Ferrari Daytona (Very) Long Term Test report update 2 2010

8:30 on a Sunday morning and the outside temprature gauge on the Alfa read -3C as I drew up outside the lair where the Daytona slumbers. Probably not the best time to be thinking about driving a 36 year old Ferrari that doesn't normally venture out unless the outside temprature is well into double figures. However there was not a cloud in the sky and the roads were dry and Goodwood were holding th first of there Sunday Breakfast clubs this time for pre 1973 tax exempt cars (the more attentive readers might recall that my Daytona is actually a 1973 car but hey close enough).

After three abortive attempts to turn over, the Daytona finally fired up betching out copious amounts of steam and carbon dioxide from the quad quiksliver stainless steel exhaust pipes. After a good 5 minutes idling to get some temprature through the fluids, we finally set off down to Goodwood. It's the first time I have driven the car the year and also the first time since it was serviced, and it is certainly running very well, although perhaps it is idling a little fast at around 1200 rpm (although it settled back to about 1000rpm once the car was fully warmed up). The heater was needed in the cool temprature and it works well on the car once the engine is fully up to temprature but this did take a good fifteen or twenty miles so my feet in relatively thin driving shoes were certainly feeling it.

The drive down to Goodwood is littered with speed cameras and annoying constant variations in speed limits (not to mention the prospect of hitting some hidden black ice on the tree lined roads). so there is little opportunity to really stretch the Daytona's legs.

The event itself had a superb turnout with both sides of the circuit from the chicane all the way down to St Mary's lined with a huge variety of classic cars, along with the paddock and the area outside the Vitria Cafe.  One of the nice things about this was that there is no regimentation to the parking so classic VW Beetles can be lined up next to E Type Jags and Rolls Royces instead of being arranged in Marque areas.

Cars tend to come and go from these events but for me the star cars (other than my Daytona obviously) were a rare RHD Ferrari 250 SWB and a RHD Lamborghini Miura parked next to one another. 

The most interesting car however was a highly modified AC428 coupe which was fully prepared for racing (although apparently still road legal), it looked like it would be huge fun on a track - or a track with suitable noise limits anyway.

Of the other Ferraris there was a red Lusso and my friend Mark Shannon brought along a US spec 365GTC4 (which is for sale see www.markshannon.net).  There were also a number of newer models there including a Boxer and a number of 308s.

My desires for a pre impact bumper Porsche 911 were inflamed by quite a number of examples present, the highlight being a 2.8 RSR (replica?). If not a pre impact 911 a 356 certainly appeals and there were quite a few there in several different incarnations. The earlier cars are prettier but I would assume the newer B and C cars are much nicer to drive?

There were quite a number of American cars present (it looked like some of the American car clubs had organised to meet down there), with numerous Mustangs although I do wonder if every sixities fastback Mustang in the UK is now 'Bullitt' Highland Green? Slightly more unusual (in the UK anyway) were a Plymouth Cuda 440 and a Dodge Coronet convertible whoose driver looked  very wrapped up against the elements as he headed for home.

A few hours of sitting in the Spring (it felt like winter) sunshine and the interior of the Daytona had warmed up nicely. One of the downsides of this is that the the surrounds to the steering column expand in  the heat and squeak annoyingly when any lock is applied.

After a nice 80 mile round trip the car clearly showed the signs of driving on dirty winter roads and a much needed wash was required, which despite the cold weather is not to much of a chore thanks to the permaguard treatment which means a hose and a wet sponge is all that is required to bring the shine back.

I love my Daytona (although not as much as I love my gorgeous girlfriend) and I'm looking forward to using it a lot more this summer than I managed last year. Hopefully the weather will be a lot warmer than it was today.