Is THAT a Ferrari?!

I say, "Ferrari!"

What comes to mind?

-Fast

-Power

-Sports car

-F1

-Schumacher

-Sexy

The list of complimentary associations with "Ferrari" goes on...

Now, what about "Ferrari FF"?

-confused

-huh?

-hatchback?!

Ok, ok.... it's not

bad, but to me, it's just not Ferrari. The successor to the 612 Scaglietti, called the FF for Ferrari Four - four seats and 4WD - is the first four wheel, versatile Ferrari ever. In that respect, it's a novelty, and being a Ferrari, you know it will deliver. According to Ferrari, "the new car represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution". Revolution indeed. A drastic action or change - anarchy, bloodshed, coup d' état, tumult... that's what comes to my mind when I think of revolution. Of course, it's ultimate intent is generally to provide masses with something better (whether it be sociological, political, economical.....) but still. Gosh Ferrari, you are such a rebel.

How about a green FF for your viewing pleasure?

Now lets move on to some basic automotive design inspired mathematics. I propose the following basic addition:

BMW Z3 coupe + Porsche Panamera + not so pretty = Ferrari FF

BMW Z3 Coupe

+

Panamera

=

And last, but not least, have you seen the commercials for this car? I ask you, would you go offroading in the snow with your Ferrari?

The Coutach and the F40.

A man was driving down the highway late at night when his mini-van broke down.

He turned on his hazzards and tried to get someone to stop and help him.

Eventually, a Lamborghini Coutach pulls up. "Any chance I could get a lift into town?" asks the mini-van driver.

In typical cocky Lamborghini owner fashion, the driver replies "I can do better than that. I have a V-12; I can tow you into town. Just flash your lights and honk if i'm going to fast."

They head off and some time later pull up at a stop light. A Ferrari F40 with a V-10 pulls up beside them.

The F40 begins to rev its engine to get the Coutach to race.

The Countash revs its engine and the light turns green.

They fly out there, and about half a mile in, they pass a speed trap.

The officer there watches them pass and radios to base saying, "Base, you will not believe what I just saw. A F40 and a Coutach were driving down the road, doing about 120 with a mini-van honking its horn and flashing its lights trying to pass them."

Teeheehee.

Courtesy of Joke Buddha.

Tax Horsepower Vehicle Wins Best Bond Chase!

OULALA the Citroën 2CV... not your quintessential sexy automobile, but according to some folk, it was voted "best Bond chase" car (on some poll, somewhere). That means the little old fashion bug looking car beat out fleets of Aston Martins and whatnot.

Here's a snap shot from one of the scenes from the 1981 film, "For Your Eyes Only".

how cute is that?!

Now those who know a little French know that this car is a "Deux-Chevaux" or a "Two-Horse". Those who think they know a little more say it's because this little love-bug car only has 2 horsepower... yea I fell into that category for sure. But you read, you learn. The 2CV actually has 9 horsepower.

So why 2CV?

2CV acutally stands for "Deux Chevaux Vapeur" which is a technical term from French tax code.

Back in the day, it was popular in some European countries, such as France, to base a car's taxation rate on an early system known as tax horsepower. After WWII, France mostly produced cars with very small engines relative to the body's size. The 2CV's engine only weighed 100 Lbs! But what is this "tax horsepower"? Simple math. Ew. The rating was calculated using a formula based on a car's cylinder dimensions.

pretty easy to learn engine basics with this one

This car was intended to be a first car for farmers. It was hardy, simple, and could carry to sturdy French farmers! They weigh about 200lbs. Plus their farming cargo... They certainly did not go fast and would most likely have gotten creamed by a Nash Metropolitan. But getting lauded for its racing and technical prowess wasn't the point of this car. It was made for country roads and later became more popular amongst "hippies" for obvious reasons.

When I was a kid in France, my brother and I would count all the 2CVs we would see during our month stay. Sadly, the number dwindled from year to year and now I only see a few when I go, but I imagine that in rural France, I would probably chance up

on more than in Paris. I even see a few here in LA!

Le Vallois - France

Pacific Palisades Library