Anybody Got an Extra Tow Ring For Sale?

Be sure to check out the other threads covering the fit of this item, for instance:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200918

Check dimensions on your specific car and the specific part you're buying, because it seems that even the "correct" part often won't fit.

In the end I think I'm going with the Hill part, which is somehow even more expensive than the Ferrari ones, just so I don't have to worry about it fitting. The opening through the front spoiler on mine is quite small, and all the dimensioned Ferrari parts I've seen look like they wouldn't fit.

 

The factory one doesn't fit through the spoiler on mine. I bought one of the Hill Engineering ones from Ricambi. Looks a lot better and works great (thankfully it has only been used once)

 

The Hill brand didn't fit my 86 and had to use the other OEM one from Ricambi. There are two sizes to choose from.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

The OEM will fit....just which one?

I believe there are 3 sizes. It's funny how the tow hook always seems to be missing. I had to buy one as well. Here your local F pimp can be handy. I ordered all of them, tried them all and kept the one that fit.

My F pimp knew that there wasn't any real rhyme or reason to which model years had which thread style. They were OK with me trying them all. Tell your local dealer what you're trying to do and they may be more helpful.


Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Argh! You're kidding me. I was really counting on the Hill being more universal because there's nothing protruding to interfere. It's been a while since I was looking into this, but I seem to remember that both the Ferrari choices in my thread size looked like they'd hit, based on dimensions posted either here or on the parts sites. Maybe I'm going to end up just fabricating my own, which would probably cost as much as the F piece anyway due to buying tools for dealing with the odd-ball fine thread.

Just out of curiosity, what's the price difference between going to the online F-pimps and the real brick-and-mortar ones? I think I'm too intimidated just to walk in to a dealer in real life, both because I don't have a "real" Ferrari and because I grew up around the corner from it back when such a car was truly unobtainable and all you could do was gawk through the window. I guess reflexively I'm thinking they'll just turn around and say "Get the hell out of here, kid."

 

I was hoping the Hill brand would work as it looks much better but no its diameter was too big....

 

Is there at least a dealer on O'ahu? Not that this is right across the street for you. I can't imagine having a Ferrari out there. Would be interesting.

I only know what I've read, but it seems that you can't just trust the part reference for your year. Maybe Steve M. can chime in and authoritatively explain all the thread/length differences (or see the thread I'd posted above). Somewhere I think I've got pictures of at least three recommended part numbers from different sources, all with seriously different dimensions.

 

i made one for my car. to be sure you will have to find the size by puting a bolt correct size in the hole it is a 11 OR 12mm. if i can help let my know.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

I wouldn't fabricate your own. The tow hook is a forged piece and has to be very strong to pull the car up a flatbed. Do you really want to take a chance that the hook breaks and you car slips backwards down the ramp. It will hit the lower valance...bending it and even perhaps pushing on the precats. The only thing you will say....gee that $100.00 tow hook doesn't seem so expensive now.

What do you mean REAL Ferrari? You have a Testarossa the baddest and last mid 12 cyl Ferrari made. This is the car that was the height of 80's fashion and style. This is the car synonymous with 80's excess and Miami Vice !.....need I say more.

Ohhh...you so need to be punished for saying such a thing. Go drive Newman's boxer for a week than report back to your upgraded TR.

"get the hell out of here kid".....Don't worry you've all grown up and all the hot cheerleaders you knew as a kid are older women with screaming kids driving a minivan...so ha ! Now you date their daughters.

....opps....that's my issue.

Um.....you have a TR....a real Ferrari. You're the guy on the other side of the glass saying....hmmm, that part price is high....but it's for my Testarossa...and so worth it.

I wouldn't do that. The only place to hook it is behind the suspension wishbone. Those grab hooks will at least scratch the paint off it and worse could bend the lower rear valance panel. I've had my TR towed to the F pimp a few times over the years. The tow hook is invaluable for a flatbed.

....oh sure, I guess I'm just chopped liver.



Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

It's the only Ferrari I've ever liked, and I agree with you on all that. However there are plenty of "real" [expensive] Ferraris around these parts to put me in my place. But it is still fun that most people don't know and it still gets attention. But in all fairness there are plenty of cars on the road more expensive, and heck even the Boxer (which I unfortunately spent the 20+ years prior becoming educated by this board calling a "308" without your intended humor) is a much more desirable item.

Unfortunately in my neck of the woods, both minivan driving former classmates and their daughters would all see through my pathetic attempt at low-rent Ferrari ownership.

