On a pretty regular basis, Ferrari makes its new Best Car Ever. Right now there’s maybe some debate over which one this is, but one of the candidates is the F430. It’s been around since 2004 since it can be properly called “venerable,” even if the coming of the 458 Italia has in some ways outshone the 430.

Ferrari can do many things other car companies cannot, including building a machine that links past with present and that tries, however successfully, to be the fastest car to the market and back. The Ferrari California, premiering in 2008, takes its name from a 50-year-old classic while introducing some modern-day developments. It’s the first Ferrari to sport a retractible hardtop, to rock a dual-clutch 7-speed transmission, and the first to wield a front-engine V8.

Ferrari can do many things other car companies cannot, including building a machine that links past with present and that tries, however successfully, to be the fastest car to the market and back. A retractable hardtop. A front-engine V8. A dual-clutch 7-speed transmission, for those seamless gear changes. The $230,000 auto is called a “grand tourer” I suppose for this reason, though you’d better find some small friends or very young children if you want to do any grand touring without major leg circulation issues. Anyway who wants to deal with complaints from the backseat?