".  .  .  .  .Obviously, a GTO is not a car for city driving, even though you can travel across any city without problems if you know how. You have to plan your trips according to rush hour, parking availability and road conditions. When it comes to creature comforts, forget it; noise, heat, draughts, water leaks and various 'perfumes' are ever present. Anyone with weak kidneys will feel discomfort on ordinary roads, although a Morgan is certainly stiffer."

"A puncture in a rear tire is a real nuisance, as the car can only carry a front wheel as a spare. The turning circle is hopeless. The exhaust may destroy your hearing and also itself if you're not careful, as it hangs very low. When it's raining hard you will wish you had good old drum brakes. The alloy bodywork is so thin that high flying pigeons should be avoided. Shoes must be chosen carefully if you want to use one pedal at a time, and physically feel what's going on under your feet. On the other hand, the constabulary doesn't react to the GTO as badly as might be expected, and kids always know what it is and never mistake it for an MGB!"

The Ferrari GTO is a dual purpose car. These are cars that are designed for both the street and race track. In this great tradition, an owner could drive the car to the track, race it, and then drive it home. They could also drive it to work, run errands or make it a date night cruiser. It is a fact that characteristics that make a car excel on the race track do not make for a good street car and what makes a good street car will make a car uncompetitive on the race track. In the early 1960s, technology was such that succeeding in both areas was possible.

It's important to keep in mind that while it was possible for the Ferrari GTO to be legally driven on the street - it did have headlights, turn signals, brake lights and all the other details that the law requires - it really wasn't practical to do so. While almost all GTOs were registered for the street and many still are, actual street driving is rare. The reason, as pointed out above by Mr. Pourret, is that the experience takes a toll and while it may seem like a good idea for a few days or maybe a week, the disadvantages begin to take over and more suitable street transportation gets the nod.

Ferrari GTO, Part IV