Green light for gray Ferraris.(2001 Ferrari 360s and 550 Maranellos)(Government Activity)(Brief Article)

A nearly yearlong squabble between gray-market importers and Ferrari of North America on its supercars is over-at least as it relates to 2001 model Ferrari 360s and 550 Maranellos.

``I'm looking forward to my first paycheck in 11 months,'' said Lois Joyeusaz, CEO of J.K. Technologies. The Baltimore importer has been at the forefront of a battle with Ferrari to win U.S. Department of Transportation permission to import non-U.S.-spec 360s and 550s to the States.

Since last summer, Ferrari has argued against the importation of the non-U.S.-spec cars on grounds that the cars were substantially different than those Ferrari imports to the U.S. market-so different that importers could not readily modify them to meet U.S. standards. Ferrari's uncharacteristically hard line took gray-market importers by surprise, because the company had rarely voiced objections to the imports in the past.

``We've taken the stance from the beginning that we are the protectors of the marque,'' said Ferrari North America spokesman Jeff Ehoodin.

After months of bureaucratic wrangling, followed by on-site inspections of certified U.S. Ferraris and gray-market imports, on April 10 DOT officials ruled that Ferrari's non-U.S. market cars are eligible for importation ``because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States'' and are capable of being ``readily modified'' to comply with federal standards. In most cases, using U.S. parts instead of non-U.S. parts could be readily accomplished to meet certification, DOT ruled.

Intricacies in the case went deep, with both sides accusing the other of ...