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Automotive Editorials | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 | |
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 on the Road  Seeing a Ferrari in Central New York is a rare occasion, but lately there have been sightings reported of a Fly Yellow F355 Spider on the roads of our area. Most likely, it's Joe Paolozzi III, Vice President of Paolozzi's Car World in Marcy, New York, behind the wheel, and yes, the car is for sale... for $129,000.Joe and his family have been selling cars in the Mohawk Valley for three generations at Paolozzi's Car World. Their dealership on Route 49 in Marcy sells Volkswagen, Mazda, and Mitsubishi vehicles. Joe says he has appreciated the cars built by Ferrari, and followed the company's racing activities, for about 15 years, since his days at Utica College. "I don't get excited about many cars," he said. "I see and appraise lots of fine cars every day. I've driven Corvettes and Porsches... but this car is an experience. It's unique, you won't see another one around here." 
Just a mention of the name Ferrari sets the hearts of auto enthusiasts beating faster. A sighting of one on the highway causes grown men to rubberneck and women to smile as they hear the sound, and then catch a glimpse. There are other marques that build exciting automobiles and have loyal followings. There are none, however, that have as distinguished a racing history, and that stir the passion of the heart and soul, as does Ferrari.Ferraris are built in Maranello, a suburb of Modena, in Northern Italy. The company, named after its late founder and guiding light, Enzo Ferrari (1898-1988), builds only 3,300 cars a year, all sports and racing cars. Ferrari's passion was auto racing, and he built passenger cars as a means of supporting his racing activities. That racing heritage is evident in all Ferraris, including today's street models. The motorsports records held by the company since its founding in 1946 include 113 Formula One Grand Prix wins (the most by any manufacturer), eight Formula One Constructors Championships, nine F1 Drivers titles, nine wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and over 5,000 other races all around the world. There is an air of exclusivity about Ferraris, partly as a result of their beautiful design, quality construction, limited availability, and price of ownership. Prices for new models start near $150,000 and collectible models from the past have sold for millions. 
The F355 Spider at Paolozzi's is a 1996 with just under 11,000 miles on the odometer. It is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear-drive roadster with a 3.5 liter (213 cu. in.)V-8 engine that produces 375-horsepower and 286 lb.-ft. of torque. The dual overhead-cam motor is the world's first production engine to produce more than 100 horsepower per liter. It's extremely fast, with a top speed of 184 mph. It's quick too, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and turning the 1/4 mile in 13.7 seconds. Its power is transmitted to the wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.Ferrari handling is legendary. The F355 Spider is no exception, pulling 0.98 g on a skidpad test conducted in early 1997 by Road & Track magazine. In a recent article R&T said it was "...the closest thing there is to a Formula 1 racer for the street." Joe recently took me for a brief ride in the Spider, and what struck me most about the car was its sensuality. It appeals first to the sense of sight, with its beautiful lines penned by the renowned Turinese coach-building firm, Pininfarina, which designed and produced the bodies for the majority of Ferraris built over the past 52 years. It is free of spoilers and aerodynamic aids that clutter the lines of so many of today's cars. 
The smell and texture of the Connolly leather and Wilton wool interior are almost overwhelming upon entering the cockpit, even after the semiautomatic top is lowered. The car is a little snug for those of us over six feet tall, but not uncomfortable.One of the biggest treats of the Spider, however, is its gorgeous song. Twelve-cylinder Ferraris always have been noted for their wonderful engine sounds, and this V-8 model, with its five valves per cylinder and 8,500 rpm redline, also provides plenty of sonic entertainment. The exhaust note, as it screams toward its upper register, truly is a thing of beauty. As we cruised west on Route 49, I spied people in other cars craning to catch a glimpse of the yellow Spider. There is for many people an instant emotional connection to the car. You always have the sensation of being watched while riding in a Ferrari, because it never fails to attract attention. Joe mentioned the waving, staring and horn honking that accompany the Spider wherever he has driven it. He said one driver nearly went off the road trying to get a better look. To him, it's all part of that Ferrari mystique. 
"I really appreciate Ferraris," he said. "Lamborghinis are more ostentatious, Aston Martins are more 'proper'. But, the Ferrari is a more sophisticated machine. The blend of design and technology is outstanding. There's a lot of history, too, which is important to me."Joe said the F355 Spider is his favorite Ferrari, with yellow his color of choice. So, even though this one's for sale, don't be surprised if you see it around here for a while. Just keep your eyes on the road. |
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