8 - 18 February 2001
Netherlands' biggest exibition centre, the Amsterdam based RAI, is the host of the
annual "AutoRAI".
Every other year the event presents either vans and trucks, or like this year: cars. The
biennial AutoRAI car salon is the most important fair for new cars in the Netherlands,
so virtually every major car manufacturer have their latest offerings on display.
Ferrari Import Kroymans
The display of Ferrari importer Kroymans covered the centre of hall number 11 of the
RAI complex. Contrary to preliminary information provided in previews and
magazines, Kroymans unfortunately did not succeed in obtaining a 550 Barchetta
Pininfarina for display, where this should have been the Dutch premiere of the car.
On the other hand, all examples of the 550 Barchetta that were assigned to Holland
are already sold, with the lucky owners awaiting delivery.
However, the rest of the current model range was on display, with pride of place
going to a shiny red 360 Spider F1 on a revolving plinth. Also in red were the 360
Modena and the 360 Challenge that will compete in the 2001 season driven by
Johan Rolloos. The 12 cylinder cars, a 456M GT and a gorgeous blue example of the
550 Maranello completed the Kroymans display.
Apart from the rotating 360 Spider F1, the Marlboro Red F399 formula1 car caught
everyone's eye. This particular example, chassis 197, was used by the Scuderia
Ferrari during the 1999 celebrations at "Tutte le Ferrari a Vallelunga".
Dreamgarage
After an absence of 4 years the "Dreamgarage" was back again. This display of 20
cars is selected and presented by the Dutch magazine "Autovisie". Among the
selection were some pretty rare cars like a Jaguar XJ220, Porsche 959, so called
street versions of the Mercedes CLK-GTR and Porsche GT1 and even the 1994
one-off Renault Espace equipped with a formula 1 engine.
The first Ferrari in the dreamgarage was the beautiful 250 GT SWB, s/n 1849GT,
presented by Mr H.P.N. Koel. This particular car won the 1999 Concours d'Elegance
at the Loo Palace and is regarded as one of the finest preserved examples of the
Pininfarina designed 250 GT SWB berlinetta.
A completely different kind of car was the Ferrari F50 presented by J. Bosch. Serial
number 107015 is the 304th chassis of a series of 349 officially released F50's. The
car is reported as having been delivered new to Ferrari’s 2000 World Champion
Driver Michael Schumacher.
Further on, Alfa Romeo Netherlands presented the 1953 Disco Volante Coupé. Only
three prototypes of this aerodynamic Touring bodied car were built, two spiders and
this the sole coupe.
The show provided the opportunity for Dutch Ferrari enthusiasts to see most of the
current Ferrari range together in the middle of winter, with the bonus of the
opportunity to inspect a recent Ferrari F1 car at close quarters.
Ferrari Models On Display
1849GT 250 GT SWB Dark Red / Black
107015 F50 Red / Black
122065 550 Maranello Dark Blue metallic / White
122252 360 Modena Red / Black
122374 456 M GT 2+2 Dark Grey metallic / Tan
122398 360 Spider F1 Red / Tan
122538 360 Challenge Red
197 F399 formula 1 Marlboro Red
SS006 F399 formula 1 mockup Marlboro Red
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