Ferrari Modification? Get over it!

well, i always have wondered about lowering cars. If the car supposedly handles better why didn't it come that way from the factory?

 

Actually the Euro cars should come lower from the factory - at least they used to back in the grey market glory days...not positive on the Ferraris, but I thought US height regulations were higher than Euro, so I would think (esp. with adjustable suspensions) that it's pretty easy to dial up the Ferrari for US spec, likely we just have to dial it back down to the way they intended it. On Porsche and Bimmers, just the Euro springs alone are worth .5-1" and I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari had the same adjustment (no swapping springs, just lowering perches and re-corner weighting the car)

 

Hey, its very o.k. to modify, Iv'e done it both my P and F cars and all for the better.

 

Ground clearence if they came fromt he factory sitting a millimeter off the ground people would complain.

 

Any Ferrari is targeting a particular group of consumers and their preferences. They are built to hit the "average" person in that group. Some of us like the overall product but might want it to be more of this and more of that. Hence the modifications.

It is your car, do whatever you like.

 

Lets not forget NHTSA bumper and headlight height regulations. Ground clearance on a road car is a critical factor, esp in litigous USA.

To original post; personalization is great for those who want to, however IMO most modifications tend to take away rather than add to resale. No biggy if it is a keeper. To me the biggest downside is engineering. The factory engineers are pretty good (regardless of which manufacture your talking about). Sure you can boost the hell out of the motor, but you turn it into a hand grenade. Even if it does not blow up you add massive heat and wear and tear that are going to cost a lot down the road. Better to sell the underperforming car and buy one with the desired performance from the factory (again IMO).

Just read a couple issues of R&T or C+D where they test tuner cars. It seems that inevitably at least one of the cars fails to even complete their testing, and that is when the tuner is putting their best foot forward! - George

 

Up into the 70's modding the cars was very accepted, then the older cars started to become valued for their history and potential value. The whole resto craze started and modding became a dirty word.

People used to put 6 carb kits, cams, exhausts, bigger wheels, LeMans fillers, cold air boxes, or velocity stacks, etc etc on the cars.

Many 250's, 275's Daytonas, etc were restored back to original in the 80's from those sort of mod's.

Hey, it's your car, go for it. Old tradition in hotrodding up Ferrari's.

If the traditionalists give you a hard time just tell them your looking for a 166 to put a blown Chevy in.

 

Cosmetic stuff, wheels, and suspension are easy. With OBDII, electonics, etc motor mods are no longer simple. Ah for the good ol days (however I'd still have been somewhat of a purist). - George

 

"That thing got a Hemi?" I personally never saw a problem with modification. Make it your own!

 

They do .... look at Challenge cars

G

Me? .... I'm just a poser
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Definately, Look at Ferraris #1 customer the Sultan of Brunei, he mods the H out of many of his cars, even F40s & F50s

 

Speaking of modded cars, especially TRs:
Hey William, nice little letter to the editor in PH. If you had added a pic of slutmobile other readers would have written an irritated response...

 

Don't forget our buddy William with his race TR and chopped 512M????
Roland
F40LM

 

I don't think that I really need to say much, actions speak louder than words.

 

I think modding is fine... It's YOUR car, do what YOU want with it. Everyone else can go to hell. IMO, modding doesn't necessarily decrease the car's value (depending on the extent, I guess). If you had a Hamman or Novitec 360/430 and wanted to unload it, I see no reason why you should ask less for it - surely there is a buyer out there who'd rather have your Novitec car and be done with it than go through the hassle of buying a bone-stock Red/Tan 360 coupe and *then* adding the kit. To each their own, I suppose.

Another excellent example of when modding a Ferrari is not only not a bad idea, but it should be WELCOMED is with respect to the 308s. I live in CA, so if I want a 308, my choices are pretty well limited to US cars. However, IMO, there is no denying the better look of the Euro cars. What's the BFD with swapping out a couple bumpers/valences? It could easily be put back to stock if I wanted, but chances are I wouldn't, because I don't plan on ever winning Monterey in a 308 anyway... Why not enjoy the little car while I'm alive, and if the next owner doesn't like it - fine! Not my concern...

