Somebody hit the Mondial--Boy am I glad!

A little over a month ago, a woman wasn't paying attention and dinged the rear fender of my Mondial in a parking lot. At the time I was devastated. However, luckily for me, Karosserie is nearby. For those who don't know, they are considered by many, myself included, to be the best bodyshop in the country. They took my car and painstakingly remolded the metal by hand over the course of countless hours. The pictures don't do it justice, but I felt their handiwork from the inside of the fender, and I just couldn't believe how perfect it was. When they took my car, they promised me that when I got it back, it would look better than new. I just got it back today. The workmanship was without peer, but the detail job they did on the car was sublime. Their is not a swirlmark or scratch anywhere to be found, and the interior...I just don't know how they do it.

Anyway, thanks to Karosserie, I am closer than ever to making my car a true concours contender.
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I saw their work on a friend's 360 that had a wee shunt on track. The quality of their work is absolutely awesome.

 

Yes you are! Wow, Joe, they did a fantastic job. Looks perfect. I'm happy you are happy with the end result. Now avoid parking lots and go drive!

 

True Craftsmen (in any trade) are wonderful assets to society!! ..........just wish they weren't a dying breed here in the States...

 

Great news. Good time of year to have the car back. Looks great!

 

Wow - nice work - the car looks beautiful! Just curious - did the lady's insurance pick up the bill?

 

Joe,

Karosserie is one of just a few Ferrari Factory authorized body repair shops in the United States. Yes, they did a beautiful repair. The pictures you posted show an Old World approach, a craftsmanship that truly is disappearing. The hallmark of a proper repair is the inner aspect of the panel they repaired and it's finishing.

It truly is as if "nothing ever happened."

Barry

 

WOW !!!!

 

Nice work...

...you were very lucky that it could be hammered out...didn't have to buy new metal.

Nice repair.

 

i went to karosserie when my blue 308 was backed into. they did an awesome job. no sheet metal replacement, just hammered it out. blended the paint perfectly.

 

I really have to hand it to them, they did a fantastic job. The car took Platinum yesterday at a regional Ferrari concours. A month and a 1/2 ago, I didn't even think my car would be back on the road for months, much less winning anything.

As a postscript, when the car got hit I was devastated, but in retrospect I shouldn't have been. I love my Mondial, but it is NOT a member of my family, in the end its just a car. This whole drama has definitely given me a new perspective on things. I am pretty sure that there will be no more shows for me. I think I have taken her as far as I want to in that direction. In the future, there will be less preening...more driving. I plan on turning my attention to making memories with the family and not finding the correct OEM nut for this or that. My daughter adores the Ferrari and begs for drives constantly, I want her memories of Dad and his Ferrari to be about the drives and not the hours he spent in the garage trying to buff out road rash.

Everything came into focus when I saw an elderly gentleman at the show who had a lusso with a ton of miles on it (the clock showed 96K, but I am pretty sure it made its way around at least once). The car was so well driven the seats had worn through to the bare frame.

We can't take them with us boys, so we might as well enjoy them!

 

Right, Joe. Just drive and enjoy that Mondial with the knowledge that if anything happens, The Karosserie can make it "like nothing ever happened."

Congratulations on the Platinum at Reading!

Barry

 

wow that looks like some awesome work

 

Joe, after reading so many of your posts I must say I was a little surprised by the shifting of your attention away from shows...but then again I have also read your posts where you talk about enjoying the Mondial with your family, so I am not very surprised by the new direction. It is pretty much the way I enjoy my Mondial...I went to a show once just to see what it was like, but it really wasn't fun for me. I find my time driving, with my daughter in the car, to be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things I do. Best wishes to you and your new direction! May you and your family Enjoy!!!

 

Looks great!!! Very nicely done on their part. If something like that happened around here I think I would be SOL.


PDG

 

Thanks! I know it seems sudden, but I know what it takes to take my car "to the next level" and I am not willing to do it, so either I enjoy the car, or sell her...and that ain't happening.

Not to get too heavy with this, but some of the impetus came from my little girl. I am not shy about saying she is everything that is beautiful in this world to me. There are only so many years a little girl will give her Daddy before "Boys" and "popularity" make a Dad suddenly uncool. I am going to cherish every minute I get.

She really loves the car and loves spending time with me driving around.

I never want my daughter to run down to the garage again, bag in tow (she always "packs" whenever we go for a drive), just to be told, no because Daddy just cleaned the car.

As you said, when I am done or have moved on to something else, I will take the Mondial to Karosserie and have them clean up the mess, or leave the bumps and bruises as evidence of a life well lived.

 

You're quite right there....it seems like they grow up so quickly. One day it's Barney, then Barbie, then Boys....then they turn sweet again when they get older...Have fun!

 

The work looks great, and I'm glad you are happy with it. I must admit, however, that my stomach got queasy when I saw that 5 pound hammer in the trunk!

 

i agree

 

Nice work....I wish they were closer to Chicago!

 

Beautiful !! Work like that is worth it.

 

Looks like excellent work! What did the final bill amount too? The person that hit you, did their insurance take care of it, and what company. The way an accident is supposed to be resolved. Enjoy!