That’s a beautiful Corvette you’ve got there. Just look at those curves.
That’s my favourite thing about the car. I can spend hours looking at it and never get tired. I’ve always liked cars with a long nose and I think the C3 is, without any doubt, the queen of these models.
You’re passionate about cars and planes, right?
I have an innate love for them and pretty much anything else that goes fast. My dad is also very much into them. He always built model planes and cars, especially Ferraris. This increased my interest for cars and planes. Now, I’d say I’m a full-blown petrolhead.
Anyone with a C3 as hot as yours must be. Before we get to it though, tell me about all those BMWs you used to own…
I’ve had my fair share. My first car was a Z4 with a 2.5-litre motor. It was small, agile, fun to drive and it sounded great. Then, I bought another Z4 and then an M3 E92. I still own a Land Rover Defender in Italy and apart from my Corvette, I have a 2012 Ford F-150 FX4 as my daily drive here.
Those trucks are cool but your Corvette is sublime. Where did you find this one?
When I knew I’d be moving to Dubai from Italy, I began searching online for one. When I got here, I already had some contacts. I went to see some cars but I was not satisfied, that was until I saw this. I made an appointment to meet the owner — who turned out to be a colleague of mine — and when I saw the car, which he called Nicole, I knew it was the one. I had a quick ride on Jumeirah Beach Road and a few days later it was sitting in my garage. I had wanted a C3 ever since I saw one in a magazine. It was love at first sight.
It’s a 33-year-old classic muscle car, but it still has plenty left in the tank…
The 350-cubic-inch (5.7-litre) V8 is great, although not as brutal as I always imagined in terms of power, especially after driving the M3, but it still gives me a real thrill. When I floor the throttle and the engine hits 4,000rpm, it screams like a banshee. It’s an awesome ride and gives me a real kick.
It demands a fair bit of attention, doesn’t it?
Yes, Nicole is much more than just a car for me. It needs to be treated like a woman, and yes, that means a lot of attention. I never move it until the engine is warm (even in sunny Dubai), I always check the fluids at the end of each ride and I keep it clean inside and out. Like every woman, it needs to be loved, and that’s why I spend so much time with it.
Is it true that because you love it so much, you don’t let anyone else touch it?
That’s right. For instance, I’m the only person allowed to open the fuel cap when I pull into a petrol station. You need to treat this car with love and respect. It’s had some mechanical issues such as the cooling system and the power steering, but all have been solved now. I bought all the original spare parts from Corvette dealers in the US. That’s what I love about classic cars — you always need to check everything before and after a ride. And while driving, you need to keep an eye on every single instrument, especially the oil pressure and temperature gauges. You need to think about what you are doing and be careful. I broke the power-steering pump when parking it in my garage because I steered it too aggressively. That’s all part of the game and I love it.
It turned a lot of heads at the recent Emirates Classic Car show…
It did and I was so proud. Many people came up to tell me how much they liked it and that was a thrill in itself. Some were surprised that it didn’t win an award. Oh well, I will try again next year. While driving home after the event, I stopped at a traffic light on Emaar Boulevard. A Ferrari 458 Italia pulled up next to me and a group of tourists crossed the road. They were all excited about Nicole and took pictures of it — completely ignoring the 458. I could see the disappointment on the guy’s face but felt a deep sense of pride for my baby.
Give me this over a 458 any day. It deserved a trophy for sure; it’s immaculate. And it has T-tops; how much fun is it to drive when you take them off?
They’re always off — it’s the only way to drive. You get to hear the V8 better and can smell the burned rubber more. It’s a special feeling and I have to say I am extremely lucky to own such a car. I love it when people appreciate it too. Since I am a big fan of Sixties’ and Seventies’ Americana, driving Nicole makes me feel like I’ve gone back to the past.
Every road becomes a joy when you’re behind the wheel of a classic like this...
There’s no doubt about it, but I want to take it back to Italy and drive along the roads where I grew up. That’s the goal. I also plan to keep it original apart from the exhaust; I want to get side pipes on it for an amazing look and much louder sound.
It’ll look great. You’re not going to let this one go any time soon are you…
I’ll never sell Nicole. The day we run out of petrol is the day it will sit in the middle of my living room in a glass case next to my Ducati.
