Original & Standard OR Modified?? | FerrariChat

Original & Standard OR Modified??

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by stevej33, Feb 18, 2004.

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  1. stevej33

    stevej33 Karting

    Feb 16, 2004
    76
    Lincoln, UK
    Full Name:
    Steve Jollands
    Im just in the process of a full restoration of my Mondial of 84' vintage,
    and my question to you all is this.......

    Should i keep the car 100% standard for the sake of originallity,
    OR
    Give the car more modern look, with bigger wheels, newer bumpers etc...

    Im keeping the mechanics std, to aid reliability but im just not sure which way to go!! Its never going to be a 'show' car, but i dont want it to look 'sad'!!
    (ive seen some nasty attempts to improve them)

    Anyone any idea how many 3.0QV's are still driving round in the UK??
    I guess there cant be that many now.......

    I think std!! anyone got any better idea's??

    steve j
     
  2. ric355

    ric355 Guest

    Dec 21, 2003
    1,375
    I prefer to see Ferrari's original and standard. Fiddling with the proportions by doing stuff like adding larger wheels just spoils the look and clearly isn't what the designer intended.

    Just my opinion of course - each to his own etc etc.
     
  3. catswhiskers

    catswhiskers Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    16
    Nottingham England
    Full Name:
    Mick Worrall
    For what it's worth, I agree. Standard and original. I still have the original TRX wheels & tyres on my 308 and dont see why they should be changed. Apart from anything else, its still cheaper to buy new TRX tyres than it is to replace the wheels and tyres, so why bother.
    Just my opinion.
    Mick.
     
  4. stevej33

    stevej33 Karting

    Feb 16, 2004
    76
    Lincoln, UK
    Full Name:
    Steve Jollands
    I think std is the way to go...
    ive just been in the workshop today (the last 5 hours) working on it,
    and im leaving it as it should be, as near to how it left the factory 20yrs ago!

    anyone else taken on a full restoration themselves??
    its amazing how much there is to do when you start... im now into the 9th month, but i see daylight at the end of the tunnel! another 3 months to go then...

    steve j
     
  5. tonyh

    tonyh F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 23, 2002
    14,372
    S W London
    Full Name:
    Tony H
    i think you're right to stay original too...any pics of your project, pls?
    Tony
     
  6. stevej33

    stevej33 Karting

    Feb 16, 2004
    76
    Lincoln, UK
    Full Name:
    Steve Jollands
    Only just got a digital camara for Chrimbo........
    i took some at the bodyshop, when it went for paint, and i'll try to load
    them on later! The poor old car had been repainted 5 times in 20yrs BEFORE
    i stripped it (none for accident damage though) twice in the original blue,
    and three times in red. The last attempt must have been done with a sandblaster mixed with paint!!! some people.......

    steve j
     
  7. F308 MAN

    F308 MAN F1 Rookie

    Jan 19, 2004
    2,907
    Isle of Man
    Full Name:
    Dave S
    I go with mick.....i still run 14" XWX's (from [email protected] ....fast, efficient and good old fashioned yorkshire service).
    Imagine the endless hours some design chappy spent at his drawing board (anyone remember them ?), and the subsequent delight, once the boss had agreed and proven his details ?......no, no, no, please don't go down that road and shag up all the engineers hard work, original is best.
    david
     
  8. stevej33

    stevej33 Karting

    Feb 16, 2004
    76
    Lincoln, UK
    Full Name:
    Steve Jollands
    I think i'll have to get them there' recondition'd wheels and new TRX's
    out of the garage, and onto the car.......
    Am i correct in thinking that the 308 had 14" wheels, unlike the Mondial,
    which has 390mm rims?? why is that?? was it seen as the way forward
    in the early 1980's??

    steve j
     
  9. catswhiskers

    catswhiskers Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    16
    Nottingham England
    Full Name:
    Mick Worrall
    Steve,
    I dont know the exact time line but I think I'm right in saying that early 308's Fibreglass/carburettor started life on 14" wheels and as the model moved towards injection, TRX 390mm rims became standard (mine in an injection model 1981 ) I dont know whether 16" were introduced with the QV launch or not but someone will no doubt have all the relevant dates.
    Mick
     
