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350GT |
Last updated August 15, 2001 |
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LAMBORGHINI 350GT Perfection on Four Wheels The famous American actor sees the Lamborghini 350GT as a real work of art. By Nicholas Cage I have always felt very close to Italy and all it has to offer, thanks to the way of my father. Francis Ford Coppola's brother, brought me up. I remember that when I was small he used to tell me about Italian artists and about his great passion for Bugatti cars. I became an automobile fanatic and almost a collector and have a weak spot for Italian models. In fact I have a Ducati motor bike. And so it is not strange that I now associate perfection with Italian automobiles and in particular with the 1963 Lamborghini 350 GT one of which I am proud to own. I have also seen the wonderful blown glass of Murano which is close to my idea of perfection, but that particular Lamborghini is a work of art. There are only about a hundred of them left in the world and I own one of them. I bought it second hand for seventy thousand dollars, and had it restored to its former splendor. Now that I think of it, it is a year older than I am. I am thirty four and it is thirty-five. The first time I go out with a dame older than myself. The first time I saw it was driving past the window of a classic car store and it was like being hit by lightening. I fell madly in love with it at first sight the same way I did with my wife, Patricia (the actress Patricia Arquette). I asked myself what it could be, stopped and went into the store. When I found myself there in front of it, with its original silver color, I could not believe my eyes. I felt an erotic attraction for the car. Patricia who was with me that day, had a stab of jealousy. "Stop talking about that car," she said a little out of sorts. But the attraction was beyond my control and I think she too is a little in love with it now. I am a collector of classic cars and have another Lamborghini of which there are only four models in the world, but the '63 Lamborghini 350 is unique. It still has a modern look and is almost futuristic; it symbolizes movement, a car which really moves. According to Carl Lotti beauty is something in which nothing can be changed, taken away or added and I cannot think of a single detail I would like to change in that car. But it is a very personal interpretation. When you are in love you don't see any faults. For example I have a large lizard at home, a monitor from Salvador with a green and black face like a dragon. People think it is awful and are afraid but I find her very lovely and regal and have created and environment for her with water and vegetation because I want to mate her and have little ones, which are very rare. As with my Lamborghini, beauty is subject to personal interpretation. What is beautiful for me may not be so for others. Having said this I think that anyone who does not appreciate my car has no idea about anything. Even the interior of the Lamborghini is fantastic; a true experience. Some people ask me why I spend more money on a car than on, let's say a painting. The reason is that you cannot drive a painting, you cannot drive a Picasso, but I can drive my car and hear the roar of it's engine, which is divine music to my ears. Lamborghinis have an incredible sound, like the roar of a wild animal. I don't like driving it during the day, I prefer the night when the roads are empty. I'm not interested in people seeing me and the car I'm driving; for me it is an intimate experience. Some of my best memories are associated with automobiles. I could take my Lamborghini on the road with me but I'm afraid of destroying it: it is old and the engine, although rebuilt, is still the original one. It would probably come out with flying colors but I'm not sure. I prefer to treat it with silk gloves. I could never part from it. © ULISSE 2000/OTTOBRE 1998 |
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