of the seat, presumably because those seats aren't the most comfortable things on Earth.

I found the seats to be quite comfortable. They're carbon shells, but seem to be formed perfectly. You mentioned he was short; maybe he needed the extra height....

1X83Z · Jun 5, 2007

harrytuttle
I found the seats to be quite comfortable. They're carbon shells, but seem to be formed perfectly. You mentioned he was short; maybe he needed the extra height....

Perhaps, though wouldn't the extra height to see make it even harder to reach the pedals for a short person? I distinctly remember you saying the clutch was probably heavy for the driver to operate (though you couldn't tell) - you'd think you'd want to be as close to it as possible and not stretching to reach it.

Tornado · Jun 5, 2007

TheCracker
It's a shame your F40 had all the heavy-handed 'federal' detailing 👎

Explain please, if the bit after this didn't already.

Having actually been near an F40 before (Miami, baby!), I can say honestly, with full conscionce and complete state of mind, that my favorite car there probably would have been the Scorpion. The 288GTO would have been a real treat, too.
But anyways, Doug, what is up with the lack of Testarossa shots? I see one in the background (actually a 512TR, but whatever), but no center focus?

1X83Z · Jun 6, 2007

Toronado
Explain please, if the bit after this didn't already.

I think he's referring to the black stuff around some of the edges. I've noticed that's not present on most F40s. Not sure though.

But anyways, Doug, what is up with the lack of Testarossa shots? I see one in the background (actually a 512TR, but whatever), but no center focus?

That vehicle - which is actually a Testarossa whose owner painted the side skirts, as many Testarossa owners do - has been seen before by me on the road. Again I mention my auto show photos are spotty at best and the simple inclusion of photos shouldn't be taken for granted. Here's a close-up of the car you're referring to:

And a better shot of a Testarossa in general:

Much better than at an auto show, wouldn't you say?

Joey D · Jun 6, 2007

I always had a thing for Testarossas, guess it's my inner Miami Vice wanting to get out.

Automezzi Colorado Pictures - June 3, 2007

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