I have yet to see you post such beautifully annotated, highly descriptive service diagrams on this board as those from Steve. More likely to see some short skirts standing by your "other car" instead of the TR. And by your own arguments shouldn't that one really be the only great (meaning from the '80s) Lamborghini ever made: the Countach. Though I'd allow the Diablo as a back-up, less cantankerous daily driver. But seriously, first a non-white Testarossa, then no Countach, I'm beginning to doubt your '80s cred...

 

Dear Ferraristi,

**Ouch**

....didn't answer your question as good as Steve M

....don't drive a white TR

....don't drive a CT

....question my 80's street cred

Boy.....you sure know how to hurt a guy.


A Testarossa is not a "low rent" Ferrari. It's just the prices have fallen into a lower range. The price to maintain the TR to it's proper level in definitely not low rent. A low rent TR is a rough, dirty, worn interior car.

At any Ferrari only show, the TR stands out as many onlookers only really recognize that car and the 308....no I really mean a 308 as Ferraris. My own TR stands out against the sea of bubble/blob 360's and 430's as it's highly maintained, sparkles and has 49,000 miles to boot.

They love me at the F pimp as I'm the one paying $400.00 door gaskets while the 430 guy is asking....isn't that still under warranty?

Yes, I drive a Diablo VT Roadster.....in the Lambo world, this car is the most bling and extraverted.....compared, the CT is considered sort of low rent.....if you can really even say such a thing.

In my opinion, the TR is such a great car, it can still excite even after coming from the most exciting exotic in the world....a Lamborghini Diablo.

Raise you head, walk into the F pimp, order your tow hook and yell....Freeze....Miami Vice !....your TR has arrived !


Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Hey, I've got a bunch of Shamile posts pic archived here on the computer, in the Lamborghini section, under NSWF. But face it, Steve has earned his own entire folder, appropriately under Testarossa Service.

OK, fine, maybe we both missed the boat on the Testarossa color, as I understand FNA actually delivered the show black '86's which were eventually repainted before becoming Crockett's ride. And my '80s car is a 1990.

But while I could never afford to have Lamborghini in the garage, you can bet if I had the opportunity it would be a Countach, in white (General Lao Li's grandsons in "Golden Triangle pt 2).

Face it, you're living in the '90s with Sir Mix-a-Lot in that Diablo, regardless of the impact the doors apparently have on your 18-to 24-year-olds.

We need an '80s intervention here.

 

Off this subject guys. I made my own tow ring that the judges seem to think is as it should be. To answer Shamiles concerns re strength I have pulled the beast up a reasonable incline and used the ring to tie down the front with my engine removal for major. Used high quality steel and quite an intense heat to weld the ring to the bolt. Seems solid enough for the job.

 

OK, fine, totally ON topic here.

I'm still confused about the available options, having tried cutting through various parts listings for the car, so is it safe to say that the following are the thread sizes for certain available parts?

M12 x something
125522
119047

M16 x 1.5
128705
130993
Hill TOW-02

And does it make sense for my '90 TR to be threaded in M16 x 1.5? Were these cars really available in both M16 and M12?

 

Dear Ferraristi,

I tried looking through my parts receipts from the F pimp. I came up with # 130993 for the tow hook that finally fit for my TR. This is for a 1991 very late production Testarossa.

Sir Mix a Lot?

Naw.....how about Todd Terry, Wood Allen, Franky Knuckles ( inventor of house music....the "warehouse" in Chicago " )

Forget pop music, it was "house music" in the clubs back then.

Funny about the white Countach. I did try out a white on white 85' Countach way back when. The only way I could describe it was like my 308 (not a boxer ) on steroids.

BTW, the best vice episode with a white CT...

The white CT in "bought and paid for" ....the cool chase scene with Crockett in the Daytona knocking off the barrier gate on the Toll road as the CT flies underneath....oh too cool !!!

I just feel the Diablo stepped it up in "OMG" dept.

Yes, I too have a Steve M folder.....called TR electronics



Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Can you confirm that this is a M16x1.5 thread? I think I've got a dimensioned out pic of that part from Steve, but uncharacteristically the part number has been left out of the wealth of data...

If the picture is 130993 that lip will just barely clear the hole (~27 mm diameter on mine) and then it looks like the ring will come very close to hitting bodywork (~32 mm depth at closest measurement from the bottom of the V in the spoiler to the top of the threaded insert). If the neck on that part were longer it looks like it could be a good match for my '90.

