A proud Ferrari owner loves his sports car so much he parks it – in his LOUNGE.
Devoted Jon Ryder, 28, cleared the top half of his living room and drives the gleaming yellow Ferrari 355 Spider through a garage door at the end of the room.
He can now stare lovingly at his pride and joy as he relaxes on his sofa and watches TV.
The garage door is concealed behind a curtain – giving the car nut an easy exit for when he wants to take the 1996 Ferrari for a spin.
Married Jon, a steel worker from Sheffield, said: ”I’ve owned the Ferrari for more than three years and the novelty still hasn’t worn off.
”I still smile every day at owning my ultimate dream car. It’s my favourite piece of Italian art and it takes pride of place in the house.”
The Ferrari F355 was built by the Italian car maker between 1994 and 1999 and is regarded by purists as one of the great driver’s cars.
They cost £83,000 new but are currently worth around £35,000.
Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson, who owned one back in the 1990s, described it as ”like a quail’s egg dipped in celery salt and served in Julia Roberts’ belly button.”
It can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 183mph.
When John moved into his new house last year he set about converting the garage into a ‘bachelor’ TV room which would accommodate his car.
He said: ”When we decided to move house last year I instantly saw the potential to convert it.
”The conversion took me about a month working singlehandedly (apart from the plastering) between my full-time job.
”I’m a tight Yorkshireman so I kept to a budget and did the work myself as I wasn’t sure how it would turn.
”I furnished the room with items we’d not used after moving house – the TV cabinet was a towel box, the curtains and matching cushions came from our last living room.
”I tried to keep everything to a reasonable budget and only spent £900 since my wife did keep reminding me, ‘it is just a garage’.
”She now admits it’s a very nice comfortable lounging room and garage!”
Catherine, 29, who works for the local council, joked: ”Jon always gets these mad ideas which I tend to think, oh god, here we go again.
”But they always seem to work out well in the end….. Sort of!”
Jon takes the 355 to events organised by supercardriver.com where owners of other exotic cars meet up for a chat and a drive.
Proceeds from these events go to charity, with one event in March raising £2,500 for the Bluebell Children’s Hospice in Sheffield.
Ferrari praised Jon for his efforts.
A spokesperson for the car maker said: “It is great to see the passion that our clients have for Ferrari.
“Owning a Ferrari is not just about owning a car, it’s a way of life and, for enthusiastic clients like Jon, the achievement of a dream.
“Can you imagine a better living room to watch Formula One?”
Not really fussed about the car, but got a lot of sympathy for his long-suffering wife!
good luck to him ! he looks like a regular guy whos saved for his dream car !
hes not in 50,000sq ft mansion !