When Gary Dean gets behind the wheel of his Ferrari he wonders how many famous people have sat in the very same spot, before accelerating from 0-60 in five seconds.
For the father of two’s pride and joy is not just any Ferrari, the Testarossa was formerly owned by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.
The singer from the 80s rock band may well have gone for a spin with fellow famous pals, but the Ferrari now leads a far more sedate life out of the spotlight at Gary’s home in Moray.
The red beauty is his pride and joy and Gary opted to do no modifications over the years.
She has to compete for attention against his Maserati alongside a speed boat, although he’s admitted his fleet is probably full… for now.
“I think it was watching Miami Vice that made me buy a Ferrari, she’s red and let’s just say I paid the going rate at the time,” said Gary.
“She’s a proper muscle car and when I’m driving her I feel so connected to the road, but getting her out the garage is pretty difficult because of the one inch gap either side.
“Every time I take the Ferrari out it’s a real occasion, an event and it’s my way of unwinding.”
The history of Gary’s Ferrari matches her prowess on the road, and he had no idea when he went to buy her just how special she is.
“I went to Preston to pick her up having originally seen her on the internet,” said Gary.
“She was owned by a sheikh and when he gave me the papers I just couldn’t believe it, he had no idea who Mark Knopfler was.
“I like to think of all the famous people who have been in this car, I’d love to ask Mark because I’m sure there’s plenty of funny stories.
“I wonder if anyone has got inspired whilst driving along and come up with some lyrics.”
Gary had previously hoped to change the exhaust but his wife firmly decided that the Ferrari is loud enough.
His two daughters, 11-year-old Emillie and Allice, nine, love to hop in for a ride however and the Ferrari has seen Gary go on the slightly more unpredictable journey of fatherhood.
“Alice was only a baby when I first got the Ferrari and now both my girls beg me to pick them up from school in it,” said Gary.
A car that can reach 186mph is bound to draw attention however and it’s this aspect that Gary isn’t such a fan of.
“People will video it or get pictures and I don’t enjoy that at all, when they’re stood there with cameras it makes me feel pretty uncomfortable,” he said.
But what really drew Gary to make such an investment in the first place, despite the unwanted attention he receives?
“I have no interest in selling her because I feel that I own a piece of motoring history,” he said.
“This was the car that everybody aspired to have, in her day she used to be the fastest car in the world.
“Cars come and go but old faithful here has stood the test of time, my girls know not to touch her and you could say I’m pretty attached.
“My Ferrari is part of me, I’m not a flash guy but I do like fast pretty things and you could say having a Ferrari is like my alter ego.”
Gary also owns a Maserati and a Porsche Cayenne, not to mention a jet ski and a speed boat.
His more unusual purchase is a 1982 Volvo 343 which comes complete with tiger skin covers.
“My collection is chalk and cheese, even little old ladies give me the thumbs up when I’m driving the Ferrari,” he said.
“It just does it for me and I can’t think of anything not to like.
“I think petrol runs through my veins.”
