Ferrari and Porsche - a lifestyle in Malta! If there's one thing we learnt during our time in Malta, it's that the Maltese really love cars. If we are to believe what we have heard, there are nowhere in the world that you have as many Ferraris per capita as in Malta. Ferrari and Porsche had a meeting with their clubs and we were able to attend. What happiness! Join the meeting with Ferrari and Porsche!
Meeting with the President of the Porsche club
The Ferrari Club and the Porsche Club in Malta tend to make fun of each other a bit, but mostly they are friends. So much so that they organise meetings together. We exchanged a few words with Porsche Club President Andrew Spiteri. He told us that they organise several meetings every year and that he knows and appreciates the Swedish Porsche Club. And of course we got him to pose in front of his own beautiful white Porsche!
A 1962 Porsche
The coolest Porsche we saw was a vintage car from 1962. The car has only had one owner and still looks like new. The owner also looks amazingly healthy and fit, despite being 83 (!) years old. We wondered if the trick to staying so fit is to drive a Porsche, but he had some other tips. Eat lots of fish and vegetables, avoid sausages, don't smoke and drink alcohol in moderation!
Ferrari cars - and the 83-year-old whizzes away
There was a whole bunch of nice cars to look at - both new and vintage models. You can see a small selection here. Wondering about that red licence plate, by the way? It is extremely crowded and congested on Malta's motorways, perhaps because a population of about 450 thousand people owns about 350 thousand cars (did we say the Maltese like cars?).
To reduce traffic at peak times, those who wish to do so can obtain a weekend-only driving licence for their car, which offers significantly lower taxes - and a red number plate.
Last but not least, we offer a picture of the 83-year-old speeding away in his white 1962 Porsche. It happened so fast that it was blurred when I took the photo ...
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Lennart says:
The old guys were great!
10 October 2016 - 6:12
åsa in åsele says:
How strange that Ferrari and Porsche are the most popular.
Smart with the "driving licence"/permission to drive only during weekends 🙂 .
Nice cars!!!
10 October 2016 - 7:12
Motorhome Helge says:
Sure, they are cool. In the early 2000s, we were on our way to Croatia and in the Trieste area a dozen yellow, black and red Ferrari cars roll in to refuel. Wow, that was the coolest thing we've seen on the road, we who usually only see 13 Volvo cars per dozen in Gothenburg.
Smart with weekend registered cars!
10 October 2016 - 8:31
Anette Åhnbrink says:
What nice cars! I think the 83-year-old was the best! Fun to see such delicious cars, you have fun you understand?! Hope you feel a little better and got to enjoy some day, here at home it is cold and on the west coast rainy ...
10 October 2016 - 8:40
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Yes, the older ones are nice! Were they arranged by colour? Looks like it.
10 October 2016 - 9:02
Anita Malta says:
Still going strong for both car and man 😀 Very delicious cars and the oldest charms in my opinion the most. Smart idea there with red licence plates, I actually had no idea 😕 Almost suspect that you know more about Malta than me after this trip 😀.
10 October 2016 - 9:06
admin says:
Lennart, right?
Åsa in Åsele, it may not be the most popular cars of all, but they seem to be much more popular here than in other places 🙂.
The motorhome Helge, cool when you see so many at once! 🙂
Anette, wasn't it nice? Thank you, yes we feel much better now! We have some time left in Malta, but we have so much to tell you about, so we will continue to write even after we get home 😉.
Emma, I don't know if they were arranged by colour, but there were a lot of red ones! 🙂
Anita, how nice that we could tell you about something you didn't know about 😉 I'm sure you know about other things, but we have learnt a lot about Malta during these days!
10 October 2016 - 9:15
nils-åke says:
Only valid on weekends was great when you have a Ferrari, and don't want to be crowded with everyday drivers.
10 October 2016 - 9:23
LinizTravel says:
Wow, what fun!!!! What a luxury!!!! Have a great time!!! Hugs
10 October 2016 - 9:46
JoY says:
Very clever with such a sign. The one the 82-year-old had was tough. These are nice cars.
