Keith Martin on Collecting Ferrari [Paperback]

Keith Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 2004

From car collecting expert Keith Martin and the editors of Sports Car Market magazine comes a compilation of Ferrari articles culled from the magazine's extensive archives. Individual car profiles, auction reports, and helpful advice fill this entertaining and informative guide. Whether you're in the market for a classic Ferrari or are just a dreamer, this book is sure to become a cornerstone of every Ferrari fan's book collection.- Includes many entries by noted Ferrari expert Michael Sheehan- Sports Car Market is widely read and recognized within the collector car world- Follow-up to Keith Martin on Collecting Porsche

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Keith Martin is the publisher of Sports Car Market magazine, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2003. He is the author of Keith Martin on Collecting Porsche, (0-7603-1816-6) and lives in the Portland, Oregon area. He is ably assisted by Michael Sheehan and the editors of Sports Car Market magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; First edition (August 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760319715
• ISBN-13: 978-0760319710
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #839,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Luxury

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don;t buy a Ferrari without this, October 13, 2005

By 

R. C. Kahrl - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keith Martin on Collecting Ferrari (Paperback)

This is the only book I have found that, in excruciating detail, runs through the many pitfalls, mostly financial, that can occur to an enthusiast purchasing a depreciated Ferrari. The book, though attributed to a single author, is actually a collection of short magazine articles written by several contributors, and gives a reasonably broad set of views on the windfalls and pratfalls of dealing in this market. Though sympathetic to the marque and the pleasures of ownership, the collective authors lead one to the conclusion that Ferrari ownership is not for people unwilling to spend thousands of dollars on, say, a periodic valve adjustment. Another view that is commmon among the collective authors is that ownership of depreciated (and hopefully future appreciating) Ferraris is not about everyday driving, but is about the pleasure of savoring the fact of ownership, and an occasional drive into town on a sunny weekend afternoon. Anything more is such a risk to the value of the car that only persons having very large financial resources to devote to hobby cars would actually accumulate substantial miles on such a vehicle.
Properly sobered by this information, somebody like me can decide to invest in one of these cars fully ready for the likely financial consequences of the decision.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars don't buy a used ferrari until you read this book, February 7, 2005

By 

Joseph J. Malez (rockford, il 61114) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keith Martin on Collecting Ferrari (Paperback)

i've read keith martin's "market" every week in autoweek magazine since 1994. i came across this book on line and have to say as a car enthusiast, as a ferrari enthusiast, this is a must have for any pontential used ferrari owner. if you can afford the $75,000 markup on a $170,000 ferrari modena, then this book is not for you. however, if you are like the remainding 99.9% of us, buy this book. it's a perfect reference guide wether you are looking for a $20,000 mondial or a $200,000 250 SWB.

joseph j

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great read, but misleading title, January 6, 2006

By 

Jon Warshawsky "Sinatra Guru" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keith Martin on Collecting Ferrari (Paperback)

This is a nice compilation of articles and auction commentary by Keith Martin and Ferrari gurus Michael Sheehan and Steve Ahlgrim, and not surprisingly it's a fun read. Especially worthwhile are candid commentaries by Sheehan and Ahlgrim on Ferrari's on which you will always lose money, and models to seek out or avoid entirely. I was glad to see actual, useful assertions about good versus bad models, and the rating guide in the back is probably worth the price of the book, even if the prices are now a couple years old. If you're new to Ferrari's and want a taste of what's available, and at what cost, this book is also fairly helpful.

But... the auction commentary on specific cars is a bit of a letdown. It may be interesting to know that a particular 512BB realized such-and-such a price despite having a mouse-nibbled wiring harness, but realistically a few pages on what to look for in a 512BB would have been a more direct and helpful approach. Similarly, not many people are stuck deciding between a seven-figure 250GTO and a $30K 1980s 308, so the broad scope of the book limits its usefulness. We never learn WHY you would want a Colombo-designed front-engine V-12 versus an '80s Testarossa with the flat 12. Much of the information is there, if you can hunt it down. But it could stand to be pulled into a format that a well-heeled neophyte could digest.

Maybe the biggest problem is the title, which created expectations that the book didn't meet. Don't get me wrong -- I enjoyed reading this and hearing experts' opinions on what people paid for specific Ferrari's. But as someone who owns one - and can't afford a whole stable-full - I didn't benefit as much from this as I had hoped. Also, I can't help but think that someone who is set on collecting $500,000+ cars would need a real consultation with the writers. This book is more of a toe-dip into the ocean of Ferrari lore that awaits someone ready to take the plunge. (And it is a plunge, albeit an exhilarating one that every car enthusiast should take as circumstances permit.)

If you want a great evening read, where you can jump between articles, go for it.

Minor, slightly relevant quibble: The binding fell apart when I opened the book, due to dried adhesive. Maybe it's genuine Italian glue?