PK 1. Most people who are devoted to Vintage Ferrari cars know this license plate well. PK stands for Peter Kalikow who is a well known name in the Ferrari world.
Peter Kalikow started collecting Ferrari 45 years ago when the company was just barely 20 years old. Over that time frame he has built up one of the best collections of Ferrari in the world.
From 250 SWB, to the 250 SWB Cal spyder and LWB Cal Spyder to a rare 410 Superamerica and two (yes two) S1 250 Pininfarina Cabriolets, Peter Kalikow owns a car collection that most people can only dream of.
What impresses us most about Kalikow is not necessarily his car collection alone but another very interesting fact: Through all those years Kalikow has NEVER sold a car. How many people can claim the same? The one time he did sell a car, he regretted it and bought back the car.
In today’s world where people will sell a car at every chance to make a profit or sell to fund a better car, Kalikow is a very rare exception.
Kalikow comes from a long line of real estate developers (Peter is the third generation to head his firm) and has built the firm H.J. Kalikow & Company LLC into one of New Yorks leading property firms owning his flagship building and headquarters 101 Park Avenue. Mr. Kalikow is a former chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He has been awarded with honors by both the Italian and Israeli governments.
I had the pleasure and honor to conduct an interview with Kalikow about his relationship and passion for Ferrari:
LME: You started collecting cars over 45 years ago. Tell us how you started?
Kalikow: My first Ferrari I saw when I was 15 and went to the New York car show in 1958. It was a 250 PF Cabriolet. I was mesmerized. It took another ten years before I would own my first Ferrari which was a 330 GTC.
Why did you specialize in Ferrari? What does this brand have that is so special?
Kalikow: It is the looks, the elegance. Pininfarina was a master at design. There is something romantic about Ferrari. It is also the V12 engine which is exciting and powerful. At the time I bought all the magazines about cars and only one brand was winning all the major car races: It was Ferrari. So not only were Ferraris beautiful, they were making the best cars in terms of performance and speed as well.
We heard that once you own a car you keep it for good. Is that true?
Kalikow: Yes I started doing that in the early 1970s. What happened was that I owned a fine Jaguar XKSS and sold that car. I regretted it and then tried to find the car and buy it back with no success. Since then I have never sold a car. I owned a 365 GTC/4 that I once sold but then managed to find the car and buy it back.
You started collecting Ferrari long before it was popular and profitable to do so. Tell us more!
Kalikow: Well I was surrounded at an early age by nice cars. My mother had a Rolls Royce and I also looked at Aston Martins when I was very young. I went down to Chinetti- the main importer of Ferrari in the US -and he showed me around. Ferrari just seemed to have the best quality cars that were also the nicest looking, including Aston Martin. I knew quickly that Ferrari would be the right brand for me.
You have a vast collection. Which are you favorite cars?
Kalikow: Well I have two S1 250 Pininfarina Cabriolets, so surely that is one of my favorite cars. Another is my LWB and SWB California Spyder. Lastly I have a 400 Superamerica which also counts among my favorite Ferrari in my collection (Kalikow owns about 40 cars).
You have some of the most iconic cars in the world but a 250 GTO is not in your collection. Why not?
Kalikow: I saw the 250 GTO new when it came out. It was just like any other car, it had dents, bents and scratches as they were raced. The Plexiglas was often cracked so these cars just did not appeal to me. They were tools, cars that were built for one main purpose: racing and winning them. Ferrari only built road cars to finance his passion for racecars. Contrary to popular belief, Ferrari did like road cars (many people wrongly state that Ferrari did not like road cars). But to answer your question- the 250 GTO was race car and did not appeal to me. A 250 Pininfarina Cabriolet was, on the other hand, elegant and beautiful. That was more my taste!
Owning such a large car collection do you get to drive every car?
Kalikow: I do drive them but mainly in the summer. They are conveniently stored beneath my building. I drive my favorite cars more often but I try to drive most of cars even if takes a couple of years before I can drive them all. But the LWB and SWB California spyders I have put 40’000 miles on which is evidence that I do drive my cars!
Your in the real estate business- do you see any similarities between owning a trophy building and a beautiful classic car?
Kalikow: Perhaps there is a connection but the purpose is completely different. I own the buildings with one purpose only: To make money. I own the cars purely for the pleasure of owning cars and not for any monetary reason.
You have such a close relationship with Ferrari that the factory makes special cars for you (e.g. 45 Superamerica). Did you ever meet Enzo Ferrari? Scaglietti? Pininfarina?
Kalikow: Yes I had the pleasure of meeting Enzo Ferrari. Three times. The first time was in Italy with Giulio Alfieri (the well known Maserati engineer) in a restaurant. Enzo Ferrari was a special man. When he walked into a restaurant everyone turned around. He had an aura about him and had character. In the mid 1960s Ford offered Ferrari $18m for the company and Ferrari said ‘no thank you’. Now $18m was allot of money in those days and it took a man with a lot of character to turn that sum of money down. Enzo Ferrari was man of true character. I became friends with Piero Ferrari and also Sergio Pininfarina. Pininfarina was a true artist and very important for the success of Ferrari. I also had the pleasure of meeting Sergio Scaglietti a few years ago and spending time with him.
What will happen to your collection down the road. Any plans for a museum?
Kalikow: To be honest I don’t know. It probably will not go to a museum. My collection is something personal. My son is almost as fanatical as I am so it looks good that he will continue my legacy.
What advice would you give a 30 year old looking to buy his first classic car?
Kalikow: Buy what you like. Its really very simple! If you buy what other people are advising you, you will feel insecure when the market (in terms of price) moves against you. If you buy what you like you will always derive pleasure from the car (irrespective of where the prices of classic cars go).
Last question- how do you see the classic car market developing?
Kalikow: I will you tell you a story which pretty much sums up the current state of the classic car market. A few years ago at Pebble beach, I was talking to a man who had won best in show. He was telling me for over 40 minutes how he knew every nut and bolt on his car and how much personal effort he put into the restoration. He was so proud of the car. Four months later the car was on the auction block ready to be sold. Personally I have no time for people who do that. It would be nice if the market returned to true and real enthusiasts who love cars for the pure enjoyment of them and NOT the monetary value.
Now I ask Kalikow to choose one, both or none:
- The Carlyle or Pierre Hotel in NY? I would chose the Carlyle
- 250 SWB or 250 SWB Cal spyder? Definately the Cal spyder
- Boston Properties or Vornado Realty Trust? Both
- Maserati or Lamborghini? Neither!
The main picture shows Peter Kalikow (left) in talks with Sergio Scaglietti (right). The picture below shows Kalikow’s 250 LWB California spyder. Mr. Kalikow (on the left) is talking to the man responsible for the restoration Mr. David Carte. I would like to sincerely thank Peter Kalikow for doing this interview and for his time! Copyright for the pictures below Marcel Massini.
