So I drove a 67 Camaro

[Ronzi]

In '68 I had a decision to make ... a Z28 Camaro, an SS396 Chevelle, or a Plymouth Road Runner (the 383 variety; the Hemi was, as I recall, $900 extra). I picked the Chevelle, 350hp, 4spd, no power steering, no AC.
After two years of more or less constant valve guide problems on the big block 396, I regretted not getting the Z28.

[crzn427]

I can remember riding home in my Dad's new '67 Cougar in the fall of '66. It came equiped with a 390, 4 bbl, 4 spd, AM only radio, no P/S, no P/B, no A/C.

I bought it from my Mother when Dad died. It never fails to put a smile on my face when I drive it. It has a smooth ride, is quiet inside at highway speeds, handles better that most Muscle cars of the era, and is very quick.

I can, and do, perform the maintainance needed to keep it on the road for around 20% of what the boxster costs.

It gets around 17 on the highway, I don't bother to check city mileage, polutes more than it should, has those aforementioned hydrocarbon smells from time to time inside, has poor performing drum brakes all around (one of my soon to happen up-grades), needs a paint job and some other TLC.

It will be in the driveway when the Boxster gets replaced with our next "modern" car.

It has style, it has charm and it has grace. It is a nasty beast when provoked and I love it.

The Boxster has a whole set of values, attributes and acolades that are totally different and every bit as enjoyable.

The only thing the two have in common (other than four wheels and a drive train) is the joy to drive them as often as possible.

[Brucelee]

In 1966, I was looking at either a new Mustage or Camaro. Spend most of my Junior Year in HS thinking about this. Perhaps I should have been studying?

Bought a '63 Stingray.

Man, what a car for the summer of '66!

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Well, it's a beautiful early Fall day here in Minneapolis, 75°, not a cloud in the sky - perfect driving weather.

I just got back from having lunch with a friend who wanted to show me his new car - a 1965 Ferrari 275GTS Spider! One of 200 produced.

It is truly beautiful, Red with Black leather interior and Black top, Magnesium Campagnolo Wire Wheels. Under the hood lives a 3.3L V-12 w/ 6 dual Webers on top (mounted front mid-engine), capable of 383HP. Owen actually bought the car 2 years ago and just got it back from a full concours restoration.

Owen nonchalantly tossed me the keys after lunch and off we went. Started instantly, with a throaty rumble only a Ferrari V-12 is capable of (I don't know what Marranello is paying the guy who invented this, but it ain't enough). The clutch is a little heavy, but the gated 5-speed was butter smooth, a little long in throw, but from a time when these were built for Men to drive.

At Owen's insistance we went to a suburb where the State Highway Patrol maintains a driving course and I got to use the WOW pedal - WOW!! The distinct mechanical sounds coming from the engine and valvetrain are truly amazing. The torque is impressive and the car eagerly runs to redline between shifts. 0-60 in under 6 and tops out at 155, same as my Esprit, but not really the same at all!

It was truly a priveledge to drive one of the best cars of all time from one of the world's greatest manufacturers, much better than anything coming from the Scuderia of late, they're great too, but not really in the same league.

I told him that Mrs. MNBoxster is gonna fall in love with it and he has insisted that I come over this weekend and take her for a drive. He's going out of town so he said he'd leave the keys with the neighbor for me. It's her birthday this weekend, so I'm planning on taking her on a drive along the mississippi in it.

Boy I wish I'd studied as hard as Owen did in school so I could park one of these in my garage. As it is, Owen parks it next to his 1966 Fiat Dino Cabriolet - Ferrari 2.0 L V-6 Dino Engine (2nd Place at the Concorso d'Italiano at Pebble Beach in '04 - http://www.concorso.com/website%20updates/images/big/winner_fiatdino.jpg ), 1964 Fiat 124 (pristine, 8k original mi.), '05 Catherham Seven (which we built together) and '96 1st Gen Grey Market (SUN Conversion) Elise (w/ Honda V-TEC engine). But, I guess it's good enough to just have a friend as good as Owen.

I've tried to post some pics I took of it, but the attachment function doesn't want to work. I don't mean to hi-jack the thread, but it is a '65 and from the same genre...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[NickCats]

Nice write up, Jim. Two questions :

1. Is that the same car featured in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off " ?

2. Any idea what that car is worth ?

Sounds like you have some very cool and generous friends !

Thanks,

Nick

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by NickCats

Nice write up, Jim. Two questions :

1. Is that the same car featured in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off " ?

2. Any idea what that car is worth ?

Sounds like you have some very cool and generous friends !

Thanks,

Nick

Hi,

I think it may be the same model car, but I'm not absolutely certain. Nope, I just looked it up and the car in Ferris Bueller was a Ferrari 250GT California Spider, also a wonderful car, the 275GTS was it's successor.

I know Owen is a very astute buyer (this is the 8th vintage Ferrari he's owned, wish he'd never sold his Daytona Spyder, one of the 12 Factory cars, not the conversions). He bought this 275GTS 2 years ago as a solid #2 (older restoration) for somewhere north of $225k and the restoration was most likely $75k or more. But, this was in a depressed market. I bet the car tops $1million in the next 5 years...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

PS I can't upload the pics I took of Owen's car, but this link is an image of an identical one: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3 Fp%3DImage%2BFerrari%2B275GTS%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fp_ip%3DUS&h=357&w=750&imgcurl=www.motorsnippets.com%2Fcars%2FMarket_Anal ysis%2Fgraphics%2FRM1966_ferrari_275gts.jpg&imgurl=www.motorsnippets.com%2Fcars%2FMarket_Analy sis%2Fgraphics%2FRM1966_ferrari_275gts.jpg&size=40.2kB&name=RM1966_ferrari_275gts.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorsnippets.com%2Fcars%2F Market_Analysis%2FRM_Ferrari275GTS.asp&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorsnippets.com%2Fcars%2FM arket_Analysis%2FRM_Ferrari275GTS.asp&p=ferrari+275gts&type=jpeg&no=1&tt=54&fr=yfp-t-417

[Perfectlap]

I think the Ferris Beuller car was a 50's 250 GT. The 275's took over for the 250 in 1964 (I think). Then everyone and their sister made 250 look alikes. Whatever...
those cars, all of them, make me salivate rabidly.
SpeedTV did a Ferrari roundup where they showed Alain DeCadenet in cockpit footage of one of these tasty tin tops that made curse life for not being born a zillionaire. The v12 is musica, musica, musica...