The first car I really fell in love with was the Jaguar XK-SS (forerunner of the XK-E series, and derived from the very successful D-Type racing cars). I saw a pre-production example at an auto show in the mid fifty's, but lacked the funds (besides being too young to drive), so I was not able to acquire one.

Just think, at that time, a new Jaguar XK-SS sold for just a bit more money than a new, fully loaded, top of the line Cadillac. The Cadillac was luxurious transportation, the XK-SS, a once in a lifetime experience.

My future taste in automobiles was forever forged on that one car. When I was in a position (both financial and age-wise) to acquire one, the cars were very scarce and I could never really connect on a good one (but I did purchase a new "E" type in 1962 — probably the worse exotic I have ever owned as far as maintenance and engineering was concerned, not even a synchro 1st gear in the model I had — but what a crowd magnet!). Just goes to show you, never settle for second best.

Later on, I was fortunate enough to have a chance to drive actor Steve McQueen's very immaculate XK-SS. It was well worth the wait.

I was exposed to exotic cars at a very early age (in Italy, my uncle Salvatore had a mint early '30s 1750 Alfa Romeo), and in California, I used to hang out occasionally at the von Neuman's shop when I was just barely in my teens. It was there that I learned the difference between cars used as transportation and cars used as a driving experience, a lesson that has stayed with me for my entire life.

The engine of my late uncle's supercharged 1750 Alfa Romeo (what a work of art!)
(this absolutely mint vintage Alfa, which now belongs to me, is in secure storage in Italy)

Even though the exotics have since then diminished in many ways, my fondness for them has not. Pictured here are just a few of the many cars I have owned and some of the ones I raced.