bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Graham Allen

Formula One and the racing greats - Lauda, Regazzoni and Villeneuve - captivated Graham Allen, a railway engineering manager. He remembers attending motor shows in Britain during the 1970s and 80s, and thinking, 'One day I will own one of these machines,' although it wasn't until 1997 that he bought his beloved Dino.

Tell us about your Ferraris, where you bought  them and what  they cost?

I have a Dino 246 GT.

I bought it at Talacrest, a classic-car dealer  in Egham, England, during a holiday visit in 1997. It cost GBP52,000 (HK$660,000). I also own a 512 BB which I bought in 2000 and a 308 GTS QV which I bought in 1988.

What drew you to the Dino?

It has an exquisite shape and a glorious engine. It might not be the quickest Ferrari, but that doesn't really matter - it's how it does it that counts.

Did you restore the Dino?

The Dino had been restored from 1989 to 1990. I have done a lot of cosmetic detailing to improve the overall car - it won Concours in 2003.

What are the pleasures and pitfalls of restoring a Ferrari in Hong Kong?

Not having  done a restoration in Hong Kong, it's difficult to comment. The main problem with a restoration is the time and the waiting for parts that are not always available now. Cost is another matter - the more you remove, the more it is going to cost. It's better to buy a  car that's been restored and ship it to Hong Kong.

Did your Ferrari take a while to get used to after other cars?

When I first went for a test drive in the 308 in 1988, it was a typical  wet and cold late Friday afternoon in England in December.  Left-hand drive and a dog-leg first gear did take a bit of getting used to.

What are your Ferraris like to drive in Hong Kong? Where do you take  them?

There are many excellent drives in Hong Kong - Shek O and Clear Water Bay are my favourites.

Do you run the Ferraris, or  do they run you?

You will have to ask my wife.

Have you any pleasant memories of a ride or drive in a Ferrari?

Not using the Ferrari  regularly means  every drive is special.

Is there anything you wish the marque or dealers would improve upon in terms of products or services to Ferrari owners in Hong Kong?

Not really. They offer a very friendly service, which is, I think, appreciated by all owners and enthusiasts in Hong Kong.

Do you have a dream Ferrari?

The Dino was the car I wanted but the silly prices in the early 90s meant that it wasn't to be. My second choice was the BB, but again, silly prices. So it was my third choice - the 308 - that became my first Ferrari. The others followed, so I guess I've been lucky. I would like a 288 GTO, though.

George Goulding

Since the age of 13, George Goulding, a corporate lawyer, has been interested in Italian sports cars. But it was a drive in a friend's Bizzarrini America in Tuscany that turned him into a firm Ferrari fan. And, of course, the opening scene of The Italian Job.

Tell us about your Ferraris, where you bought them and what they cost?

I've now got a couple, a 1973 Daytona and a 1998 550 Maranello. I bought them both in Britain. The first cost GBP86,000 (HK$1.34 million) and the second GBP69,000. I've also had a 400 GT and a 456 GT - I bought  them in Britain too.

What drew you to  these particular models?

The 400 GT was entry level and all that I could afford at the time. The 456 GT because, in styling terms, it was said to be a modern Daytona. The Daytona because I've been in love with it for most of my life. And the 550 because I wanted something modern and user-friendly and not too expensive (I bought it second-hand).

Did you restore your Ferraris?

I've had quite a lot of work done on the Daytona, but you couldn't really call it a restoration job.

What are the pleasures and pitfalls of restoring a Ferrari in Hong Kong?

To the extent I've [had restoration work done], it has only been in  Britain and Switzerland.

Did your Ferrari take a while to get used to after other cars?

Yes - and I find they vary a great deal from Ferrari to Ferrari.

What are your Ferraris like to drive in Hong Kong? Where do you take  them?

I've never  driven them here. I keep the Daytona in Switzerland and the Maranello in  Britain. Most of my driving is in the Alps, in Switzerland, Austria, Italy and France.

Do you run the Ferraris, or do they run you?

I'm very much on top of this.

Have you any pleasant memories of a ride or drive in a Ferrari?

Loads - mostly of great days in the Alps, touring and visiting. Last summer, for instance, we drove over the Passo della Gavia in Italy, the fifth (I think) highest pass in Europe, followed by the Passo dello Stelvio (No 2 in Europe).  The  Alps are a perfect environment for these sorts of cars.

Is there anything you wish the marque or dealers would improve upon in terms of products or services to Ferrari owners in Hong Kong?

I can't really comment. I have decided not to own or run a Ferrari in Hong Kong - I have a Golf R32 instead.

Do you have a dream Ferrari?

