Things We Would Spend Money on Rather Than an $11m Shelby Daytona: A Ferrari Collection

Keeping with our week-long series, today’s better alternative to an $11,000,000 Shelby Daytona is an entire Ferrari collection of old and new Maranello gems.  The Ferrari marque has produced hundreds of different specials over its many decades, but here’s are some that standout in our mind for value and style:

250 GT ($500,000): The venerable 250 series established Ferrari as the highest Italian pedigree, and the GT line brought the make’s V-12 glory to the social elite.  The “Lusso” trim was a limited edition featuring a more elegant bodystyle.  The most famous example belonged to Steve McQueen–though that one did sell for a ridiculous sum because of the celeb assocation.  Others typically range around a half-mil.   A lot, but you are paying for art as much as you are road pleasure.

Dino 246 GT ($120,000): The Dino line was a joint venture between Fiat and Ferrari.  Fiat had its own Dino, while Ferrari’s is the one that garnered all the praise.  The car, named after Enzo Ferrari’s fallen child, was never a real Ferrari, but a separate make sold alongside.  The 246 was the second road Dino and blended a light body with a mid-mounted six-cylinder engine.  It wasn’t much in speed, but neither was its target: the Porsche 911.  Driving a Dino requires discipline, as its road manners are fickle–but its ride carries genuine character.  It’s a beauty, and affordable by Ferrari standards.

365 GTB ($250,00): The last of the truly classic Ferraris, the 365 GTB was nicknamed the “Daytona.”  The name made sense, for the V-12 coupe made an everlasting mark in racing during the 1970s.  The Daytona’s most famous spot was in Miami Vice, though the topless car seen in the show was a mere replica.  Many spyders were built as conversions, with various degrees of quality.  The truth behind the Daytona is that it’s a terrible car for the road, driving with the road feel of a Dodge pickup.  But get into fourth gear and engine springs to life.  The 365 GTB runs about $250,000 in fair condition–not quite a bargain, but a good deal cheaper than other berlinettas that preceded it.

288 GTO ($200,000): The first true modern supercar, the 288 GTO defined the requirements: extremely fast, extremely powerful, extremely exotic, and extremely expensive.  Hitting six figures in the 1980s was unbelievable, but the 288 found hungry buyers.  While the GTO was meant to support a factory racing effort, the project was shelved.  The GTO is a bit of an oddity, abandoning the V-12 in favor of a twin-turbo 2.8 L V-8 that put out 400 hp.  That was an amazing figure for the notoriously emissions-strangled early ’80s.  While most things from the ’80s are woefully out of style, the 288 managed to keep its looks alive and well.

F430 Spider ($200,000): There’s little to argue with on this pick.  The styling is up for debate, but the F430 is still probably the best sports car in its class.  Its V-8 runs briskly, the interior is finely worked, the seats relaxed, and the transmission operates with no stress.  Agile, quick, yet somehow restrained, the 430 is the most refined exotic car we can think of.

599 GTB ($250,000): The 599 has brought back the Ferrari berlinetta tradition.  Beautiful, sleek, and powerful, the 599 is everything an Italian grand touring coupe should be.  Think of it as the proper heir to the 275 GTB of the 1960s, perhaps Ferrari’s “perfect” berlinetta.  There really isn’t any flaw we can think of with this car.