First Supercar purchase

Hey guys I'm new to the forums and am looking into purchasing my first Ferrari. I'm a 6'5" bigger guy. I'm looking at a 3.2 Mondial and potentially removing the rear seat so I can install a longer track to fit my long ass legs. Can this be done? Where are the best places to get parts from, especially upgrades like the fuse box, fuel lines, and timing belts? I have limited car repair knowledge but access to guys with a wealth of domestic car knowledge. I do have an expert Ferrari repair place down in Houston (2 hours away) as well. My mechanical savvy comes from taking apart nuclear reactors and motor/generators in the Navy so maintenance doesn't scare me. I'll continue scouring the forums to soak up as much info as possible but any help as I start down this journey is welcomed!Thanks!

 

I don’t think you’ll need to change the seat location but it’s possible. I’m just over 6 foot and can slide the seat so far back I can’t depress the clutch fully. I like Superformance.UK for parts as well as sponsor Ricambi. Red bay cars has the fuse board.

 

I have seen someone 6-6 in a mondial, so you might make it as the seat goes well back

 

Welcome! Also, thank you for your service sir! I've taken out my seats, the problem is the bottom part of the back seat I believe is metal. (not sure) so might be more involved.


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I believe Paul is correct, and that the fuel tanks are under the seat cushion. This makes that modification it a non-starter unless you are ready to do a lot of customization. I met up with a fairly tall guy considering a Mondial so he could try it out, and I recommend doing this. He was comfortable in the car, but had a lot of trouble getting in and out due to leg length combined with bad knees.

 

1. Welcome!
2. Great username!
3. While, it's a great car, I'm not sure that I would call a Mondial a SUPERcar.
4. Good luck in your search - there's a lot of good info here.

2cam

 

Definitely try sitting in one if not already. I'm 6 foot and I don't push the seat back fully (although I do like a more upward position). It has about 4 more inches of give, so it might work, especially if you get thinner seats.

 

Hi 6ft4 with short legs and have no problems with Mondial seats although getting in and out isn't graceful. I have seen comments about raising the seat giving you more room. My main concern is the head rest ends below my neck line.

Jim

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I'm 6'3 with long legs and I fit very comfortably in my 86 3.2 coupe. Just for reference I couldn't fit in a 84 308 gtb without bending my neck.

 

dang we got some giants in the house!!!

 

In the UK the word 'super' describes the car perfectly

 

6'4" here. Raise the seat with 1" risers (this may not make sense until you drive it, TMWFI, if you need spacers and the longer bolts, I may have some, PM me, I offered kits for a while) and put a 1"extension on the steering column. Easy peasy and I fit fine, with no-one behind me, lol. Plenty of headroom in my '88 3.2 Cabriolet, I can wear a Stetson with room to spare.
Alden

 

You asked about parts suppliers......
I have had great luck with GT Car Parts in Arizona, electrical fuse box replacement and valves. Also take a look at AW Italian for everyday parts like belts, filters, fuel accumulators, etc. Rockauto has some good prices on random parts like fuel injectors and trunk lid strut support cylinders.

Try not to modify your Mondial Too much, it will decrease it's resale value.

 

Welcome Jared! 3.2 is a nice model!
Taking out the back seat will only air up 1 inch, because of what Paul already mentioned. Alden drove one our QVs in Italy and he had not really an issue and he is a giant compared to me.

Just try to raise your seat an inch or an inch and half. It makes a world of a difference, even for me! now I can see my pods I raised both seats so that we can stow some stuff underneath it to like our portophones.

 

My neighbor recently drove the Mondial and the 456 I got. For background, he is a real gearhead and not only drives various cars but also is an aviator.

After driving both (back to back) he summed it up in this sentence;

"The 456 is a great car, the Mondial is a great Ferrari"

In choosing one, he said the Mondial was by far and above his favorite.

For me, I love them both, there are pro and cons, to either.

 

I did a trip today again and I ran out most modern GTs When you set your mind to sport drive, driving through corners you will get to know the Mondial in a very different way. In the mountains last year in italy a 360 manual could not keep up and he was stunned on the short power track after coming out of a corner. and all that without powerstering There is only one car that does better in the mountains and that is the 3x8.