Ferrari Classiche - How Respected Is It?

I don’t know about respected but I can say it has become a royal pain in the ass.

This November will be two years since we bought a Dino and had the dealer submit the car. Still no book, just excuses. I understand they changed the process this past October and made all dealers resubmit but c’mon.

I think people just do it out of habit for the higher market cars. They know it’s not infallible but it’s a case of “everyone else does it.” I don’t think it makes sense for the lower cars financially but as values rise it becomes a better investment.

 

A review and opinion, published July of 2017.

http://ferraris-online.com/pages/article.php?reqart=FOC_201707_SS3

 

I find the topic interesting but don't really have an opinion yet. But, I will add some related comments: Ferrari could do a much better job of reproducing parts NLA and it would be big business. Even window stickers, would be very valuable. I guess their lack of interest for those items breads companies like mine.

 

We purchased a Dino and Classiche was part of the deal. Nearly 13 months later after the deal (this past January) I was told that our application was never processed in Italy as they had changed the whole Classiche application process. They said they had to resubmit all the info under the “new” application. Supposedly they did this with a whole bunch of applicants. All part of the Classiche “change” I was told.

Fast forward to now, we are still waiting.

I love Ferrari but they really have poor customer service IMO.

 

I'll share a story. As many of you know, replacement window stickers was possible a few years back via original dealers. No more. I've tried the many contacts I have with no success.

So, I was selling a Maserati GT as I bought a new one (pre owned 2013)

Contacted Maserati and requested a window sticker for both. Took some time but they sent me both, next day Fedex, no cost and these are real window stickers, not PDF's

The woman handling this was following up like crazy and apologizing to me.

I don't get that level of service when I pay!!!

 

Its Ferrari.
If you want some sort of documentation why would you expect a different experience from buying a car ? "We dont need your business and if you want it expect to pay a premium".
Its why I cut the factory / dealer out of all my Ferrari transactions.
Just like Jay Leno and some of the money-is-no-object crowd.
Which actually increases the value.
Cant make this S### up.
Enzo was a genius.

 

What's to prevent someone from modifying a car after it has be certified?

 

Total waste of money...

 

Bryan - thank you for posting this link. I just had a read thru. It's pretty clear the author is biased and not a fan.

I found this interesting: "Some basic math tells us that 6,000 cars certified at an average of, let’s say, $6,000 per car = $36,000,000 in revenue to date, plus the markup from sublet work and the billing for in house work, making the Classiche department a profit center "

I know less than zero about the vintage market so I read the article for technical information. While the dislike comes through pretty strong, the author presents a terrific amount of information that really helps to educate. I'll just say, of course it's a profit center. I don't have a problem with that. Not really too different than owning software and paying an annual "maintenance fee". Perhaps not the best analogy but I think you get the point.

The only other person / entity in the world to capitalize on a brand and trademark sales to this level is most likely Gene Simmons and his band Kiss. Anyone remember the "Kiss coffin"? Yes, it's sold and people have been buried in it.

I find the topic very interesting and look forward to learning more.

Oh, I'll add one other comment - when he talks about the requirements of dealers on sales - not really any different than distributors of other products world wide - the manufactures push them hard to perform with sales and service.

 

That's the point of the "annual inspection"

 

I have no respect for Classiche at all.

However, if I were selling a car at auction, I would definitely get it Classiche certified. The market seems to respect it.

Matt

 

Not sure it's that black and white. If a modification is done and reversible, and the owner maintains the parts to reverse it, I don't see the issue.

 

Thanks. Will do.

Nothing of course! There is even a black market of people who will 'rent" you proper exhaust, etc. so you can pass.

When I was curating a collection in Palm Beach we had a gentleman who purchased a white/red Daytona spider at auction that had the Classiche book. Needless to say he wasn't happy to find out the car needed about 200k of work to make it concours correct. In his case the car must have gotten certified then had a lot of incorrect work done and or parts swapped out.

In theory Classiche is a good idea but given people's nature to cheat/lie it could only work if it was an ongoing process that required frequent recertification. Ferrari knows this, hence the talk of changing the older system.

My good friend who has been a Ferrari salesman for a long, long time always said that at the end of the day you have to remember it's still the used car business.

 

I think that for $6,000 you just don’t get that much information

No knock on anyone who does it, just not worth it for me.