Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Ferrari Factory Tour?

[Brian E. Buxton (BrianBuxton]

I was there in 2003 and was lucky enough to get to see Enzo's on the 
production line.  They let us crawl all over a finished car, and even 
started it up.  Ferrari was a little more accommodating than Charles 
described, but we also couldn't take photos and we had to walk through 
in a group.  But the tour lasted over 2 hours, and we did get to see a 
new engine run on the dyno.  Lamborghini was also very accommodating 
although they were producing the then yet to be seen Gallardo, so there 
were parts of the factory we couldn't see.

=(

I missed the body/repair shop, but the Ferrari museum was probably 
better than the factory tour.  They had an exact replica of Enzos office 
as it was the day he passed, right down to the open purple ink pen on 
his desk. 

I was at Porsche in 2000 & 2001 and they are by far the most like 
Ferrari - no photos, hurry through the factory, don't walk away, don't 
go outside, etc.  Although in 2000 a friend and I did manage to sneak 
outside and spy a then yet unreleased 2001 911 turbo!  As well as 
rummage through a dumpster and take home a burned turbo piston.  Lunch 
at the Porsche cafeteria was like a gourmet restaurant though.  And 
workers would be happy to speak to you and answer any questions, or show 
you what they were doing on a specific car.  On of the best parts of the 
tour was the service dept. housed next to the Special Wishes 
customization building where clients had their own personal cars there 
for maintenance.  Kind of neat walking in and seeing 8 959's being serviced!

Brian



Charles Perry wrote:

> Very much agree with Brian. I haven't been to the Ferrari factory since
> the renovation, but I went in 1997 and 1999. It was interesting, but
> very 'produced.' They show you what they want you to see, you don't get
> to see anything unusually interesting (foundry) and you feel kind of
> rushed through their conveyor and 'Thank you, come again.'
>
> By contrast, for my tours at least, Maserati was extremely accomodating
> if you had let them know in advance you were coming. Lamborghini was the
> definite high light. Again, this was 1999 before Audi, but we were
> basically given a one-on-one tour guide (like Maserati) and given free
> rein of the factory except for their R&D building where future models
> were in development. We could stay in any area as long as we wanted,
> speak to the workers if they knew English, watch the giant machines bore
> engine blocks, watch the guys polish out paint imperfections - anything.
>
> Plus Ferrari allows no pictures. I have 20-30 rolls that I took between
> Maserati and Lamborghini. Also very accommodating, but mostly empty, was
> deTomaso. The Ferrari museum is very good, and a couple of blocks away
> is a low wall where you can watch if things are happening at the Fiorano
> test track. There is also a body/repair shop between the museum and
> Fiorano, loosely associated with the factory it seems, that had a
> fantastic collection of prototypes and F1 cars and they were thrilled to
> have visitors. No one spoke English, but we enjoyed it more than the
> factory.
>
> -- charles
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian E. Buxton [mailto:BrianBuxton [at] BuxtonMotorsports.com] 
> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 12:41 AM
> To: Charles Perry
> Cc: The FerrariList
> Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Ferrari Factory Tour?
>
> Maranello has a great restaurant (the Cavallino) right across the street
> from the factory front gates, as well as a great automotive museum down
> the street.  And a Ferrari factory store.  Bologna is a nice town and I
> believe not too far away from Turin, which you should visit.  And while
> you are close - might as well visit the Lamborghini factory as well!
>
> Brian
>
>
>
>
> cmlf1 wrote:
>
>  
>
> > I am going to Italy in April, and would like to do a factory tour. Not
> >    
> being an owner, is this possible? If not, can anyone provide some things
> to do or must sees/places to stay in Maranello or Bologna? I am doing a
> Ducati riding day and factory tour, and of course would like to spend a
> day in Maranello.
>  
>
> > Thanks!
> > Carl
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>  

--

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