Be interesting to know the level of interest in that car -good mileage means should allow good , guilt-free useage !
Last pic i saw was a good 10 years or so. It was shown locally with a yellow F40. I forgot where it was but was not far from the Illinois border.
I think it was a Euro. But that's based on a photo i saw 10 years or so ago. Does that ring a bell? Said that owner also had yellow F40 (That one was seen at the FCA nationals in 2009).
I don't know about the F50 but the only yellow F40 I know of from Wisconsin was a USA F40 repainted Giallo by the late Wayne Obry (Motion Products).
Ah! That engine… Visited the F50 at DK today and focused on the engine (it was not opened up or restored) but micro-detailed. Only cam covers were removed (see pics from last time). To me it is so inspiring how it looked originally in all its glory. Some pictures from various sides. 1. Gearbox side: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login 2.Side view: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Last pic in previous post shouldn’t be there. 3. bulkhead side: (See the large six bolts which attach the engine, gearbox & back suspension into the driver’s tub) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Finally, 4.Top view: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login And the car patiently waiting for its bits to finish and return… Image Unavailable, Please Login
Quite a bit, including all the braking system; the four corners; detailing every part, nut, bolt, hose; fitting back the engine and exhaust system…
Mainly cleaned by hand. For example the full exhaust system takes 3-man days of hand cleaning to get the required result (no refinish in the sense of re-plating or re-coating. Just detailing to the nth degree). Occasionally, and only when absolutely necessary, we re-zinc the original nut, bolt, or small part.
I think a key point here is that it’s the original prancing horse badge that came with the car and the original F50 logo that was fitted at the factory instead of ‘let us buy a brand-new-one that looks perfect’. It is preserving the original and then trying to make it as good as it would get, no more. One careful German owner who clocked 6k miles then two owners in the UK who did not drive the car (last 16 years) result in little heat cycles and yellowing. A car with 18 service stamps in its Warranty book as well as detailed and continuous maintenance and care also helps.
Bravo for sticking with preservation and not resorting to replacement parts, what detailing treatment did the air-box manifold receive to make it look so brand new?
Just noticed the bolded above from your initial post. Does "coming soon" mean the photos will be available soon, or is the car coming to market?
I had to reflect before trying to answer this question, as I did not want to appear arrogant or judgemental or offend someone. For me quality is multi-pronged with at least 10 dimensions to look for when buying a car, or improving it while holding it, or presenting when selling the car. Condition is one of them and originality is another. People restrict themselves either to (a) what they can see (the majority whilst buying at auctions or judges at a concours), or (b) what an inspection can reveal (more careful buyers). However the quality dimensions of ‘condition’ and ‘originality’ should cover all parts of the car, those visible or not. You don’t remove the four corners or the engine and gearbox even when you do an inspection on a car (however you can see photos, records or invoices on such parts if the car comes with comprehensive documentation and records). To me, seeking perfection (on the condition dimension) requires doing everything required and returning to as close as when things were new. That process does not involve lots of cost in new parts (as you only buy few) but it involves high labour costs as you need to dismantle everything, spend a lot of time cleaning, detailing and then put it back together as well as retaining the best talent in the field. Of course a full restoration (which costs much more) with most original parts replaced is, to me, not authentic, real or genuine. I spend also a lot of time and energy in improving other quality dimensions of the car that are paramount but which do not even cross the mind of concours judges. For example making sure that the toolkits are original, correct, complete and in as-good condition as can be. Or the accessories which have been gathered, re-freshed, and those missing sourced. The history and provenance of the car researched, documented, organised and presented clearly. The maintenance and servicing of the car was fastidious and thorough through the years. Most of these dimensions are ignored in a concours. So my criteria for excellence and perfection differ substantially from those required to win prices in events. An insightful posting recently on f-chat suggested that it is essential to meet the owner (when buying an expensive supercar) and understanding various aspects of the car directly, as well as through investigating personally the documentation, odometer-related records, maintenance trail. This is an essential part in understanding the quality of the car on many dimensions. So maybe you are correct by saying ‘simply a personal passion project’…
To be fair - IMO - DK is one of a kind. You could always send the car there, as I know others in the US have. They're familiar with your car
