Switzerland:

Marcel Massini, Ferrari consultant, author, historian.

"Bring me the 250 MM Berlinetta Pinin Farina, #0298 MM, the very best and most original one, never crashed, restored or altered. Great history, sensational lines, lovely patina, the beginning of the legendary 250 series."

Lined up among many other legendary Ferraris is 0298, photo courtesy of Barchetta.com.

Mitch Isobe, author, translator, Italian car historian.

"Your question is something that comes up every so often even among my car friends. My ideals have been set for the past 10/15 years with little change. My choice is the Bugatti Type 57SC Coupe Atlantique. Chassis number 57591. Plates 'EXK 6'"

Not a real one but very affordable in miniature-the Bugatti Atlantique coupe.

Cris Bertschi, industrial designer, Alfa Romeo historian.

"After thinking for about half an hour I decided that I would leave the Alfa 33 Stradale and the Alfa P3 for the years to come. Although the Alfa Tipo C 308 had no success in Europe, they had been very important in South America, especially in Argentina. Three of only four 308s raced in Argentina, and at the same time! Therefore, the car I would like to receive from Super Santa is the Alfa Romeo Tipo C 308 - 3800 s/n 50017. It is now living in Balcarce and waiting for a restoration that will make its engine rev again."

Cris Bertschi stands next to his pipedream, the Alfa Romeo Tipo C 308, sn 50017.

Alan Boe, Ferrari Historian, writer, contributor to Cavallino magazine

As for having any car in the world, for me it would be a 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. The exact car would be s/n 4065 GT, the last SWB built, which is today with Antoine Midy in France. In second place would be John Mozart's silver 250 GTO, s/n 3909 GT. But, really, I'm very happy with my small stable of a 1962 GTE (s/n 3339 GT), a 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo, and a 1959 Austin Healey 3000 rallye car replica.

Alan would be happy to take possession of John Mozart's 250GTO, S/N 3909, as seen here at Monterey last August. But that's his second choice!

Kare Pietilä, Mechanical Engineer

He's made his own rules, but they are interesting----

Rule #1: Price aside. It would be too easy and dull to choose among the most expensive cars in existence.

Rule #2: No racing cars.

Rule #3: No Stairway to Heaven, Bohemian Rhapsody or Hotel California. Great classics are easily worn out.

Rule #4: No cheap tricks. The oldest trick in the book for building a crowd pleaser must be removing the top and putting in details like faired in headlights. I prefer cars with a fixed top. It seems that Ferrari 250GT California Spyder just retired in this race.

Rule #5: No one-offs or only a handful of Haute Couture cars built. It is more demanding to please 10,000 potential buyers with a cost-effective built sportscar than to find some 5-15 millionaires who can pay anything for hand built prestige.

Rule #6: Ferrari is mostly out. I think there were two great post-war eras when great sportscars were built. The first was late 50's to early 60's and the second from mid 60's to mid 70's. Ferrari dominated the first period building about every sportscar that pleases me but has almost completely failed ever since. With these reasons I chose following finalists:

• Iso Grifo 1965 with Chevy 327 V-8: Stunning design, simply stunning.
• Iso Lele 1969 with Chevy 327 V-8: Perfect heavy-looking design of the 70's.
• Maserati Khamsin 1972-82: very clean design with arrow shape and well balanced details.

As you can notice I'm going through a period of 70's nostalgia. Let's skip the Grifo - it loooks really great, but a bit old fashioned. Choosing between Khamsin and Lele is more difficult...

Which car would bring a broader smile on your face - seeing an Iso Lele or Maserati Khamsin...? Lele - that's it. Funky 70's supercar, powerful Chevy 327 V-8 under the hood. Killer looks. Giannino Marzotto, a four time Mille Miglia winner owned several. It cannot be that bad a car! My choice of color would be metallic brown with fresh green leather interior. Driving one of those would really make my adrenaline rush. Choosing me to your holiday gift list is a honor, now when do I get it delivered?

Surprisingly, Kare has chosen the Iso Lele, one of the less known Iso products. He'd like his in brown with green leather---delivery date undetermined.

Francis Newman, Web designer, Photograher

I would choose to have the 330LM. I first came across the 330LMB in a pit garage at the Coys festival at Silverstone some 6 or so years ago. I admit to having to ask what it was. In the flesh the car has an immense presence of brute power allied with the grace of a 250GTO type front end and a Lusso rear. Add to that the committed way in which it has been driven by historic racer Peter Hardman at events in Europe over the last few years and you can understand why I get a little shiver every time I see it. The sight of this car going up the hill at Goodwood on full throttle in the wet is one I will remember forever.

Here's a 330LM for Franicis. The left hand drive car (330 GAA) is 4381SA driven at Sebring 1963 DNF and LeMans 1963 (Guichet/Noblet - retired after 21 hrs) Photo by Francis Newman.

Thierry Lesparre, Computer expert, race car photographer, writer

For Christmas? The Ferrari 330LM Berlinetta. It's a nice car, looks like a 250GTO with a more brutal appearance, and is eligible for many events. If I had the 330LM, I'd take part in the 250GTO Anniversary, co-drive with Maurice Trintignant on French roads during the next Tour Auto, race it at the Goodwood revival with Stirling Moss, and win with Mario Andretti at the first Le Mans Classic in September.

It's good to be a dreamer...

Here's another for Thierry. The right hand drive car is 4725SA, delivered to Maranello Concessionaires UK in 63 ands driven at LeMans 63 (finished 5th Sears - now Chairman of the FOC UK- /Salmon) Sears drove the car again for the first time at this years Brands Hatch Ferrari festival. Photo by Thierry Lesparre.

While we are still in the planning stages for the first half of 2002, we at VPM already have an impressive lineup of stories and features which will be coming at you in the next few months.

Rick Carey will continue to analyze and chart the prices of interesting models, as he did with the Miura in the last Auction Report. This is a feature which isn't seen elsewhere.

Erik Nielsen will be sending in more interviews, F1 news, and a great feature on judging the Ferrari Challenge cars.

Marcel Massini has chronicled the history of the Ghia Ferraris for VPM, look for it in February.

Mitch Isobe will continue to report from Japan, next up with a new look at the Matsuda collection.

Cris Bertschi from Argentina starts off the new year with an exclusive feature on the pre War Alfa ace Carlo Pintacuda. We'll also include a unique drive in the ex-Pintacuda, ex-Phil Hill Alfa 8C2900. Cris is also working on a feature about the ex-Peron 3000CM Disco Volante.