It has been a pleasure to connect with Bill, now a very good friend, and have him share his wonderful cars with you. Here again, with the last of these three amazing Cavallino’s the F430. I truly hope that Bill’s adventures with this trio of Ferrari history have inspired you in some way just as Ferrari has done for Bill, and the world over for 75 years now.
The last in this series focuses on the Incredible & Fantastic Ferrari F430 F1 GTB (Grand Touring Berlinetta). This aluminum road and track “rocket” easily provides the driver with an incredibility pure and totally direct awesome driving experience. Ferrari’s Italian heritage is portrayed beautifully in the F430 with essences of the 156 F1 that Phil Hill drove to his F1 Championship title in 1961, the 250 LM, the “Dino” and the Enzo! Every aspect of this vehicle is pure Italian art, Maranello Brilliance! Designed in collaboration between Pininfarina and Frank Stephenson, Ferrari’s head of design. Their achievement is spectacular in every way. Starting with the aerodynamically inspired look and finishing with the revolutionary impact on future Ferrari V-8 performance cars, including the 458 and the new 488 thusly making the F430 even more truly amazing. The F430 F1applied a wealth of Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva F1 racing side experience by incorporating the steering wheel mounted red engine start button (bottom left), the 5 mode “Manettino” selector switch(bottom right) and the E-DIFF (hydraulically modulated and electronically controlled) limited-slip differential allowing the driver full control of the vehicle’s various functions. The Manettino’s position provides the driver with personal options regarding road surfaces, grip, stability, performance & handling at all speeds (Ice, Low Grip, Sport, Race and CST (all driver aids turned off)).
The Black Beauty is fitted with carbon fiber steering column “shift paddles” that operates the six speed transmission, changing gears smoothly in just 150 milliseconds. The F430 F1 also comes with an “Auto” mode for those who prefer not to use the paddle shift system. Not really my “cup of tea” as I fully enjoy using both Left (down shift) and Right (upshift) paddles to climb up & down the gears watching the rev needle as it reaches the 8500 red-line rpm mark while producing an incredible engine exhaust sound. My F430 Black Beauty is also equipped with 18 factory options for personalization, a few being; the massive carbon ceramic brake system (cross drilled and vented discs, 380 x 34 mm 6-pot yellow Brembo calipers (front), 350 x 34 mm 4-pot yellow Brembo calipers (rear) for optimal braking performance, yellow hand stitched black Connolly leather power Daytona seats for comfort, carbon fiber planted throughout the cabin and engine bay, yards and yards of yellow hand stitched black Connolly leather covering the interior, floor mounted passenger side fire extinguisher and the spare tire/jack kit. The F430 is powered by a 4.3 liter 490 bhp naturally aspirated 32 valve V-8 engine that produces “Enzo” results. This caged animal erupts to life with a tremendous roar as you push the red engine start button with your left thumb, then it settles down into a heavy sonic hollow idle. With a flick of the right hand paddle shifting into 1st gear and putting your right foot firmly on the drilled accelerator pedal you are ready to enjoy an incredible journey of driving the Ferrari F430 F1. The revs begin to build and you can feel how the amazing 112 bhp/per liter specific output breathtakingly tops even the mighty Enzo with power always available in a split second when needed. To complete and compliment the F430’s visually beautiful exterior & interior styling is the race car power with its incredible sound symphony as the twin exhaust by-pass valves open @ 3500 rpm’s increasing into a tremendous cresendo of beautiful music to the ears as the revs climb to the red-line. As the rev needle reaches for 8500, a wondrous sound fills the air shattering the silence of the surrounding area drawing attention over a great distance. The F430 is a stunner in beauty and sound whether cruising the city streets at 30-35 mph, highway at 55-65 mph or at any other posted legal speed limits. Slow or fast the driver experience is a phenomenal one creating a lasting memory.
I truly hope you all enjoyed reading Three Horses One Man Parts 1, 2, & 3 as much as I have enjoyed sharing these driving experiences with all of you on ChronEVO, “Cosmopolitan Motoring the Aficionado’s Choice”
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I wish to thank my very good friend James Hutchinson, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of ChronEVO for the opportunity to be able to be part of this fantastic online luxury motoring magazine. James, my best wishes always my friend!