NEW L.A. TREND: "CELEBRATION OF MILES" FOR DECEASED CARS

"She was only three years old," said 37-year-old Serge Merkle ruefully.  "She didn't even have a chance to leak any oil."  

On a sunny, warm Los Angeles day, Merkle hosted a celebration of miles for his 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia, which, according to technicians, passed due to complications from a malformed crankshaft.

Serge Merkle pauses next to his deceased Ferrari

Such celebrations of miles are becoming more and more common in car-centric Southern California. 

Mohammed Wasco, 48, of Rancho Pico de Gallo, who recently lost his 2013 Porsche Boxster to a parking lot collision with a runaway Hyster forklift, said the celebration of miles was cathartic.  

"It was wonderful.  We relived so many memories, like the day we bought her...and lowering the top and motoring down a winding road on a beautiful spring afternoon.  Even my mechanic and all his kids I put through college were there."