The name 'Kalikow' might ring a bell for Ferrari enthusiasts — Peter Kalikow was an 'early adopter' or perhaps 'originator' to commission 'Ferrari Special Projects' from the company in modern times. We sat down with his son, Nicholas Kalikow, to talk about his family's Ferrari experiences and more.
The Ferrari Special Projects we're referring to? The Ferrari 612 Kappa and the Ferrari Superamerica 45.
What’s the first Ferrari experience you can remember?
My earliest memory is my father driving me to day camp in his 512 BBi. I loved everything about it: the sight, the sound, and the thrill as he drove off. I must have been around 5 or 6, but that memory has stuck with me ever since.
Did the experience of having these cars in your childhood influence your professional career in media?
Not at all. While I have a genuine love for photographing cars in my spare time, I’ve never been interested in being professionally involved with automotive media or the industry itself. To me, cars are a personal escape, a place to disconnect, not something I’d want to turn into a full-time career.
What’s one thing that’s surprised you most about Ferrari ownership?
The service is exceptional. Another thing that surprised me is how enjoyable they are even at low speeds. People often assume Ferraris are only fun when you're tearing down a straightaway at over 100 mph, but that's not the case. I found even the Portofino to be exhilarating at 45 mph in third gear on a winding mountain road. These cars aren’t just about speed; they’re pure sports cars, designed to be engaging at any pace.
What cars are in the collection today?
I sold my Portofino, which I still regret a little, though I’m happy she’s now in the hands of a true connoisseur; a Citroën DS collector who truly appreciates her. Currently, I have my father’s 812 Competizione A. Everything else in the garage is part of my father’s collection.
What was the experience of building the Special Project cars like?
It varies for each customer. For the Superamerica 45, my father wanted a modern interpretation of the 400 SuperAmerica Cabriolet, but without going down a retro-styling route. Ferrari brought his vision to life beautifully. With the 599 GTO and 599 Aperta, the process was more straightforward since they were already in late stages of development.
The 612 Kappa, however, was a different story. That car was built through Pininfarina (PF) with minimal input from Ferrari. Pininfarina approached my father about creating a unique model, and being a fan of front-engine GTs, he chose the 612 as the base.
His goal was to bring it closer to Ken Okuyama’s original sketches of the 612, not to build an entirely new car but to craft a 'speciale' in the same spirit as Battista Pininfarina's one-offs for his own use. While officially, it retained the standard 612 specs, I suspect PF managed to shave a couple of hundred pounds off because it drives exceptionally well.
Fun fact: The use of 'Kappa' in this car's name stems from the fact that the letter 'K' is not part of the Italian alphabet. Instead, Italians refer to it as 'Kappa,' borrowing from Greek. The 'K' naturally refers to the Kalikow family name.
My father already had a strong relationship with Pininfarina and had met Sergio Pininfarina on multiple occasions. He was even in touch with PF’s archivists, making him a natural choice for their first bespoke project. Fun fact: in the late ‘80s, his three most frequently driven cars were a Ferrari 412, a Rolls-Royce Camargue, and a Cadillac Allante—all Pininfarina designs!
Do you prefer modern Ferraris or the classics? What’s the appeal of each for you?
I lean towards the classics, though I appreciate modern Ferraris too. I’m not a fan of digital instruments, but Flavio Manzoni and his team have been shaping some truly stunning designs. Driving a 250 California or Cabriolet down an open road is like flying on mechanical wings, it’s pure joy.
That said, if you hit a rainstorm or a traffic jam, it quickly becomes a miserable experience: you’re wet, the carpet is getting soaked, and you’re worried about overheating. In an 812 Competizione A, by contrast, the top doesn’t leak, and in automatic mode, you’re just as comfortable as anyone else on the road. It’s funny to hear people call the F40 a “classic” now; to me, a classic is something with carburettors!
What’s your favourite memory with Ferrari?
More than any single moment, it’s the hours spent sitting next to my father, talking about cars and life. But one standout memory is the time my father asked me to take Luigi Chinetti Jr. out in the Enzo. Let’s just say we went *very* fast. The Enzo’s shape has aged beautifully, an absolute masterpiece.
If you could have any Ferrari next, what would it be?
If I could choose anything? Either a 250 GTO Series II with the shorter canopy or the 250 GT Speciale originally built for Prince Bernhard (0725 GT). But being a bit more realistic, I’d love a 275 GTB, one of the final two-cam models.
What do you think sets Ferrari apart from other luxury or performance car brands?
It’s their unwavering commitment to racing. Ferrari’s obsession with excellence and their relentless drive to win in both F1 and GT racing is unmatched. Contrary to what people might think, well-maintained Ferraris are far more mechanically reliable than their reputation suggests. No matter how fast your car is, you can’t win a race if you don’t finish. Racing truly strengthens the breed.
We'd like to thank Nicholas Kalikow for this time and sharing these lovely insights into Ferrari ownership for our Driving the Dream stories.
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