We have visited the Ferrari town of Maranello where the factory and showroom are and looked around at the cars, which was fun.
Hugs
10 October 2016 - 10:05
Ditte says:
What fun! I know I saw a lot of Frerrari and Porche cars in Malta, but I didn't really think about it.
Nice to have some background and fun to see the beauties.
10 October 2016 - 10:11
Ama de casa says:
Cars were really nice in the past... I think it's fun when new models come out in retro style, like the cute little Fiats. Haha! Maybe just as well that I like that model, I will never "get" a Ferrari or Porsche 😀.
10 October 2016 - 14:39
admin says:
Nils-Åke, yes, but what about it?
Liniztravel, great thing to be involved in, thanks!
JoY, oh what fun, must have been interesting and fun to visit the factory!
Ditte, we have seen so many beautiful and charming cars here. There will be more 🙂
Ama de casa, haha, well sometimes it's just as well to decide to like something smaller. We won't "get" a Ferrari either 😉.
10 October 2016 - 14:42
snort says:
Lovely cars so I understand them! But it is important to have the right wallet so we have to settle for a Toyota. Even in Dubai, the range was interesting to look at.
10 October 2016 - 15:40
Husis blog says:
What lovely cars. But I think my owners are happy with me as a motorhome too...?
10 October 2016 - 17:36
BP says:
That post is right up my alley! WOW! What eye candy! Oh that old Porsche must have been a 356. Very clever with red number plates. And who would have guessed that Malta has the most Ferraris per capita. In other words, the Maltese are rich - many of them anyway:-)
10 October 2016 - 17:44
Ruth in Virginia says:
Once upon a time - in 1960 - you could order a car in Europe and pick up
it there. If the car had been driven a certain number of miles, it could be imported.
as "used" = lower import tax. Our friend had ordered a Porsche,
which we picked up outside of Amsterdam somewhere. Two adults and two children,
4 and 6. Good thing the kids were small; there was hardly any room for them.
The suitcases travelled on a 'carrier'.
It was a fancy black Porsche with red leather seats. One day on the Autobahn on the way to Sweden, we were stopped by a German police officer.
"What the heck now ...?" Turns out the guy just wanted to take a look.
on "our" nice car. The car was then shipped from Gothenburg to the USA.
What lovely cars in Malta - love the bright colours.
(83 is not an age) 🙂 🙂
10 October 2016 - 18:03
Matts Torebring says:
Sure, they're tempting. But I'd much rather take a good motorhome. A bit strange to meet them on the island. On another island we were on, a few years ago, in the Croatian archipelago, the island of Korcula... There were a lot of Renault 4Ls. I hope you remember them from the 60s.
10 October 2016 - 19:59
Dryden - Traveller's Edition says:
Would just sit down and write about the test drive of a Mazda3 we did a while ago. Feels just as exciting after this post... 😉.
10 October 2016 - 20:08
Mr Steve says:
Car mad. Yes, the Maltese must have some interest.
It's always great to see those old favourites. Not to mention the owner/driver.
"I think that red plates are commendable. Why have I never heard about it in the environmental debate?
And not a word about backaches and headaches. Must be good for you, especially with the heavy schedule.
10 October 2016 - 20:59
admin says:
Znogge, I also guess that the cars are not free ... but luckily it was free to watch 🙂 ).
Husisblogg, I think so too! 🙂 (And when we see nice and expensive cars, we usually joke and say "but it has no fridge" ;)).
BP, glad we could come up with something to your taste today 🙂 And glad you recognise the Porsche!
Ruth in Virginia, oh thank you for your story! So interesting and fun to hear about! And haha, no 83 is of course no age!!! 😉
Matts, we also prefer a good motorhome ... of course! I actually had no idea about the Renault 4L, but I googled it now and recognise it!
Dryden, haha, you can take comfort in the fact that we didn't get to test drive 😉.
Steve, yes of course they must have interests! And thanks for thinking about how we feel! Both back and head are much better (although Peter is still feeling his back a bit).
10 October 2016 - 21:22