The same goes for those who paint the tops of 348s body color, or the bottom of Testarossas to make them look more like 512TRs...nothing wrong with it, IMO, as long as it's done by a quality shop.

 

There was a day that car companies sent the chassis to a specialized coach builder to construct a one-off body for a wealthy client. I remember back in the 60's and early 70's, you could pay a measly $100, order your GM car painted any color you would like, as long as it was within one of the product lines. Sadly, those days of individualism from the factory are gone.

Tom Meade, amongst many other custom coach builiders, was highly regarded and well received by Enzo Ferrari. Today, if your name is Eric Clapton, or some other famous Ferrarist, you can probably order your F430 lowered, custom colors, and maybe some specialized engine modifications.

I would guess that Ferrari has no problem with someone modifying their cars, look at all the tuners that somehow got their F430's quite early in the production run. Ferrari does have a problem with so-called replicas, or the use of the name Ferrari on unauthorized recreations.

Of course, there is no accounting for some people's taste, but if its yours, have a good time personalizing it. As for the older classic Ferraris, its like shooting yourself in the foot if you make irreversable modifciations. You are only hurting the ultimate value. The changes I am making to my Boxer can all be reversed, but I have no intention of selling.

William H's TR's are a good example of improving the breed. I never liked TR's until I saw his. But then the yellow F355 with the flower power paint job is another story.

 

Remind me to toss you my keys next time you're in town.

 

I actually was told by one of the Sponsors that modding a 360 engine to get more like 500 HP and 500 lbs of torque would "take away from the Ferrari experience..." I guess everyone's idea of a Ferrari is high revving low torque engines. Except the TR/512's.

 

"The changes I am making to my Boxer can all be reversed, but I have no intention of selling."

So what sort of changes are you considering?

After seeing pictures of a couple that had been lowered, in another thread, I'd like to drop mine down a little.

 

<searching Expedia.com>...and what town was that, again?!

Hell yeah, buddy!

 

That's it then, I'm going to keep the original window glass.

 

JTR:

The pictures you saw in other threads of a lowered Boxer are probably of my 83 512BBi. I had Carobu rebuild the Konis and make them adjustable. Additionally they changed the springs to drop the car nearly 2". They also did some paint work for me, painting red the mirrors, the roof spoiler, and parts of the engine cover.

I hope by next summer to have Carobu change the brakes to a beautuiful Brembo package they adapt for Boxers and Daytonas. This will require larger wheels, so I have decided to go with either 18" or possibly 20" Kinesis. From there, I will remove the stock seats, and replace them with Recaros or Sparcos. I may even replace the black leather and carpeting. Of course, a competition harness/belt will be added. I am looking for an original Pioneer radio and equalizer to replace the after market unit the prior owner added. I found that I have the best music coming from behind my head, so the radio quality is unimportant. I would like to also find a stock steering wheel to replace the Nardi after market wheel that is currently on the car.

I did consider for a brief time replacing the engine/trans with an flat 12 engine/trans from a Testa Rossa, but that will be $$$$$ too much.

Finally, I will have the entire car repainted the same red after all the paint chips I will get driving when the car comes back with the new brakes.

I keep the original parts, so everything is reversable.

 

Ron,
If that's your car, I'm lovin it!
Hope I'm not hijacking the thread but it Is about moding the cars.
So, did lowering yours change the handling characteristics for better or worse?
Do you remember what spring rates you used front and rear?
Any re-alignment difficulties?
I'd like to lower mine, and go with some 18" wheels as there seems to be a good tire selection of close to original height tires available in that size.
Stock, my car sits just a little less than 6" off the ground. Two inches lower would put it just less than 4"! Yeah, Yeah!
Any other difficulties with lowering that much, other than with the long front end overhang presenting lots of non-negotiable driveways to contend with.
But I only need to get up mine, and of course the one to the Gas Station!

 

I like to keep the car as original as possible. Why tamper with a Ferrari? The only thing I changed was the exhaust to a level 2 Capristo. Keep the wheels that came with the car!