Of course this is the Robb Report and this ain’t no ordinary car competition.
The testing took place in the Napa Valley and the post drive discussion was held over multicourse, multi-vintage dinners at better vineyards in the area. The judges included investment bankers, insurance company owners, lawyers (naturally), specialist surgeons (equally naturally) and entertainment executives. Clearly, the judges were lacking in taste because the exquisite Porsche 911 S (as owned by your correspondent) only managed fourth. Third was the V8 powered BMW M3 which of course is slower than the Porsche. Second was the equally slow but bulletproof Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG with the winner being the Volkswagen Gallardo LP 560 – 4. Of course we all know the Lambo is really an Audi R8 in Italian drag: a combination of Hitler or Mussolini or more correctly, Porsche and Armani.
Talking of BMWs and tenders, if you are thinking about buying an M3 you might want to include BMW Geelong on your list wherever you live. I’ve got no connection with them except that eight or nine readers have now bought cars from this dealer and they continue to rave about the old-fashioned service. This includes a prominent Melbourne banker whose wife has allowed him to have a midlife crisis and buy a very quick Beemer on the condition that she is the only female in the passenger€™s seat. Really defeats the purpose doesn’t it?
Finally, Jay Gatsby would love you to own this year’s collection of Ferrari pornography the very beautiful RM auction Marinello catalogue. There are 260 pages of sex on wheels like the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/C ($4 million), 1956 250 GT Berlinetta – Tour de France ($6 million) and Jackie Stewart’s and Australian David Mackay€™s, one of three, 1967 Ferrari 330 P4. Given this is one of the greatest sports racing prototypes Ferrari ever designed and has had only one owner for the last 38 years it’s impossible to put a value on it, only to say $10 million could be cheap. Meanwhile, even though the catalogue is only valued at $200, it is made more valuable by the fact that this is probably the only one in Australia. It can be yours by simply e-mailing me with the car you think Jay Gatsby would drive today.
