All Access: the Ferrari Passport
Thousands apply every year to get an American passport, and likely just as many pursue European Union documents. The Swiss passport is said to be one of the most sought-after in the world, but we've come across a different passport that we'd rather have. It's more exclusive, gives you access to the best places and gets you around fast. It's not issued by an independent country, but might as well be: the Rosso Passport, only from Ferrari.
Our friend Carlos Cristofalo at the Argentina Auto Blog (no relation, although the resemblance is uncanny, we know) was interviewing former F1 driving ace José Froilán Gonzalez, who during his 1950's racing career drove five seasons for Scuderia Ferrari, another three for Officine Alfieri Maserati, scored 13 grand prix podium finishes, including two checkered flags, and drove to victory in 1954 at Le Mans. During the course of the interview, Gonzalez pulled out a small, scarlet-covered booklet which was presented to him by Ferrari upon his retirement.
According to Gonzalez, Maranello doesn't give these away very freely, and with good reason. The Ferrari passport gives its bearer entrance to the factory, unrestricted access to all the restricted areas, and no-questions-asked carte blanche to borrow any of the cars in the factory's fleet. Just, er...bring it back in one piece, please?
The one question lingering on our minds now is, who do we have to marry to get one of these?
[Source: Argentina Auto Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RoadRunnerSTi 11:36AM (5/02/2007)
All I can say is WOW.........
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John Paul Rowan 11:50AM (5/02/2007)
Yea this is the new number one present on my list.
http://www.refinedrogue.com
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james 11:50AM (5/02/2007)
SANTE FESSERIE!
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akintz 11:52AM (5/02/2007)
Even the booklet looks cool. They should market little notepads that look like that. I bet they'd do well.
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zach 11:52AM (5/02/2007)
uhhh, yes please?
unlimited access to the fleet would mean i wouldn't see or speak to another person for weeks, maybe months...
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jvvv 12:36PM (5/02/2007)
Since evrything has a price... I wonder how much such a thing would be worth. My guess is you could say millions!
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Mike 2:13PM (5/02/2007)
MY GOD! That is amazing. Could you imagine having one of these for even a day? How about a week?! Nevermind years of retirement like Gonzalez. Talk about enjoying your Golden Years
I'd say that this could be auctioned for millions, but I'm guessing "non-transferable" is written in Italian on the inside of that someplace...Ferrari ain't stupid.
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ddemet 4:00AM (5/04/2007)
sorry to disappoint you but the 'Ferrari passport' is given a a commemorative gift to anyone visiting the factory!
Doesn't entitle you to new visits at your whim and certainly doesn't entitle you to borrow cars.
The guy was just pulling a prank on Auto blog Argentina.
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Aschwin 9:30AM (5/04/2007)
Can ya also borrow the F2007 and take it out for as spin ? :) I'd be on the first plane to Maranello then :)
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Sheldon Kotyk 4:09PM (5/04/2007)
"At this point the tour came to a close. Our tour guide took us back to the reception area and gave us a brochure and a Ferrari passport recording the date and time of the tour."
http://www.ferrari.org.nz/articles/FactoryVisit.html
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