From the early ‘60s onwards, Paul Schouwenburg from Holland began scouting out several dozen rare Alfas, from 1900 CSS Zagato to Tipo 33/2 ‘Daytona’, in addition to a host of very special Ferraris, including a 250 GTO, 340 America LM Berlinetta, 250 LM, 250 GT SWB Competition/61 and 275 GTB/C/LM, usually by word of mouth following tenuous rumours. Having acquired them, often many at a time, he would drive them home across Europe through snow storms, and restore them single-handedly in his spare time, full-time job as a world-leading head and neck cancer surgeon permitting! If that wasn’t exciting enough, he would then race them, often winning, before moving on to the next irresistible project.

Filled with colourful anecdotes, Paul’s passion and incredible drive make for exciting reading. Indeed this is a unique take, a rear view mirror into a bygone era when gems could be found incredibly cheaply and enthusiasts took seat-of-the-pants decisions regarding many aspects of a hobby which was uncharted, innocent and simply not as commercial as today – he couldn’t even give away his 250 GTO at the time! The world has changed beyond recognition since his intense car hunts of the ‘60s and ‘70s; accounts of that era’s version of the classic car hobby are as rare as this one is enjoyable to read, and tremendously so. Throughout the story his devoted family accompanies him every step of the way in his passion, an infectious one, and his sons now share a respected classic car restoration facility, building on the foundations laid by their father.

With an exceptionally compelling narrative, this book is a unique read, amazingly rich in detail -the ultimate life story of an amateur collector and racer of the world’s finest Italian cars.

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