Modifying an F40 reduces it's value

I always love the tag line "modified to LM spec" when seeing a modified F40 for sale.

 

Yeah. Most of the time it's a wing and maybe a front clam. Nothing done to engine, brakes, suspensions..

 

Generally, this is true.

 

Most of the time it's the cars that get exported from Japan that are modified, some sort of body kit and have had accidents. I've seen far too any, about 12 till now and still counting, not to mention their lack of books and odometer going in reverse. I.e there are two prime examples as we speak on pistonheads.

 

If you can live with the monetary loss and you'll enjoy the car more, it shouldn't be an issue (or rather why would it be?).

 

i think this applies to any car.
i also think that there are modifications, and then there are MODIFICATIONS.

when i went to the 25 year anniversary meeting at silverstone in 2012, there were 60 f40's there.
firstly, there were many different original versions. many people had specified different things from the factory, so even though we might think there is one standard version, this is not really true.

secondly, nearly everybody there had a tubi and bigger brembos. they might have kept the original parts. the reasons for these 2 changes are obvious to anybody who has driven one of these cars - the original brakes do not feel adequate, and the original exhaust does not do the model justice. these are not big modifications, and arguably make every f40 a better car, and are not an issue of taste.

from there on out, it was a slippery slope. different wheels, different colors, LM wannabees, etc. so each potential buyer will have to decide how far that car has strayed from original.

my other thought is that given another 10 years, and the buyers will care less and less about the first degree of mods. if they can forgive aftermarket parts and re fabricated parts on the vintage machines, they wont care about a different exhaust on an f40 that now actually sounds the part.

 

Can you give a few examples?

 

Look up the old thread for full details & pictures but for example production variations include on the rear grill there were big horses small horses no horses also options such as sliding windows wind up windows etc etc as well as the wheels & brakes noted above - then some cars had the Nick Mason rear screen others had differing front splitters

 

in my opinion depending if the modifications can be returned eassy to the origin.
IF the car can be back to the original, probably the price are the same, and if the modifications are fine,s, increase the value.
whats happen when with the modifications we change the car and to back is imposible, in my opinion is not a good idea, for example, to transform a normal f40 in pseudo LM, in this case I,m not sure the price are not lower

 

In my opinion people who modified cars lost money, time, and most important: Ferrari vision.
Important is not to buy a car, it s to maintain and try to preserve is originality.

Most of F40 in Japan are modified, question of culture? Or question of virility?

 

I thought it amazing at Silverstone that although many had slight mods, not one of the 60 plus had an LM front clam

 

Having read over your post a bit better, I agree, this is what it comes down to, for better or worse, and it is certainly the way the market works.

 

FWIW, the cars actually perform better with the original exhaust unit in situ. The reason is, that original factory-tuned unit provides exactly the right amount of back-pressure for the turbos to perform at an optimum level throughout the rev range. Yes yes I know, most like more "noise", but after several F40s I realized that I would happily trade the aforementioned noise (which can get downright tiring after several hours) for better performance. You still get that awesome-sounding 'whoosh' post-upchange when the boost is dumped, and that's all I need to hear.

 

^^EXACTLY THIS^^

And an original F40 under max power output is also loud enough! Last weekend i was driving through a small town where a little girl closed her ears preventive as she had seen the car. She was surprised, that it was quiet.

 

Great story! You can actually enjoy the car more when you can listen to the engine at a reasonable level.

I know I am awfully biased, but, a long association and much ownership of these cars tells me that the factory spec is the way to go, even if you have no concern at all for values. You'll love the car more and use it more often. Every modification is a compromise, and IMO many mods make the car worse/less efficient/less safe etc in the long run. Just my opinion.

 

Many F40s have wheel/brake modifications, which are generally easy to return to stock. Some consider upgraded brakes to be a necessity to make these cars drivable.

A crashed car, even if rebuilt with original parts at the original factory by the original technicians, is still a crashed car.

Most of the owner "converted" LM cars do seem to be wrecked & rebuilt. The modifications are not such a big deal since the value of originality has substantially been lost already.

 

Everyone has different views and values, to some they want something with the extras, to others they may just want an original car. Based on everyone's opinion, it looks like there are both buyers and follows for either type of F40.

So I wouldn't worry, the F40 market is huge and there's enough of originals or modified to go around to suit everyone's needs and wants.

Time to enjoy it and drive..!

 

Strictly speaking, the OP's original assertion is "Modifying an F40 reduces it's value", and there is only one correct answer to that in the marketplace. Yes.

 

Agreed. Not everyone just stores the car. Some actually drive their f40 and they will tinker with it to make their driving experience more enjoyable or personalise it a little bit. The issue is when you don't understand the history/time period/essence of the car and chuck bits on that have very little to do with the car.

 

The notion that people who own unmodified F40s just store them and don't drive them is misleading. Lets not assume everyone who does not modify their F40 just stores the car. That's simply not true. Many who drive their standard F40s feel no need to tinker with them or mess with factory greatness.

For example: 2 of the highest-mileage F40s I know are bone-stock.

I can speak for literally dozens of clients who have unmodified cars, yet use them frequently.

I can also speak for myself...

 

Personally I think there are modified Ferrari's that have more "Ferrari Vision" than some completely original ones...

There are also some modified Ferrari's that haven't "lost money".

 

What do you know?

 

Not always Jim. As you can see there is a very large difference between UK and Japan in terms of respect for the brand.



I imagine that you would try not to change your Dino in any way?
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I wouldn't know about the last bit (as I haven't checked), but certainly agree with the above.

Trev360's Modena is a perfect example IMO. Set out to make a 360 CS manual, discovered how much more weight could be saved and now has a manual 360 ''CS'' which is another 80 KG lighter than the lightest spec Challenge Stradale you could buy from the factory, but still with creature comforts such as an aircon in there.

My view is similar to Trev's in that case...they can be improved. If I prefer driving it like that and am happy with the cost/loss of value then I have succeeded. No?

I've modified your signature: ''Not enjoying your Ferrari the way you want is like not having sex with your Girl Friend so she'll be more desirable to her next Boy Friend.''


(yes, I know it doesn't really work as well but you get the point )