The Daytona was my dream. But if I had the money and the opportunity, I would love to have a GTO, a 250 GT or a California SWB. The only one I might now consider buying though is a 250 Lusso. It's a beautiful car and perhaps a little easier to drive than the Daytona. The price has been crazy  for the past few years but has stabilised recently, whereas the Daytona's value has now gone  through the roof.

Gerry Kipling

It was Tony Curtis' Ferrari Dino in the British television series The Persuaders! that started it all off for  Gerry Kipling, a property consultant, in 1971. He had to  wait until 1988 to buy his own Ferrari - none, however,  has ever replaced his 'first love', the Dino 206 GT that he owns today.

Tell us about your Ferrari, where you bought it and what it cost?

It is a very rare, alloy-bodied Dino 206 GT - one of only 152 made. I bought it in Hong Kong in 1988 for a lot of money then, but it is now looking like one of my better investments.

What drew you to this particular model?

I think the Dino is the most beautiful car ever built.

Did you restore your Ferrari?

Not personally, but the Dino guru Nick Cartwright  in Britain did, in the mid-1990s and  the car came second in the Ferrari Owners' Club   National UK Championship.

What are the pleasures and pitfalls of restoring a Ferrari in Hong Kong?

For the few cosmetic jobs I have had done here, the quality has been good.

Did your Ferrari take a while to get used to after other cars?

The car had such fantastic road-holding that it put my other cars to shame.

What's your Ferrari like to drive in Hong Kong? Where do you take it?

Great in winter, hot in summer and hard work in traffic, so early morning drives are preferred. The run out to Luk Keng is the best.

Do you run the Ferrari, or does your Ferrari run you?

A bit of both, but like all good partnerships, love and attention is all we both need.

Have you any pleasant memories of a ride or drive in a Ferrari?

Many, here in Hong Kong and in Europe too, but anywhere really which allows me to experience the 'V6 howl' - pure magic in any jurisdiction.

Is there anything you wish the marque or dealers would improve upon in terms of products or services to Ferrari owners in Hong Kong?

Auto Dynamics does a fine job, as do many others - including Italian Motors.

Do you have a dream Ferrari?

Yes, and I have it. It's the Dino.

David Lee

David Lee, an IT service contract manager, has kept Ferraris for about five years but has been smitten with the marque since the late 1970s, when a salesman did a particularly impressive demonstration of the 308. Every trip he makes in a Ferrari is a thrill, he says.

Tell us about your Ferrari, where you bought it and what it cost?

It is a  1996 F355 manual Berlinetta in  Rosso  Corsa red. It cost about HK$700,000 before licence.

What drew you to this particular model?

It was a natural progression from the 1990 348, in the same colour.

Did you restore your Ferrari?

No, I have not tried to at this point. But I am looking into  restoring a Dino 246 .

What are the pleasures and pitfalls of restoring a Ferrari in Hong Kong?

The pleasure is in the satisfaction of completing a very challenging project, not only  something that is pleasing on the eye, but something you are proud to show and drive. The pitfalls: not being much of a handyman  or a mechanic and without tools, I am afraid it may  end up being a big dollar project without end - particularly  when locating the original parts.

Did your Ferrari take a while to get used to after other cars?

I have had a number of sports cars, mostly American ones,  such as Corvettes, Firebird Trans Am, Camaro, Dusters ...  The Ferrari handles differently compared to an American sports car, but for me it did not take much getting used to.

What's your Ferrari like to drive in Hong Kong? Where do you take it?

All talk about the handling is true, for me. I have the pleasure  of using it every day as I work at the airport.

Do you run the Ferrari, or does your Ferrari run you?

I have to admit that the Ferrari runs my life a bit.  I don't drive it in the rain, I don't drive to Mong Kok or anywhere crowded. I need special, wide parking lots, such as those operated by Swire - the  list of restrictions goes on.

Have you any pleasant memories of a ride or drive in a Ferrari?

Every day I drive it.

I look forward to going to work and coming home.

Is there anything you wish the marque or dealers would improve upon in terms of products or services to Ferrari owners in Hong Kong?

Overall I'm happy. The dealer lived up to its warranty about the car.

Do you have a dream Ferrari?

I used to, but  now I just enjoy what I have today and plan on getting what I can afford when it is time to trade.



Tesla’s 91% February sales jump in China defies overall market slowdown

BMW sees smoother road ahead in China after sales skid in 2025

CATL profit jump fuels Hong Kong battery stocks amid global energy storage boom

Geely Auto beats BYD sales in first 2 months of 2026 to become China’s top carmaker

Automotive industry

An Italian Love Affair