  10. stevej33

    stevej33 Karting

    Feb 16, 2004
    76
    Lincoln, UK
    Full Name:
    Steve Jollands
    whilst we're on the subject of 240 390TRX tyres, my parts chap at work
    say's he can get me OE tyres for £250+vat........
    Does this sound resonable?? I havnt had to buy any new ones yet!!

    steve j
     
  11. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    I agree Steve. Good enough for Enzo is good enough for me. Cheers, MARK
     
  12. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    I agree Steve. Good enough for Enzo is good enough for me. Cheers, MARK
     
  13. Philjay50

    Philjay50 Formula Junior

    Jan 16, 2003
    595
    Chester, England
    Full Name:
    Philip
    I have priced up 240 TRX's and the price is about the same. Dunlop do a 230
    for about £160.
    That is the way I think I will go.
     
  14. prancing

    prancing Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    20
    UK, Hertfordshire
    Full Name:
    Gareth
    Hi,
    I also like to see classic cars standard...But I also think items such as wheels and tyres could be changed for something better looking or for better handling / performance reasons. It's a personal choice and if you keep the original wheels to sell with the car then it will be completely original again. I restored an old TVR "M" series, the old 70 profile tyres made the car feel old to drive when the chassis was far better, so I changed the wheels and tyres to a larger TVR style (14" to 15" wheels) and a lower 60 profile tyre. It was amazing how different the car felt,and the tyres where cheaper!! I kept the original parts also.

    Happy Motoring
    Cheers
    G.
     
  15. catswhiskers

    catswhiskers Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    16
    Nottingham England
    Full Name:
    Mick Worrall
    Steve, On the subject of TRX tyres, you should contact Longstone Tyres in Doncaster. They recently quoted me £160 each on 225's.
    I think 308MAN included their link in reply number 7 of this thread.
    Best of luck.
    Mick
     
  16. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
    NW Kent
    Full Name:
    Stig W
    I'm a latecomer to this particular thread, but I'd love to stick my oar in!

    There are a few factors to consider here.

    Firstly, there is no doubt that devaiting away from factory spec affects resale value. Resale values after all are merely controlled by what potential customers are prepared to pay. Ferrari owers are, on the whole, a fairly conservative bunch, especially those of us who own older cars, so anything that deviates feels somehow "wrong". So at a deeper level, we feel that if it wrong "wrong" to us, then how did it feel "right" to the person who modified the vehicle?

    Secondly, whilst in fifty years of Ferrari evolution little will have changed in the mechanical science of levers and pivots, much has changed in the science of materials. Tyres are better, brakes are better, dampers are better, and the myriad hoses and pipes are also better. So doubtless changing these can improve an older vehicles handling and reliability. I have seen threads pouring scorn on people putting silicone hoses and polyurethanebushes on their 70's Ferraris, but at the end of the day, it's a practical consideration, and doubtless if Ferrari had any of these materials available, they would have used them. Similarly, later cars have astoundingly effective brakes, and I'm sure if these had been availble, they would have been fitted. Changing wheels is a good reversible mod.

    So, one need to pause before modifying and ask oneself what ones objective is. If you do not wish to effect the maximum liquidity of your asset, keep it original. If you want to improve it's reliablility and handling, then modify wheels, hoses, etc under advisement of the many specialists around. But if all you want is to redecorate you car to look like the Batmobile, and it's something you feel strongly then do it, and don't let the "originality" police tell you you can't.

    It's your toy....

    Stig
     
  17. robinh

    robinh Formula Junior

    Jan 3, 2004
    622
    Cambridgeshire, Engl
    Full Name:
    Robin
    Big oar Stig but a very good summation. I agree with all of your points but add that if you are looking to sell your car once the job is done people buying it would not like to see the basic car changed but most would tolerate things that add relaibility unless they are really wanting concourse and if they want that, provided your car can be made that way for small amounts of cash let them replace more relaible parts (hoses etc) for original
     
  18. sletti

    sletti F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Nov 19, 2003
    5,084
    NW Kent
    Full Name:
    Stig W
    Robin,

    I have respect for the person who has the courage to do something "mad" with their ferrari. This goes as much for factory mods like your "bumblebee" interior or Andy's "Challenged-up" 348, as it does for the coachbuilder who refinished Frank Sinatras Lambo Muira in orange metalflake, with a light blue boarskin interior (I suspect not a factory option, but sounds fantastic).

    BTW, what will be the colour of your stripe?

    Stig
     

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