Why are Ferrari owner's so obsessed with original tool kit, etc.?

The search for perfection in collection.

 

The examples here are cars that would be expected to be shown -- and win -- in concours events. Ferraris at these events get judged for preservation, and having all the original tools/books/etc is part of that.

Another aspect is nostalgia for the era in which the car was made. Those early tool rolls are intrinsically cool and came from Maranello.

Mustangs are fun, but Ferraris are (1) rare and (2) born with a sense of history about them.

 

So I would assume that from your post you also have no interest in service records, former owners, actual milage etc? You might not be able to grasp this until you get into a bit older car.

 

It is a state of mind, but let me counter with this - if you really don't care all that much, then as an original or later owner, then you are likely to have lost the warranty book, maybe the owners manuals, all the maintenance records, yes- even the toolkit, etc.

Having all this original stuff is a good way to see that the former owners cared enough about their cars to keep it together. Hopefully, this translates into decent driving practices and maintenance, too.

You mention the Mustang case - you are I guess then aware that vintage Corvette people freak out on stuff like the fuel tank filler card, the little cloth tag on the soft top that says "dealer do not remove", "original" crayon marks here and there on the frame and such.

Point being that Ferrari people are not the only ones with the a-obbsessive complex on such things. Corvette owners did not even HAVE a nice toolkit to go ballistic over.

James - proud to have TWO original folding keys, the plug in portable map light, all the tools, and the books for my Testarossa. sad to have to say that the Warranty book was for another car and somebody has forged my number into it.

 

I've got all mine, but someone kept my original valve stem caps. I may have to hire a professional hitman to recover those.

 

What were the serial numbers on them? James Woods has some connections in that area...

 

The tool kits don't have serial numbers on them, do they? How does one determine that a tool kit is original to the vehicle? I would not consider keeping, or making, any thirty plus year old car that is worth $200K+ complete, obsessive. I would call it the responsible thing to do in the role of keeper of history.

 

Microdots. We could tell you where they are but then you know the consequences of that...

Bullfighter & I are just playing around a little -

 

The tool kit itself is great for collecting and concours showing as stated by others here, but the toolkit is an absolute joke.
There is nothing in the toolkit that anyone is gonna set up shop and road side fix their F-car with for sure so in that regards its no big deal.
Maintenance records etc. are what's really important to me as it shows the care of the vehicle.
I got a good laugh when I opened my toolkit when I purchased my 348. It was all factory original all right, right down to the never used tools and never used fix a flat filler dated 1994, but I do have it.
I have met no one who has actually used the toolkit to fix their car.
Jeff

 

Well, Jeff - strange you should ask today. My Porsche 993 battery chose to give up the ghost this past week just as I was about to pick it up from RUF autocentre after some A/C maintenance. They did not happen to have a battery on hand, so I just had them bump it with the boost pack and drove over to the parts place for a new one.

Turns out the car won't start after I buy the battery without replacing it then and there...so guess what got called into play to get it changed out in the driveway?

Yep, my proud little original Porsche toolkit.

BTW, for models that have them, I don't know how else you would be able to pull such a low car a short distance without the attachable towing accessory - at least not without bending something expensive.

 

When I replaced the tires on my car, I had the ferrari factory air removed first, then had the same air re-installed in the new tires. A far as I know, you still can't get factory air refills for the tires... ;(

 

Vintage Ferraris are not just cars, they are collectable artifacts. This is good for those into it, but bad for those who like cars as transportation. Look at the Lamborghini Miura. It has a stupid oil system (gear and engine oil is the same sump), and the gas tanks are designed to collect water underneath so they rust out. There are other design flaws as well. If you had a 100% original Miura, it would not fetch as much money as a restored model that is a lot more user friendly. Vintage Ferraris however are different.

You can get away with mods on a 308, like replacing the ignition and fuse box. These make for a better driver and no one seriously buys a 308 that doesn't drive it. Maybe in time these cars will sell for less than an original example but I doubt it. My car is the same; anyone with a 100% original Europa does not have as driveable a car as mine.

As for the tools, well they are artifacts. They are worth what people are willing to pay. Why is a Monet worth seven figures? Because enough people with that much money are willing to part with it to have one.

Ken

 

Simon, you may take solace in the fact that all air molecules on earth are in fact recycled from generation to generation. We once had the excersize to see if we are actually breathing the same O2 (every now and then) on a molecular level as such worthies as Leonardo d V. (or obviously the great Enzo in our cases). Turns out the scientists say we do.

Thus, as older Ferrari tires are shredded to dust and replaced, the escaped air wafts its way out into the general supply and any discount tire store will have access to some small amount of it when they air up your new ones.

 

I smell a business opportunity here... take a compressor to Maranello and start filling gas bottles with original Ferrari air....

 

My toolkit for the CS has a very important piece in it ... have already used it more than once.

Lug socket for the titainium wheel lugs

G

 

The modern tool kits are great! Got out of fix-it ticket by replacing a blown turn signal bulb as the cop watched once! There are a few guys out ther with the mechanical know how still to perform a get home fix when needed using the tools available. Probably the most used tool in any of the kits is the old emergency window crank for the first models with electric window lifts, never seen a Daytona where the window crank tool did not have signs of use.

 

I really don't understand you POV or your surprize... a 250SWB goes for about $2-3M, so a 16K tool kit is cheap in relation to the cars value...

Do you object to the value of all antiques?

Do you really believe what your saying or are you just trying to provoke?

 

One thing to remember is that the owner is ASKING that for the tool kit, but that does not mean someone is paying it.

I have seen people ask insane money for original mid-year vette parts, but that does not mean they find any takers.

 

Shumdit,

It sold for that after heavy bidding.


Ferrari-rich,

On the older cars a toolkit can actulally fix things. That being said, you can put together a kit with equivilent finctionality for a few hundred (probobly $550 - $600). Along this same thought process, you can build a replica 250SWB for much less than THE $1M- $2M the real ones are going for. Actually, you can get a 355 for even less and it will outperform the 250 SWB. Now that I think of it, you can buy an NSX, for even less than the 355 and it will be more reliable!

If you are looking for a practical reason for something having to do with Ferrari's, I think you have missed the point

Regards,

Art S.

PS. I'd love a toolkit, but its not a priority at the moment.

 

True yesterday. These cars apparently got expensive today (auction over in Europe).

 

I use the Factory tools when working on my car.

And the Books and wallet are indicators not only of the care of the original owner gave the machine, in the case of Ferraris they are numbered uniquely to the VIN of the car, and have the original dealership and date when sold.

These things are all but irreplacable once separated from the car.

So it's not quite like loosing the Chilton's Manual for your GM or Ford machine.

As these Ferraris rise in value it is more and more important to keep them complete, so paraphrasing Bob Wills' "Milkcow Blues"...."If anybody finds my books for #20405, won't you send her on home..." LOL!

 

Up....up.....and away, Baby!

Link to results anywhere???

 

Maybe beause thier own personal tool kits are lacking.