George’s 1995 Ferrari F355
Hey George, it’s great to have you here, can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your passion for cars?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, and grew up drooling over cars from the mid 90’s through the early 2000’s (2000-2006 ish), playing Cruis’n USA in the pizza shop near my house, and Need for Speed at home. I used to take trips to BJ’s as a kid just to pick up a model car that I would add to a large bookshelf filled with various models. I’m firmly against letting cars sit. They should be driven as often as possible (time permitting), preferably with gusto!
My passion for cars was encouraged by my father (who has his own collection of fun vehicles).
How did your interest in the Ferrari F355 begin?
I had a model of a yellow 348 as a kid and I loved the wedge shape of the 80’s and 90’s Ferrari’s and the Honda NSX. As I got a bit older I remember reading a 1995 issue of Car&Driver that my dad had on the coffee table (we had every copy via subscription), and a Rosso Corsa F355 was the feature car. That was the start of an obsession to see the car in person, and eventually own one of my own.
It took nearly 15 years to finally see the car in person (at a local cars & coffee) and I was completely enamored with it.
I work in software and built a bot that would look for 355’s while I slept, and notify me in the morning with what it found. It became an obsession.
What drew you to the Ferrari F355 specifically? Is there a particular feature or aspect that captured your attention?
In my opinion it’s one of the rare cars that doesn’t have a bad angle. The car is rolling artwork. There are plenty of cars that have more performance, but there are few that look as good moving or sitting still.
Two areas come to mind when looking at the car; the subtle curve of the integrated ducktail that’s molded into the rear deck lid and continues to the fenders; the 2/3rds view from the A-Pillar to the rear which emphasizes the intakes on the door and the intake near the flying buttress.
My car in particular had to be blue. There are a million red Ferrari’s out there, and I believe their shades of blue are some of the best in the industry. Blue over tan, with the gated 6-speed was a must.
Photos: Ohad Kab
Can you share some of your favorite moments or experiences driving the Ferrari F355?
Driving through Harriman state park in the early morning at 9/10th’s in 2nd/3rd gear with the bypass valve opening above 4k RPM, and the sound of the V-8 echoing off of the cliff side. The car rewards you on each perfect downshift with a pleasant “click” from the shifter and a “bark” from the exhaust.
I love how the car can brighten up a person's day. It’s a natural antidepressant.
Photo: Ohad Kab
How does it feel to finally own the car you've always dreamed of?
Doesn’t feel real to be honest. I worry that I’ll wake up, the car will be gone, and I’ll realize that I imagined all of this. Every time I open the garage I start smiling, and run my hand over the creases and folds. One day I made coffee and just sat in my driveway with a lawn chair looking at the car, and talking to anyone who walked by.
Photo: Ohad Kab
Your father is also a car enthusiast. How has his passion for cars influenced your own interest?
The joke between him and I is that “I never really had a choice but to become a car enthusiast”. Some of my earliest memories are about cars and going to the annual auto show with him every year in the Javitz center. The coffee table at our house in Brooklyn was always covered in Car & Driver, Automobile, Road & Track magazines.
My dad was always very interested in what I enjoyed, which allowed me to appreciate the cars that he liked, while pointing out newer models that he had no exposure to.
We never buy new cars. The focus is always on finding a “drivers” car, and keeping them as close to perfect (with some modification) as we can during our ownership. We’re just custodians.
Can you share a bit about your dad's 1968 Jaguar E-type and any experiences you've had with it?
“The Jag” (as we call it) has taken us to Florida twice, DC, the Carolina’s, Watkins Glen, and has taken my father across the country numerous times. It’s an absolute workhorse of a car with a beautiful body sculpted around an engine derived from those made to run at Le Mans.
My earliest memories of the car are from these trips and sitting on a pillow that my dad brought along so that I could see over the dash and down the long hood. He always wanted me to experience driving in the same way he did.
As I got older I realized how popular/important the car was in the public eye. One of my favorite memories is watching a woman fall out of her seat at a cafe in SoHo while watching dad and I come around a corner after the light turned green. She continued to lean back in her chair until she toppled over backwards. My dad simply looked over at me and smiled.
Do you and your dad share a common appreciation for each other's cars, and have you ever taken them for a drive together?
We do enjoy both of the cars, while acknowledging that they are representations of our unique styles. Dad is a fan of smooth flowing cars (Porsche 911’s, E-type, Ferrari 275), while I lean towards cars with edges and wedges, and box flares (F355, Subaru bugeye, E30 M3).
We’ve taken the cars out together and caused quite a scene. Just one of these cars is enough to stop traffic. Both of them together bring a level of attention that you have to mentally prepare for. Some of our favorite experiences are attending car shows with both. We’ll park in different locations and glance over at each other while talking to other enthusiasts about our cars.
How does having a shared love for cars strengthen your bond with your dad?
It’s a huge part of our bond, and has the tendency to dominate portions of our conversations. We buy cars together, go to rallies together, attend races together, fix cars together, and expand our relationships, all through the love of cars.
My dad is my best friend, and there’s nothing like going on a multi-day road trip in a car you both care about to see more cars that you find just as interesting. It’s something that I’m thankful for everyday and try not to take for granted.
Photo: Ohad Kab
Living in Brooklyn, how does the Ferrari F355 fit into your day-to-day life, considering the unique driving conditions in the city?
This is a bit of a sore spot for me. During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to purchase a home across the river in NJ and relocated. I miss my borough everyday and am looking for a place with a garage so that I can move back.
Driving the F355 in NYC in general is a mixed bag. The city’s never ending roadwork, and density require me to plan out which avenues and streets I’d take before a trip. Fortunately the 355 has excellent visibility which I use to keep track of every cyclist and delivery scooter in my immediate area.
The 355 has very little ground clearance (3.5 inches), and a long front overhang, so it’s a butt clenching moment when approaching dips and potholes.
Photo: Ohad Kab
Now George, give us your top picks for the community -
Most recommended mechanic you know?
If you have a vintage Ferrari, you need to go to Classic Coach Repair https://classiccoachrepair.com/ . They do all of the work on my car (that I can’t handle), and have one of the most incredible shops you will ever lay eyes on. During my first time there, they were servicing two F40's, an F50, and 15-20 other Ferrari’s. They do outstanding work.
Best place to wash a car?
My driveway. Honestly, I’m the only one (other than Dad and Katie) who gets to wash the car. Any touchless car wash will do for a quick rinse.
Best place for detailing?
Same as above. I’m actually looking for a place to have my cars ceramic coated. Any recommendations?
Best road to drive within a 100 miles from the city?
Head up to the Tuxedo Park & Ride off of Rt 17, and rally through Kanawauke Rd to Gates Hill road and the Palisades parkway. Complete the route by connecting the Palisades to Arden Valley road via Tiorati Brook road.
Make sure you have sticky tires, trust your brakes, and remember to look through the corners. Enjoy.
Best place to grab coffee with the car? In/outside the city.
Hayfields for the drive, atmosphere, and being around other enthusiasts.
Paper Planes Coffee in Montclair NJ for the vibe, and the incredibly creative and tasty coffee. (get there early to park out front)