Fake tool kits. Beware.

It's come to my notice that the Ferrari tool market in the U.K. is being inundated with replica tool rolls and contents. Mainly 250, 275 & Daytona.
These are apparently manufactured in Italy and from a cursory glance can fool the unaware. However if physically inspected it becomes immediately obvious.
The bag material is made of a soft poor quality leather and the stitching is entirely wrong. Interior leather webbing is too narrow. The tools have been recast and are very light. Cast marks are easily apparent on the wrenches. Grease guns have a similar but wrong patternif compared to the original. The Riganti jacks on a 250 kit are freshly resprayed and uniformly distressed. New incorrect Riganti labels applied...I believe these originated from 1970's Fiats when they were painted Black. The list goes on but every single tool is counterfeit.
The perpetrators appear to be targeting the auction houses. I've seen 5 kits in the past 2 months auctioned at high levels. This week I visited a leading U.K. auction house to inspect two 250 kits that were coming up for sale and both were immediately apparent fakes. The auction house has withdrawn them from sale.
My humble advice is to physically view before purchase and take advice from an owner of an original kit.
I cannot name names but the Ferrari community here are aware of a certain individual whose website / eBay account is full of these fake tools and his name has been circulated to all prominent auction houses. I attach a photograph of a recent fake sent to auction.
View attachment 2853527

 

So, these are newly or recently made kits using reproduction components applied (distressed?) with faked aging/patina, giving them decades old/original/used/worn appearance ?

 

That is a perfect description. Produced to deceive. We all know there have been a few old tools reproduced over the years, especially the hard to find items. However most sellers are honest and will declare as such.
This is a completely different ball game and the production is prodigious. I have good reason to believe they originate in Italy but no idea if it's one source or many. What concerns me is that from a small auction house or eBay photo they look real.

 

I have seen the fake leather bags too... they are expertly distressed, and in photos very difficult to tell apart from the real thing. The giveaway is that they are made entirely from leather, whereas Ferrari used vinyl for the main portion of the bag, with leather only being used for the handle, hold down webbing and outer straps.

 

Wow, convincingly patinated for sure

 

Theo You should be equally concerned as you sell original tools. Beware of screwdrivers that are not only too large but the heads are wrong. On some Riganti jacks the apparent usual surface rust is in fact brown paint. The stamping on the oil wrench is a poor facsimile and you would laugh at the poor quality of the supposed Beta wrenches. However... from afar or especially a small photograph it is almost impossible to detect. You may also be aware of the UK perpetrator who regularly sells these kits and I've just seen he has featured in Ferrari Chat in the past concerning a similar issue. Paul.

 

Paul, thanks for the heads up.

I have one seller in mind and as I am in the market for a tool roll I would highly appreciate if you could send me the name per private conversation.

Better safe than sorry ;-)

 

I would gladly... if I could discover how to contact you by private conversation. Hopeless with modern technology. Am on an I phone. Maybe you can email me at
[email protected]

 

In answer to many emails and private messages I've received may I copy this reply.... Maybe somebody who now suspects they have purchased a non original kit could publish the sellers name ?

I think in the litigious world we live in it must be obvious that I cannot publically denounce the name of the UK dealer involved in the sale of these fake kits. Had I actually purchased one from him then it would be possible. I haven't but whenever I attempt to trace the history of any of these kits one name continues to recur. Since posting my email address I have received many messages suggesting possible names but again that 'name' is the most prolific. More worryingly I've also received messages from dealers who are concerned that their businesses will become suspect...not sure how to counter this but can say that most are true enthusiasts and I'm only aware of one culprit.
I can only hope that the dealer concerned, who I know will read this, will have the good sense to curtail his activities.
The purpose of my original post was to make all aware of this situation. I have not exaggerated in any way. The fakery appears to be confined to 250, 275 & Daytona kits. I am yet to see a replica GTC twin bag kit. The most prolific are the 250 kits and given that they both more basic and more valuable this is not surprising. I've been involved in the world of these kits for over 40 years. Today I take an interest rather than actively deal but during this time I've never experienced fakery of this scale. I'm sure the present perceived value of a 250 kit today at close to £20,000 must play a part in the deception. During the mid 1990's I use to sell them for less than £1,000.
Again, I can only advise any potential purchaser to take expert advice. Ask the seller for detailed photos and ask specific questions. I can imagine how difficult this can be if you're in the US and say negotiating with a U.K. / European seller but most are honest and I'm sure will understand and comply. I will separately post a detailed list of points to be aware of. I also realise this will notify the manufacturers of their current mistakes....Its difficult. Paul

 

Thank you for helping put this on the radar.

 

I’d love to see comparative pictures without revealing any sources.

Matt

 

Hi Matt. I have several genuine 250 kits... not for sale...but unfortunately theyre in my London garage ... I'm at home. So can't compare directly now but will do.
I attach some 'snaps' I took on my phone of one of the kits at the auction house last week. Poor quality sadly but they do show some of the points to look for...
Note...
Main leather securing strap of bag has too many holes and end of strap wrong shape.

There is a photo of the grease gun. Note the fastening screws top and bottom. The gaps are too large. The butterfly nut at top that's not shown in photo is the wrong design.

The lead mallet has a wrong shaped head and is slightly too small. The uniform vertical 'scratches' on the handle are in fact brown paint.

The screwdrivers should comprise of two flatheads. All fakes appear to have one flathead and one screwhead. They are too long and the securing clamp for the shafts vary. On the wood handle one can see where a long name has been poorly rubbed out.

The shiny reflection on the Carello oil wrench is uniform on all I've seen and it is obvious that some name has been burnished off. The Carello trademark is also stamped on all far too bold & deep.

There is a photo of part of the bag where the outer securing strap attaches

 

Sorry that Sent before completion. My fat fingers !
You will see that there is a brown stain surrounding this buckle. This appears to be uniform on all.
I will post better and comparisons in the week. Paul
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Omitted a photo of outer bag around buckle..
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Thank you, this is helpful

 

Very helpful Paul, thank you. Email sent.

 

incredible....45 years ago, if you told me it was going to come to this, I'd have laughed until i was out of breath...
ow, it seems the level of audacity at exploiting our hobby/passion, has risen to this level of unscrupulous FRAUD...it has
left me breathless....

 

It is so fortunate that people like PB are still around and care enough to recognise the wheat from the chaff, and to share with our community.

 

There are so many junk tools out there on eBay, etc. that people are trying to pass off. I think a thread dedicated to photos and details of authentic vintage tools would be useful to help sort out the junk.

 

A rare Ferrari 250 GT tool roll for post-1960 'outside plug' cars,

£ 5,000 - 7,000
US$ 6,400 - 9,000

Was withdrawn from Bonhams latest sale...

Regards, Alberto

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That price seems like an absolute steal

 

Well, it did not sell as withdrawn, wonder why?

Regards, Alberto

PS. This a blow to the 'bonafide' dealers, as suddenly it all becomes iffy, unless readily viewable,
by a third party. So what now, PPI's just as with cars? Bummer.

 

Here’s a thread I started:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/vintage-ferrari-tool-kits-and-accessories.605089/

 

Another great thread:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/guide-tool-kits-factory-supplied-data-parts-manual.96515/