I married an Italian girl many years ago. She represents all that is good in life. She also demonstrates what is so remarkable about Italy. Italy is known for its fine food and its red wine. Italians have a great love and devotion to their families.

I don’t do enough for my wife, so when I decided to write about the cars of the world, I chose to start with the cars of Italy. Alpha Romeo, DeTomaso, Ferrari, Fiat, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, Tazzari and the Zagato Perano are all Italian car manufacturers. Although these names may not be commonplace in the Midwest, be assured that every gear-headed Italian boy knows those names well.

The Italian car names roll off the tongue as smooth as water flowing over a rock-bottomed creek. Just mention anyone of the above Italian car names to true motor heads anywhere in the world and instantly a picture of a bright red sports car will pop into their heads.

Each of those names listed above is magical. Each is mystical. Each represents speed and power in a way that is nearly impossible to define. In a much simpler time, long before the Internet and even before the Great War, the International Racing Federation assigned colors to each country that manufactured cars that participated in the international racing events in Europe.

Britain was assigned green; France was assigned Bugatti Blue; Germany was assigned white; and Italy was assigned red. It is sacrilege to order prime rib well done and it is equally so to order an Italian sports car in any color but red. Do they come in any other color?

As I write this piece, I can clearly see a red Ferrari gliding through the curves of a country road and I can hear the deep-throated tune of her exhaust as each gear is meshed. Drive an Italian car rough and she will bite you, but handle her gently and she will fold her arms around you and give you a ride like no other sports car in the world.

Where German or American sports cars might be referred to by masculine names, all Italian sports cars are high-spirited females demanding constant attention. Pitch-black leather interiors contrasted against bright red paint can be the only image that comes to mind.

Like an Italian girl with raven black hair dressed in a long flaming red dress, her matching red pursed lips begging to be kissed, Italian sports cars are pure and passionate sex. They demand and they receive constant attention. They demand to be driven. When they pass us on the streets, our heads turn, our hearts race as we imagine what it must be like to drive them.

Italian sports cars are all about style. If a police officer pulls you over at a traffic light, you must be driving an Italian-made car. These Italian-made beauties not only look fast, but they are fast. Don’t expect to get great fuel mileage with an Italian sports car. Expect, however, to get lots of stares.

You can also expect to have an adrenalin rush each time you push on the throttle because the Italian sports car comes with plenty of power. That equates to lots of speed.

If you buy one of these Italian-made cars, you’re not considering fuel mileage anyway. Most of us will never experience the pleasure of driving an Italian sports car. For most of us, the thrill of that ride remains just an image in our minds.