What's with aftermarket side emblems?

It's not enough to some people that the car clearly (adequately/understatedly) spells "Ferrari" (in plain sight/script) on the rear decklid of the car.....

Some people are concerned that passerby's might not notice them or their car, so they splash it... (the Ferrari logo/SF sheild/CR/et al) on the fenders, floor mats, headrests, valve stems, wheel centers, gas cap, windsheild tint/sunshield, licesne plate suround, seat covers, seat belts, car cover and/or any other place that has any/and/or sufficient area to display a logo/sheild/rampante/horse/$ sign......... just in case someone is confused as to whether the car is a Ferrari or not.....

 

You're correct, they're not original. It's a matter of taste. I happen to agree with you that they look a tad strange on 308/328s, but the 288 GTO had them as original and that car overlapped the 308-328 transition (1984-86). So, some owners enjoy them.

Ultimately, if you feel the urge, there are magnetic shields that can satisfy your urge to reinforce that you have a Ferrari, without causing lasting damage to the car.

 

As far as I know they were a factory option on at least 348s onwards. I would be surprised if this option was not available on earlier models.

Why do you say it looks silly? Only in your opinion, but even then, silly? Logo'd up to the eyeballs with seatbelts and number plate surrounds (all things that were not a standard factory option) maybe ... but a wing badge, subtly embossed headrests or floor mats are all things you get on a brand new factory Ferrari.

 

I don't think it's silly at all.

It would be silly if you have it on a non Ferrari instead.

 

Ya why?.....
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So are you saying the first production cars to use them was the 288? But didn't the factory race cars sport them originally? I would guess that's where the whole idea came from.

 

I had the cheap vinyl ones on my Mondial because nobody really did know what kind of car it was.

 

I have a question: If they did not know what kind of car it was in the first place, then would they suddenly be "illuminated" by the side shields?

 

its your Car you do as you please and what makes you feel good,man its only a car ,if you want to put it in a glass box and look at it evry night the so be it but if you drive it then make it your own.

 

Hey now, calm down. The fender badges look great on a 348. Sure, they weren't a factory item but neither were Tubi, Hill Engineering, etc...

Lighten up

 

I think it can be done tastefully. I have magnetic ones. But I do it, not to show off that my car is a Ferrari but rather to pay homage to the Ferrari racing tradition.

Prior to the modern cars having badges they were reserved for cars of the Scuderia Ferrari and not put on road cars. This goes back to before Ferrari even started building cars. This goes back to 1929 when the Scuderia Ferrari consisted of Alfa racing cars.

Ferrari only built road cars to finance his racing.
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The factory did place shield on a hand full of 3x8's and Testarossa's for "friends" of the factory. More than a few factory drivers had them on their "gift" cars.

 

Weren't the Scuderia shields on the side of just about every Ferrari race car ever produced? My understanding was that competition Ferraris got the shields and street cars did not (until recently). The 288GTO, F40, F50, and Enzo came with them, too.

I don't care if someone puts them on their 3x8, what do I care, it's not my car. I always get a good chuckle out of the logo-splattered cars you see every now and then. I just chalk it up to a very enthusiastic owner.

 

Strange that some people would willingly remove the side strakes on a Testarossa, and that some people (I hope not the same people) would willingly stick on side shields to it.

 

Were they factory installed on the 348 Competizione?

They do look great on a 348 IMHO!

 

I agree 100% Dave.....unless your car came with them from the factory it is a little poserish to add them, some cars do look good with them but i think they look like out of place on the 308/328 series.

Badges......we don't need no stinking badges!

 

Source? Inlet cloisonne or decal?

Source?

Someone has posted a picture of Gilles arriving to a race in a 308, don't remember if it was pimped or not.

 

Agreed, some owners enjoy them, I'm one of them. I got the magnetic ones from a guy on Ebay, and I love the look on my 328. But to each his own, for sure, I certainly don't fault anyone who wouldn't put them on their own car.

 

Until the FIAT takeover, the "side emblems"/shields, Scuderia Ferrari scudettos, denoted a vehicle raced by Ferrari's factory racing team, or employed in its activities, eg transporters: Full stop. Going back to the days when Ferrari raced Alfas.

Starting with the 288, FIAT's marketeers began to place them on the halo cars as standard, as they sought to reinforce the racing connection.

Beginning with the latter 355s, anyone could specify them on any road car, the motives of all concerned being obvious and notorious.

My personal favorite current application is on the competition version of the 612, I believe the factory ran a few in NASCAR's Craftsman Cup, although I'd bet there's a "400iA LM" out somewhere which we haven't seen yet.

"Your money, your choice", as they say, but really, who are they kidding?

 

I think shields look GREAT on almost any Ferrari except the touring cars and of course the cars that are "almost Ferraris".

 

There were adhesive shield emblems on my 308, placed there by the previous owner.

They peeled off easily after the car sat in the sun for an hour, and the glue residue came right off with some very mild solvent.

I haven't counted the horses on the 308 yet, but they are definitely abundant. A bright red 308 GTS doesn't need further introduction.

I have a set of magnetic shields in case I do want it to scream "I'm a Ferrari!!!" any louder than it does now.

 

I put one on my 34 foot RV last summer. A kid maybe 9 years old in KY said "Whoa" as I pulled into an RV park. He said "Is that a real Ferrari?" And I answered "Yeah, it's the biggest one!". Then I told him that it was really jsut a regular RV and that I put the shield because I like the brand. No joke. I talke dto him for a few minutes to give him some more info since he seemed really interested.
BT

 

It is all a matter of opinion and everyone has one. I can provide info on the metal OEM shields if interersted. PM to me.