Currently working through Season 1, on DVD for the first time for me, but I might do a sneak-peak into Season 2 to check out "Bought and Paid For." And trying my best not to jump straight to Season 3 for "Stone's War" and proof that a white Testarossa is so darned fast it can sneak under a semi truck untouched.

 

"Tow Ring"" are you kiddin me??? TR's are dependable exotics. I have one in my tool kit, but never bothered looking at it. And who suggested it is not a "Real Ferrari" ??? Last 12 mid engine car Ferrari produced. Paddle shift wimps need not apply, drive a mans car

 

Dear Ferraristi,

At work on Monday, I'll pull my tow hook and measure with my Vernier and thread pitch gauge and report back.


The episode "Stone's war" ....first episode with Crockett's' Testarossa had the TR go under the semi. If you notice, the semi trailer has been lifted further off the ground....yeah, I know.....but my Diablo is 1/2 lower and the CT is a full 1" lower.

Hey those "real ferrari" paddle shifter are really great....they won't break your nail or chip your nail polish.

and..................


your high heels won't get hung up on that manly clutch pedal.




Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Look, in my heart I'm right with you guys, it's the only Ferrari I ever wanted. But the facts of life around these ritzy parts is that it doesn't count, especially around the "real" Ferrari owners. I guess if it ain't conspicuous consumption it ain't crap.

Took it for a little drive over the weekend. Over the trip I passed 5 different Ferraris, mostly 360s/430s (sorry, I'm not into them so I can't tell the difference), with the most "lowly" being an out-of-place 355. Not one of them so much as acknowledged my presence. One of them was basically door-to-door with me for a minute as we both were stuck in a small traffic jam in opposite directions, and wouldn't even give a nod back to me as we passed (before buzzing away in his V-8). Best I got was a pedestrian also trying to get through, who commented something like "Wow, too many Ferraris!"

Funny thing is in my limited experience with the thing the owners of the older ones seem to be the opposite. A while back I gave a little horn shot at a Mondial that didn't see me coming and got a fully enthusiastic "Hey! We're both crazy/stupid/fanatic enough to own these ridiculous old Italian things!" wave.

Heck even on a motorcycle around here on the weekend you'll get a "Hey, we're both riding motorcycles!" wave. I guess expected at least that from the Ferrari crowd.


Oh, but on a positive note, this was one of my longest drives so far and I indeed did not need the Towing Eye! Though with all the stop and go I've definitely got a mild case of the sticky hot starter solenoid.

 

To me - and I'll probably have my head taken off for this - but THEY'RE not real Ferrari guys if they don't even acknowledge a brother in the bond as below...

On their way to Yawnsville perhaps? I'm so 'car aware' I can spot a BMW 2002 at 300 yards, at night. So are half the members here. Those to whom you refer are clearly too busy searching the latest trend in synthesized coolness to supplant their missing personalities. They are NOT 'car people', in stark contrast to....

Yes, we're freaks and that's why we're on this board with you. You own one of the coolest most 'era epic' cars ever made. Enjoy.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

Cryo,

You really have to get off this notion of "real" Ferrari. My VT Roadster is worth more than any of those cars you mentioned....should I say since they're lesser in absolute dollars ....not a "real" exotic? Sounds kinda silly.

Does the Enzo owner blow me off, does the Ferrari GTO (64') owner blow him off, does the 250 Testa Rossa owner blow him off? again sounds kinda silly.

Your TR is an icon and was KING of the 80's

I was at a recent Ferrari get-together in Sarasota FL a couple of months ago. I was specifically asked to bring my TR and not the Lamborghini. I was the only TR among a sea of 360's, 430's, California's, 599's, and a couple of "skank-olettis" .

With all the rounded LARGE Ferrari's around me, mine stuck out like a porn star...with big fake boobies...no less !

....all intakes, vents, grills and strakes !

I didn't feel lesser....why should I? My TR was in as good condition as the newest car there. In fact, no one could believe that I have 49,500 miles on the clock and that it's a daily driver.

When I had the engine cover open, people could only say..."they really did it back then....didn't they"

We all had a great time.

....the same results when I do Ferrari ONLY shows as well.


Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !
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Dear Ferraristi,

The hot chickies seemed to like my TR

Chick on left was the hostess....yes, she's 43!

Chick on the right was the organizer's ( Christian from Ferrari Tampa Bay) GF.

Yes, I was asked by the Ferrari dealer's salesman to bring my TR. If he knows what it is...must be a "real" Ferrari.



Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !
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