just went from vintage V12 to Modena, buttoning up details

Time to come out of the closet. I have been able to work out a trade, where a local dealer* took my 1963 250 GTE (#4823), and gave me a 99 360 Modena F1 in exchange. I also got a pile of cash, which I partially used to take care of the wife tax (barely used Merc GL550).

My decision to swap was strictly related to having lived with the old girl for a decade, and it was time for a change. I also traded classic car shows for modern utility, usability, and comfort (middle age snuck up on me a little). I am having fantastic time with the car, but need to button up a few details. Any pointers would be appreciated:

-White symbols on door handles ("lock", plus triangle) all rubbed off. Anyone make stickers, or something that would transfer? I have searched archives and it looks like stickynomore would do this for me, but I have been able to take care of the stickyness with rubbing alcohol. Does it need to be silk-screened onto the part, so no quick fix? I also rubbed the arrow off the vent ring.

-The raised horse fell off the key. Anyone sell a replacement? My key has the indentation only. I did polish it, of course, but a silver symbol would create that extra punch. I also ordered one of the fake red keys from ebay (can't justify shelling out for the Enzo key), but maybe someone sells the horse.

-The air intake on the driver's side has some yellow/ black discoloration. This is the black plastic under the mesh grille. I thought about carefully masking the body work and shooting it with flat black. Did anyone try to access this piece? A lot of disassembly?

* BTW, If anyone is interested in dealing with a very "low BS", highly friendly and fair dealer...I do recommend Brad, who used to be a GM of Ferrari of San Francisco, and now runs his own place at .sanfranciscosportscars Browsing through the inventory will unearth my old car, too.

And now for the pics:

The old, in front of Mario Andretti's winery


The new, still at the dealer, car already came with Tubi, challenge grill and HRE 19 inch wheels. I did not like the wheels at first, but getting used to them slowly.


Regards
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The GTE was a #2 condition car, and it was completely sorted, so the maintenance cost was not the issue. These things trade in the $100-140K range.
I drove mine to work, to events, to some drives, like the Martin Swig New Year's Day run and dealer events (Shell /Ferrari anniversary run to Marin).

I just needed to get the "modern mid-engine flashy thing" in my bloodstream. I have only had a 308 GT4 and a Boxster S before, so it was time. I also have a 67 Caddy convert, for when I need the smell of burning oil and gas in the cockpit and the challenge of getting those Rochesters set up just right. Who knows what will come next.

 

thanks, fellow mavens. I wish I could have kept both, but garage space was my ultimate limiter.

Driving the old one did not really make me a better driver. It made me more patient. 240 hp, heavy and slow steering, vintage tires, and no independent suspension made for a truck-ish and relaxed cruiser in today's traffic. The sound of the V12 is nice, when driven with gusto, but the 360 is a lot easier and more fun to drive fast. I expect some track days in the new horse, when the rains stop. I did Skip Barber and Jim Russell a while back in their cars and my old Alfa GTV, so it might be time for hookedondriving, or something else in my own car.

I tried the previous owner for the extra keys, but Brad assured that the delicate situation there precludes further investigation. Long story, and the car itself is just fine.


On the switches....I will go the stickynomore route, but since I just got the car....I do not want to lay it up when I disassemble all the controls. Too much fun. I will spray the inlet, because it is a little jarring.

One more pic of the Modena, interior this time.
BTW, I did have the "floppy F1 shifter syndrome", and not having any Viagra around....I ordered the new internal metal fork from Ricambi America. Taking out the lever assembly was child's play, other than being delicate with the tabs for the circuit board, and sure enough....the standoffs in the old one were broken and rattling around inside ! A new fork fixed the free play, without having to shell out for the $3K unit from FNA. Total cost was $110 and 40 minutes of my time.
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I kick myself over every single car i have ever sold, every cute girl i ever dated. And then i get distracted by some new shiny object on the horizon..... and go forth and recycle*. It is the short attention span thing. To much adam curry on mtv when i first showed up in the land of capitalism.

As long as the objects that circulate through my garage represent some kind of rebellion against mass produced mediocrity.....old and new can co-mingle happily.

*only applies to cars

 

She loves it, but it scares the crap out of me. Twice now...I have put the lever in reverse, thinking that they I had it park. I cannot train myself to press in the stalk to engage park, and just pull up on instinct. Why someone needed to reinvent the PRNDL wheel is beyond me. The rest of the car is so customizable, that it feels like it has a mind of its own with lighting, infotainment, and the million lines of code powering every gizmo.

Thanks, Yin. Long time, no talk ! Maybe Dave can cook up something good for us one day at FoSV.

 

could not find just the horse for the standard key, so I asked Santa for a new one. With Santa likely mired in the same recessionary gloom.....It seemed silly to get the enzo key, so I had specified the ebay knock-off, or whatever it is. The quality is not too bad, and it looks good with the black pouch.
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