What’s your dream car? You’d be amazed at how often I get that question. Usually in social settings from people outside the car world when they hear I write about cars for a living. And that’s such a loaded question. Truth is: I think for a lot of us, we’re way past 1 dream car. What it comes down to – is more of a strike of opportunity, right? Virtually any car can become a dream car if it passes our screen on the right night at the right price. Ferrari 360 Modena?? Obviously! But a purple Isuzu Amigo?? Yep that too! There’s dreams for BOTH locked-up in my dumb head somewhere. And if the right opportunity presents itself – they activate – hard lol.
There’s no question that cars imprint on us…
All our automotive flash-moments & experiences (from childhood-to-present) shape us & mold us – often subconsciously. The #83 Nissan IMSA GTP car blowing the hat off my head at Daytona in ’91? I still have the hat. The sites & sounds of a yellow Dino 246 GTS dropping gears & booking-it over the California Hills… blonde hair blowing all over the passenger side? It made a mark lol. Back in Daytona, the red air-cooled 911 on gold BBSs running down International Speedway Blvd against the green palm trees & sun/shadows strobing just right. All those types of little moments – they imprint on us, shape us, and consume us. So yeah – it’s so much more than 1 dream car, discussed over a cocktail. In fact – it’s not so much the car, as it is the spirit of the car. Emotion in motion. That’s what we’re really after.
Ben Hagopian’s love for cars came early, from his dad…
Together, they built a ’68 Mustang for Ben’s first car – and it was game-on since then. Ben bought & sold cars through his college years. And as he got into his career, he eventually started ‘a business’ to import Japanese cars… mainly for himself & friends. A mechanical engineer by trade, Ben’s naturally a pretty strategized & self-disciplined guy. So he would buy a car that intrigued him, bring it to the states, and give it some love & aftermarket goodies. He’d enjoy it for a few seasons, and then sell it off to fund the next go ‘round. Ben rolled his profits into the next purchase, and that eventually allowed him to starting owning/building some of the ‘hot ticket’ JDM cars. Eventually he turned it into Rocket City RHD.
A Ferrari is something any driving purist dreams of owning…
But a lot of times, we have to put those dreams on the back-burner. We shelve the dream. And it’s cool – cheaper thrills can be just as fun. But what happens when a Ferrari 360 Modena comes across the auction at well below fair market value?? And no one’s biting?? All the sudden that dream gets un-shelved real quick!
Ben never thought he’d own a Ferrari 360 Modena until he saw this one at auction…
This particular 360 Modena was sold new in ’99 at Cornes Motors in Japan. See in Japan, you can buy Ferraris (and other high-end Euro cars) in either RHD or LHD. LHD is often seen as more prestigious over there.
The 360 was in a slight state of neglect, with signs of it being stored outside. But the miles were low, and the price was right. AND it had the Hamann Aero kit (front lip, side skirts, & rear wing). So at the last minute, on instinct, with no inspection… Ben took a gamble & placed a bid – and won! That was June of 2024. Now as most of you know…
Cars have to be 25 years old before they can be legally registered in the US…
Which the Ferrari was technically not… but almost. So Ben had to store his new Ferrari in Japan for a few months until it was legal. But during that idle time, Ben ordered parts. Without being able to put hands on the car, Ben ordered a custom set of wheels from SSR. Good thing he’s an engineer & had his measurements right! The wheels are SSR Professor SP1s in 19×8.5 front, and 19×10.5 rear (+25 offset both front & rear). Tires are Continentals – 235/35 in front & 295/30 in the rear.
Conveniently, the Ferrari 360 comes with adjustable coilovers…
So lowering the car is as simple as spinning the coilovers down a little bit. Ben even changed his own timing belts on the car. Of course you have to buy a special $300 tool lol, but 360s are known for being one of the easier Ferraris to wrench on – which is actually very cool. While the car was in transit, Ben also ordered a Kline Innovation valvetronic exhaust, and Morimoto taillights. ANNND – he got the opportunity to order a new windshield cause the original was damaged in transit lol. Because that’s a fun way to start your Ferrari ownership.
Ben enjoyed driving the Ferrari 360 for about a year…
Before passing it along for the next adventure. Right now, the current project is a B5 Audi S4 Avant from France. It’s pretty inspiring that Ben builds/restores these cars out of his 2-car garage… in his otherwise normal suburbia neighborhood. You gotta wonder what the neighbors think when they walk the dog on Saturday morning and see a Ferrari in the garage on jack stands lol.
Photos by Evan Verscois
