A while back, I wrote a story about how an Italian race car driver was forced to repair his Ferrari engine during a car race in Mexico: “Ferrari and a bar of soap,” Gila Herald, January 6 of 2023.
It seems the engine had an oil pan leak, which forced him into a local repair shop to see if the mechanic could fix it.
Renato Martínez, owner and operator of “El Milagro,” used a few tools and a large bar of soap to solve the problem.
Ferrari driver Umberto Maglioli finished first in the 2100-mile race in 1950. Renato later received a personal letter from Enzo Ferrari, thanking him for his assistance in repairing the car and greatly party responsible for his company finally winning the race.
Seventy years later, I don’t foresee my imaginary Ferrari Purosangue (thoroughbred) entering any long-distance Pan American races in Mexico.
But, you never know.
If I decide to race, I’ll have to wait until after 2026. That’s the waiting period and the list of delays for the new SUV model.
Italian carmaker Ferrari, a legendary name in the auto industry, recently announced a 27% increase in its profits for the first quarter of 2023. The second quarter earnings are expected to be equally impressive.
According to the Thompson/Reuters News Agency, orders for the four-door, four-seat, V-12 gasoline-powered Thoroughbred were previously suspended for 2026 models due to overwhelming demand.
I would imagine that a car company’s problems of not having enough production capacity to cover orders for its $430,000 (€390,000) sport utility vehicle would be a welcome headache.
The high price includes a $5,000 destination charge, but not an unspecified “gas consumption tax.” I guess the climate alarmists haven’t decided how much environmental damage, if any, a 0-62 mph Ferrari SUV in 3.3 seconds will cause.
As a result, Ferrari shares have risen to new highs on the Milan stock market.
By comparison, when was the last time Ford or GM experienced similar problems?
To be fair, owning an expensive Ferrari, or any expensive vehicle, attracts a limited clientele. An average 8-5 working person usually doesn’t have the means or ability to afford one.
When taxes, registration and insurance are added to the bottom line, a nearly half a million dollar car can easily become a half million dollar car.
That’s why my new Ferrari is only available in afternoon dreams and quickly disappears upon waking in the morning.
just as well A Ferrari dealer probably wouldn’t have given much change to my lightly used 1975 AMC Gremlin, in good condition, 386,571 original miles. Its small 4-cylinder engine could only produce about 90 hp and reach 0-60 mph in less than 15 seconds. The buggy worked pretty well considering it burned two quarts of oil between Safford and Willcox. Two more quarters to go home.
If I was planning a trip to Tucson, I always made sure to throw a 40-60w box in the backseat.
Also, he was expected to leave early and return late. It takes a while to stop and pour a dozen quarts of Pennzoil into the sump.
On the plus side, there were few mosquitoes buzzing around my house in the summer.
Ironically, with its sleek lines and prancing horse appearance, some thought of it as the Ferrari of the Gila Valley.
Being a resident of Safford, motor vehicle tailpipe emissions were not a concern at the time.
However, like Ferrari, he thought he was already paying a gas tax every time he visited a Chevron station.
Best of all, there were no waiting lists or backlogs to deal with. In fact, discounts of 20-25% were common as dealers rushed to remove them from sale lots.
Think I paid about $2,000 for one; about $428,000 less than a new thoroughbred.
Of course, Ferrari and AMC Gremlins did not attract the same interest from customers.
Sensing an impending change in the car market, I sold my yellow Gremlin to a mine worker with four or five children and a live-in mother-in-law for less than $720.
I forgot to mention that it would take four quarts of oil – and gas – to go to Morenci and back.
“Caveat emptor” – Buyer beware – as they say.
He later told me that the oil compact was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Helen, her mother-in-law, thought she was going to take her to Mesa to attend an “AARP for Democrats” rally, but she forgot to periodically add a quart or two of oil.
Somewhere between Bylas and Peridot, the engine seized and pushed a piston rod out of the side of the engine.
The next day, he called to inform his daughter and son-in-law that he would not be returning to Safford. The tow truck driver made him a better offer: he would take the car away for free if he would keep it and become a memory booster for Evan Mecham.
Apparently it all worked out for everyone except Ev.
American Motors Corporation finally ceased trading around 1987/88. Around the same time the Republican governor of Arizona, Evan Mecham, was impeached.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
