Italy Factory Tours

[emts]

So a few weeks back I was over in Italy for work and had a couple days to kill at the end of the trip.

So like every petrol head I decided to head off to look at Ferrari.

I was looking around the web trying to find some options when I came across this site:

http://www.motorstars.org/ENG/About%20us.htm

They do a bunch of different tours to the various factories.

Sounds good I thought got in contact and booked my tour.

So the morning of the tour I was Picked up outside Bologna Train station by Francesco in his van.

Lucky for me I joining me on the tour were another 6 Aussies so got to have a good chat.

First thoughts were positive, the Van we got picked up in was very clean and was loaded with a dvd player and a bunch of screens.

After a bit of a intro and a chat, we found out a bit more about our guide.

After growing up i the region then working for Ferrari scuderia, Lambo and pagani at different stages (mainly in Composite R&D) he decided to branch out own his own and start these tours. The advantage to this is he has contacts everywhere and really knows the history and cars.

So the tour I was on visited, Lambo, A Maserati museum, Pagani, Ferrari, and an option to take a ferrari out for a drive for some extra cost.

So off we head to Lambo to get started with.

On the way to the different factories he was playing a a dvd for each fo the car companies to give you some history if you weren't already aware.

This worked we as it keep you interested and no dead time on the tour.

So we hit Lambo at opening time and he gets us in prior to the other people waiting around, which was a nice touch.

Due to the Factory being closed to visitors(this was told to us prior to boking) whilst they update we went off to the museum,

and what a collection. Reventon, Concept cars, race cars and some old classics.

we were given a tour here of the cars as well as having some free time to roam and go to the gift store(where you got a discount if you were on the tour)

From here we headed to a Maserati Museum. Now a few years back when Massa went broke it sold off the Museum and a private investor bought the lot. So unless your on a tour you don;t get to see this.

They were mainly the older cars so no MC12 or current cars but then in my books the older ones are much cooler.

so we got a private tour of the cars and could get up close and personal with them as no rope or barrier to stop you.

some very cool race cars and old classics there.

Plus a range or a few other cars like Gullwing 300sl mec, 507 BMW and a huge range of classic Bikes.

After this we headed into town for lunch at a cafe, (included in the price) and then off to Pagani.

Now unless your a buyer it is very hard to get into Pagani, and having this on the tour is what got me interested.

not only did we get to see the showroom but taken into the build shop and the r and d lab.

Now as they are working on the zonda replacement (they were throwing sheets over the moulds as we walked through) we could not take cameras into the back rooms only the showroom

so in the showroom was the Zonda uno (the being the correct word as it is a one of one model)

From here it was off to ferrari, with the drive experience done first, (so was not caught in peak hour traffic.)

This is run by a 3rd party

Now I had booked a 458 to drive, however the night b4 one of the staff binned it so it was out of action.

so as a consolidation I look out a Lambo 560-4 (with a nice discount!)

this palce had, 4*430F1, 2*430scud, 1*430Conv, 2* california, 2*560-4 plus the none working 458 and some older cars as well.

So that was a blast, open road exotic car and a guide who was very laid back.

So I admit I might have speed a little but the guide did take us to an area to strech the legs a little at one stage I was doing 170ish the guide was just bored sms'ing on his phone, (the other guys in the california said they hit 185 on the same strech.

From here it was off to the Ferrari Experience.

with a very nice range of race and street cars.

And a fully guided tour naturally:

then a nice drive though the country side back to the pick-up point where I got dropped off.

Now I know this is all just one big shamless plug, but as Francesco is doing a private operation and does not advertise, (just a website and word of mouth) I thought I would let some other people know.

All in all if you are in that part of the country I can strongly recommend that you have a chat to Francesco and go on the tour.

oh and the rest of the pics can be found:

HERE

[boostn0199]

That definately sounds like something I would do if I ever found myself down that side of the world.

[N1GTR]

Sounds great!

[KURAUN]

awesome

that zonda looks pretty cool in the blue/black theme

[Rekin]

cheers for the review! Might see if I can squeeze this visit in. Is there an age limit on the ferrari drive? (over 25 only?)

[emts]

valid driving license is request (you don't need international driving license)

• in order to drive you have to be min. 18 year old

So all good.

[PM-R33]

Soooooo jealous! Very nice man, definetely on my list of things to do before I die

[Rekin]

valid driving license is request (you don't need international driving license)

• in order to drive you have to be min. 18 year old

So all good.

oo sweet, thanks for that.

[Rekin]

just booked the tour along with a request for a 458 italia. Hopefully it will be available! Cant wait!