In recent times, the car enthusiasts in Ho Chi Minh City have been murmuring that the number of Ferrari supercars running on the streets has been dwindling, with only a few models like the SF90 or 296 spotted occasionally. Pure gasoline-powered vehicles have become quite rare.
The reason behind this is that Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu has purchased over 2/3 of the Ferraris available in Vietnam. Whenever there’s a seller, this entrepreneur is always ready to open his wallet to acquire them. Therefore, it’s quite a rarity to see Ferrari California and Ferrari California T models roaming the streets of Saigon.
Both of these Ferrari supercars belong to the California series, which was produced from 2008 to 2017 before being discontinued to make way for the Portofino line. This series exclusively featured convertibles, without any coupe variants. Hence, these can be considered among the first modern Ferrari supercars to offer only a convertible option, along with additional rear seats, providing ample space for four adults.
The story takes an interesting turn when it’s revealed that the owner of these two supercars previously owned another Ferrari California, which was later acquired by Mr. Dang Le Nguyen Vu. Initially, he had two standard Ferrari Californias, then upgraded one with a Hamann body kit. When another enthusiast put a Ferrari California T up for sale, he purchased it to complete his set of two generations of Ferrari Californias.
The standard Ferrari California is finished in red with a leather interior. Upon opening the engine compartment, we were astounded by the vehicle’s pristine condition. It’s evident that the owner not only enjoys driving but also meticulously maintains his cars, with the engine area being as spotless as when it left the factory. The hardtop convertible roof takes only 14 to 16 seconds to open or close. The rear seats are comfortable for children when the roof is up, but for two adults, it’s best to lower the roof.
The Ferrari California version is powered by a front-mounted 4.3-liter V8 engine with a GDI direct fuel injection system, producing a maximum power of 460 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and a peak torque of 485 Nm. The engine in the newly arrived Hamann-tuned Ferrari California convertible in Saigon is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, enabling the Ferrari California to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4 seconds. The top speed of the Ferrari California convertible is 310 km/h.
In addition to the Ferrari California convertible, this car enthusiast also owns a mid-cycle refresh model, the Ferrari California T, which features distinct design differences. The most noticeable change is the sharper headlights, along with a redesigned rear bumper and horizontally positioned dual exhausts, replacing the vertical ones on the standard model.
In its naming convention, the second-generation Ferrari California is identified by the letter T, signifying Turbocharge. Specifically, the 3.9-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine in the Ferrari California T gives this convertible supercar an impressive power output of 552 horsepower and a peak torque of 755 Nm. These figures represent a 99 horsepower and 27