355 - Wooden Shift Ball | FerrariChat

355 Wooden Shift Ball

Discussion in '348/355' started by PaulK, Sep 20, 2019.

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  1. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
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    Hi All,

    Did Ferrari ever offer a wooden shift ball for the F355 as an accessory? Perhaps a Ferrari Idea item? Here is what I am looking at.
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  2. audi_328

    audi_328 Formula 3
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    I really doubt that's a Ferrari item. The pattern looks crudely engraved, the font for the pattern is wrong (if they did indeed offer a wood ball, I'd think the font would be the same), and the wood and finish doesn't appear to be of much quality. That looks homemade to me. No expert, but that's my opinion.
     
  3. Ferrarium

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    Definitely looks home made but if it has a part number look that number up.
     
  4. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
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    I agree with all of you. I wound up buying both last night. I didn't want to risk someone else buying them. I hope they fit. I just want to see what it feels like to shift with a wooden ball.
     
  5. Ferrarium

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  6. Robb

    Robb Moderator
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    I’m not a fan of this in the F355 and doubt that it is original.

    But I also don’t like wood steering wheels in any car...

    Robb
     
  7. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
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    I really can't wait to find out. Is it going to replace the chrome one? Not permanently. But I am really curious and it could be one of those rare accessories. I just couldn't resist.

    The bag and receipt look period correct. So there is that!
     
  8. Ferrarium

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    Post the part number, maybe its 1960's?
     
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  9. krazykarguy

    krazykarguy Formula Junior

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    With a 6-speed pattern, highly unlikely.
     
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  10. Ferrarium

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  11. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
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    I wonder if it was made by a Ferrari dealership upon customer request rather than by Ferrari itself, hence the handcrafted look yet accompanying bag and numbered receipt?

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  12. audi_328

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    A related question: did Ferrari ever use wood for shift knobs, either in a production model or one-off race car? Off the top of my head I can't think of any, even the oldest cars had a sort of bakelite knob IIRC, otherwise lots of aluminum knobs or plastic of some sort.
     
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  13. Julia

    Julia F1 Veteran
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    OEM or aftermarket, this might help solve the problem of the shift knob being screaming hot in the summer heat.
     
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  14. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    Only bakelite for shift knobs.

    Wood knobs often split.

    Matt
     
  15. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

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    That sounds painful!!!!!

    Seriously, that looks home made, the numbers and shift picture look hand done and at a decent ish amateur level, certainly not professional from the picture.

    That’s not do say it wouldn’t look good fitted if you like that and the car is period.
     
  16. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
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    I still don't have a picture of the documentation accompanying this. It hasn't even shipped yet. Perhaps I should just cancel this order. The seller did say he will send me a pic soon. Let's see what develops. Maybe this is aftermarket? Maybe this is an official accessory? I don't know. It sure would look good in a tan car (mine is black).
     
  17. Robb

    Robb Moderator
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    Hey if you like it go for it. But I don’t think it is OEM.

    Robb
     
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  18. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    Custom made for Howdy Doody no doubt
     
  19. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    A number of little British cars either came with or were accessorized with wooden gear shift knobs.

    They would usually split along the grain in a heated race and would indeed be painful!

    (I'd cancel the order. They don't look good, IMHO, aren't original, and seem out of place for a more modern car.)

    Matt
     
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  20. johnk...

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    Pinocchio, perhaps. It will morph into a real shift knob.
     
  21. audi_328

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    The Porsche 917 had a well-known wooden gear knob, I believe the originals were of balsa wood, but as visible in the photo they were shaped out of a block of cross-grain laminated wood pieces, so no splitting/checking. Lots of similar repro 917 gear knobs out there for older 911s, I've thought about getting one for my 911 track rat.

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    Somehow just don't see a wooden knob looking "right" in a Ferrari though, of any era, but to each their own of course! Does sound like a weird transaction you're having though, hope it goes well whether you get the items or end up canceling.
     
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  22. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
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    Any update on the shift ball documentation, Paul? You've got me hooked on the mystery.

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  23. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Why is there a Ricambi packaging in that picture?
     
  24. Robb

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    Seller is probably trying to borrow a bit of linked integrity by association...

    The word Ricambi just means parts in Italian. Right? I don’t think it is from the US Ricambi sponsor owned by Daniel.

    Robb
     
  25. Robb

    Robb Moderator
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    I can’t get over the spacing on the digits - looks off.

    Robb
     

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