[patpong]

Hello Everyone,
I have been reading and seeing great pictures of your Ferrari's in this Forum many time but this is the first time i posted my story.
And yes, the real sports car is a Ferrari. I was a big fan of the Lotus Esprit for a long time and owned the Lotus Esprit S4, 94 for the past ten years. I regularly hit top speed of around 180 mph nearly every other weekend on the expressway in Bangkok, Thailand ( where I live ). I love it. For that price and that performance, nothing can beat it.
Until, about six months ago, I saw this yellow Ferrari 308 GTB, 1976 at one of the local Used car lot and right away I knew I had to drive it. And I did and the performance was not at its best. It was not as fast as the Esprit, But I had this weird feeling that I enjoyed the car so much. So I bought it ( for around $60,000US, there should be about 10 308's in thailand). And I put it in Ferrari Thailand dealer to put its performance to its original. Then later I found out that it was a much perferred model fiberglass, drysump, and carbulator. Ever since I got the car back, I have been driving it everyday. I love the car so much I tried to find any excuse to get out of the house so that i can drive the Ferrari. I do supermarket shopping, pay for phone bill, taking kids to school. It is the best fun car ever. It gives you that firm race car ride, firm gearing and shifting. The driving position is just perfect it make you want to race.
I still have the Esprit, parking still, but what i have plan for the Esprit is to give to my son when he learn how to drive and want a sport car. The Esprit should be great for beginner until his experience grow then he can appreciate the real sports car, Ferrari.

Patpong
Bangkok, Thailand

 

[Boxer]

Nice story and great looking car. Have fun but I would not park it on the street in the Patpong area.

 

[Andrew]

Patpong,

Welcome to the site. Last time I was in Bangkok I stayed in that really tall hotel (the tallest building). Great shopping and a very different night life. Ok done with the reminsence.

Now I don't mean to sound negative but $60,000 USD seems VERY high for that car unless the demand in Thailand drives it higher.

Regardless, I love the yellow color, a wonderful car enjoy it and continue to share your wonderful stories with us. Next time I go to Cambodia (I love Angkor and the people are so friendly) I'm stopping by Thailand again and I expect a ride :wink:

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Boxer]

If my memory is correct, import duties on cars in Thailand are very high. This is also the case in Malaysia and Singapore. The duties on a Ferrrari in Malaysia are 300%.

 

[Andrew]

If my memory is correct, import duties on cars in Thailand are very high. This is also the case in Malaysia and Singapore. The duties on a Ferrrari in Malaysia are 300%.

Good point. I should have remembered this from previous discussions with Stradale and Adlin.

 

[Dj Dirk]

welcome to the Forum Patpong, great and wonderfull story, i'm sure you are very happy with you recent purchase, and she looks wonderfull in yellow
also is that MG A also yours?

 

[DJ]

welcome

Patpong,
welcome to the site, hope you enjoy it as much as all the others do.
BTW. would you like to share the serial number of your car?
As I would suspect there are not so many Prancing Horses in your area?

 

[Dr. Bob]

Hi and welcome here, you have a great car, and you know it
have fun here

 

[patpong]

Hello

Thank you everyone for a nice welcome,
Yes, I parked my car every where on Patpong St, Kawsan St, Sukumvich Rd. I always get special parking with the Ferrari where security gaurd would not allow other cars to park.
The import tax is a little less than 300%. The new 360 is about $500,000. So my car would be about $200,000 when it was brand new. And they are hard to find. Usually they sell through friends not through dealers. So i was lucky.
Yes, right behide the Ferrari is the 1957 MGA. I had it completely restored. I had it enter one of the classic cars competition here in Bangkok and won many prices already. I has been with me for about five years already. When the time is right and the wheather is right, top down criusing down the highway in an MGA is a great feeling.
Total number of the Prancing horse in Thailand should be around 200 plus and mostly are the 348 and the 355. There should be one Enzo coming the end of the year and it about $1.8 million.
After the reply, I should be in my Ferrari topping its max 155mph. Last time it did was 145 mph.
Do you guys, in the US and Europe, push yours to its maximun speed, you know with your speed limit on the road and everything? It is such a thrill to be at its limit, the noise and the wind noise, your heart pumping fast. Geart excersise for the heart I tell you.

 

[senna21]

Meanwhile, The Yellow Ferrari is always my favorite. Don\'t you think?

Yellow Ferrari? What yellow Ferrari!?

 

[Enzo_Ferrari]

It is nice to have a Ferrarl lover from Thailand. Geart looking car and make sure you show it off :green:

 

[patpong]

Meanwhile, The Yellow Ferrari is always my favorite. Don\'t you think?

Yellow Ferrari? What yellow Ferrari!?

Well! I am sorry you can not see it. I am posting a new picture so
you might see it better. How about this red Ferrari?

 

[patpong]

It is nice to have a Ferrarl lover from Thailand. Geart looking car and make sure you show it off :green:

Hi Enzo,
Thank you,
Yes, We do love the Ferrari very much here. We have a club the organize a driving around the outter Bangkok nearly every weekend including Ferrari show.
Patpong

 

[patpong]

welcome to the Forum Patpong, great and wonderfull story, i'm sure you are very happy with you recent purchase, and she looks wonderfull in yellow
also is that MG A also yours?

Hi Dj Dirk,
Thank you for welcoming,
I always love the yellow Ferrari. I think that yellow is the color of Ferrari just look at the emblem. It is based on the yellow foundation.
Yes, the MGA is also mine. I am more of a clssic car guy than a fast and furious type so my dream is the Ferrari 250lm rather than the Enzo. At the moment the 308 suit me just right.
Pat

 

[patpong]

Nice story and great looking car. Have fun but I would not park it on the street in the Patpong area.

Hi Boxer42,
You gave me a good idea. I will take photo of my car parking at all the popular sites of Bangkok, including Patpong and post them on the Forum.
stay tune.
Pat

 

[patpong]

Patpong,

Welcome to the site. Last time I was in Bangkok I stayed in that really tall hotel (the tallest building). Great shopping and a very different night life. Ok done with the reminsence.

Now I don't mean to sound negative but $60,000 USD seems VERY high for that car unless the demand in Thailand drives it higher.

Regardless, I love the yellow color, a wonderful car enjoy it and continue to share your wonderful stories with us. Next time I go to Cambodia (I love Angkor and the people are so friendly) I'm stopping by Thailand again and I expect a ride :wink:

Cheers,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,
Yes, $60,000 is seem high but this price is Thailand. People would just jump at it. In my case, the dealer said after they sold the car to me there were a few customers came in and ready to buy without discount of $5000 that i got.
I also love San Fransico. I went to Cal State Fresno and visited San Fransico very often. I can imagine to criuse around the Bay area with your Ferrari and top down if yours is a spyder, must be a happy time.
Pat

 

[patpong]

what in the garage

Here are all my babies together.
You know which one i love the most.
Pat

 

[Stradale]

Very nice car

 

[Botto]

Sweet Z-Car!

My father owned about 6 of the earlier 240Zs and they are some of my all-time favourite cars 8)

 

[Dj Dirk]

a white spitfire??? man that's a rare colour
is that a 1500? and does it have an overdrive?