TRATTO Journal
The pleasure is in the details.
Practical reading for the part of the search that happens before you turn the key.
Featured guide · Selling
10 Tips for Selling Your Classic or Collector Car
From setting an informed asking price to presenting the history, photographs, and details that help a buyer choose your car. Ten practical tips for Ferrari, Porsche, and other collector-car owners.
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The cars that stayed with us.
From a first television memory to a lifelong interest. Stories about the cars, the versions, and the people behind the wheel.
No Man’s Land: Porsche, temptation, and the movies
A closer look at the 911s in the 1987 Charlie Sheen film, with a few other Porsches that earned a permanent place in our imagination.
Read the story →SCREEN / 02Magnum’s Ferrari: why the 308 stayed with us
The original Magnum, P.I. made a red Ferrari feel like part of everyday life. Here is how the GTS changed through the series—and why the roof matters.
Read the story →SCREEN / 03Miami Vice: two Ferraris, two kinds of cool
From the black Daytona silhouette to the white Testarossa, the original television series created two very different Ferrari memories.
Read the story →SCREEN / 04The F355, the Countach, and the cars we watched
GoldenEye, The Rock, Boiler Room, Vacation, The Cannonball Run, and The Wolf of Wall Street: the cars behind six lasting screen memories.
Read the story →What to ask of a PPI.
Make the inspection answer your questions about the particular car in front of you.
Read the article02 / The journal / Engine healthTwo tests. A clearer picture.
When compression and leak-down tests can help assess an older, higher-mileage or unfamiliar engine—and what the results cannot tell you.
Read the article03 / The journalThree pedals. More than one story.
Factory manual, automated manual or converted: the distinction belongs at the beginning of a listing.
Read the article04 / The journalBuy the story you can substantiate.
How to turn a folder of invoices into a useful picture of a car’s life.
Read the article05 / Buyer’s guide / Porsche 993 CarreraBuying a Porsche 993. Know the car before you commit.
A practical guide to choosing a Carrera, reading its history and understanding what a thorough inspection should tell you.
Read the article06 / Porsche / The differences that matterPorsche 993: Carrera S vs Carrera 4S
Narrow body or wide body, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive: understanding the choices, the Turbo connection and the Carrera 4S’s Big Red brakes.
Read the article07 / Ownership · InsuranceCollector car insurance: when the value moves up
A Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini used for weekend drives may need a different insurance conversation from the family daily driver. Start with its value, then look closely at how you use it.
Read the article08 / Porsche 993 · Models and specificationPorsche 993 Models and Variants Explained
Carrera or Carrera 4, S or 4S, Targa or Turbo: a visual guide to the choices within the final air-cooled 911 generation.
Read the article09 / Ferrari F355 · Buying and ownershipFerrari F355 OBD-I vs OBD-II: Motronic 2.7 and 5.2
Two engine-management systems, different diagnostic questions. What an F355 buyer should understand about Motronic 2.7 and 5.2 before choosing a car.
Read the article10 / Porsche · Carrera 3.2Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2: A Buyer’s Guide to 1984–1989
Choosing a Carrera 3.2 means looking beyond mileage and the G50 badge. Here is how to compare the versions, inspect the body, and make sense of the mechanical history.
Read the article11 / Porsche · 964Porsche 964 Buyer’s Guide: Carrera 2, Carrera 4, and Beyond
Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, manual or Tiptronic, coupe or open roof: choosing a 964 starts with the version and continues with a careful look at its history and condition.
Read the article12 / Porsche · 1974–1977 911The 1974–1977 Porsche 911: Buying a Mid-Year Car
The early impact-bumper cars deserve more than a blanket warning about the 2.7. Start with the original market, then inspect the engine, cooling system, body, and work completed since.
Read the article13 / Ownership · PorscheBefore the Long Drive: A Porsche Road-Trip Checklist
A little preparation makes a long drive easier to enjoy. Work through tires, fluids, cooling, visibility, and roadside equipment, using the correct procedures for your Porsche.
Read the article14 / Culture · JapanBeyond JDM: Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini in Japan
Left-hand-drive imports, manga heroes, air-cooled Porsches, and Italian supercars: how Japan’s enthusiast culture makes European classics its own.
Read the article15 / Hidden gems · PorscheHidden Gems: The Case for a Tiptronic Porsche 911
An overlooked route into 911 ownership? How to find value in a Tiptronic Porsche, understand the generations, and choose a car you will enjoy driving.
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