What I like so much about this article is that it's Real Journalism not re puked PR fluff.
I agree whole-heartedly with Gerald (and with most comments here). But one should not be offended or even surprised by the factory wanting to make a profit--or to maximize profit. That's what corporations do; it's their duty to their shareholders. Just because we love Ferrari's products (or at least some of them) doesn't turn the factory into a charitable institution. It ain't a perfect world!
I also agree most wholeheartedly. By the same token, though, no body is holding a gun to my head forcing me to keep paying outrageous prices for EVERYTHING! Old Porsches and new Miatas are looking better and better everyday. Dale
Ferrari is now a lifestyle company, not a car company, we owe Gerald for reminding us. I sold my "newish" ferrari years ago, and never missed it for a moment-it wasnt as good a car as the BCGT which replaced it.From time to time I have an interest in a 599, but would never buy one because I have no interest in dealng with any of the people I would have to deal with if I owned it. The classiche program will eventually be recognised for what it is-an attempt to force the owners of the old cars which the factory ignored and offended for 40 years, to now sign up to be offended again.It is hard for me to believe that there will be many takers, but then ....... Malcolm the dinasaur.
Well said, old friend. Well said. Somehow it does take the passion out of it. Glad you're safe, if down under. Call me when you get back. Dale
I, for one, applaud the factory for starting this program. I don't see any advantage to having a non original but 40 year old engine from another car vs a new, from the factory, engine. I would rather have the factory build me an engine for my car, specifically, than use one from another, older car. Sure, there are problems with the program. Sure, the factory and FNA are difficult to deal with at times, but imagine Chevrolet doing a program like this for its Corvettes and what it would be like. I just think they will need time to get all the bugs out. There seem to be a lot of rumors, too, that are floating around. I will have an open mind about it until I personally see something bad happen. George
Well done, Mr. Roush. I'm also impressed by the candid opinion of the Ferrari dealer. My 330 hasn't seen an authorized Ferrari dealer in a long time, and it won't any time soon. It certainly won't see the Classiche program. It will go to professional, competent mechanics instead.
I would not let the factory owned dealer in my area touch my car. I do not think they could take a wheel off properly. The factory wants the dealers to get involved with the certification process by taking photos of the car to enter into the confusing program they created to download photos. I would not trust them to put my car on a lift.
Ferrari has naturally evolved into a company where today the car business is no longer the most valuable part of its balance sheet. It is the "name", the Ferrari life style conceit, where the real revenue potential lies. Remember Charles Revson (CEO of Revlon) in his book "Fire and Ice" "....we sell hope, not cosmetics...."? For Ferrari, its Puma and similar deals enabled them to sell clothing items and accessories at margins unimaginable in comparison to their output as mere metal benders. A typical Ralph Lauren item made in the third world for less than 10 dollars FOB USA, is sold for hundreds of dollars in malls across America and, there is no mechanical liability, no warranty fights, no pains from packs of purists screaming at them. Today, control over the Ferrari marque is everything, and nothing is too small to escape their lawyers' notice. Publications that for decades used the slightest image of some part of the Ferrari marque have found themselves with cease and desists. For us Vintage types, this is an interesting debate but, with little consequence. For the new car desirees this is awful, they really believe Ferrari actually cares that they, purists, get their cars, little realizing that the glamour and bling gang will always take precedence. So to in the past you might say, but you would be wrong. Ferrari the man had to sell cars to afford to race, selling to princes and movie stars brought him what is called today earned media (that is free press coverage) which made that easier and cheaper. Ferrari the conglomerate has to sell cars to the right people to continue to add bling to all the accessories which bear high prices merely because somewhere on it is a "Ferrari" or a "Cavallino". These lines are marketed to those who do not want or can not afford their cars but do buy the high concept lifestyle conceit. Berretta is likely Ferrari the conglomerate's business template. Berretta is the oldest company in the Western World, after 400+ years of making the finest guns, Berretta now makes more money from their clothing and accessories line, seasonally themed around their coined lifestyle. The new Berretta magazine is even named "The Berretta Experience". Guys, Enzo is dead, really dead. Let's stop fooling ourselves.
Michael, nicely said and spot on. We enjoy it for the cars. We should leave it at that and not pretend everyone else (read the majority) is in it for the enjoyment of driving the cars. For anyone who whats to read an excellent book on this very topic, the selling of "life-style" rather than our idea of selling a product, the book is called 'Deluxe'. (http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-How-Luxury-Lost-Luster/dp/1594201293/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2257527-8485529?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193744601&sr=1-1). Robert
Way to go Michael (and you seemed so mild-mannered when I met you Saturday :>) ). I agree whole heartedly, the bling is the thing for Ferrari today.
Sam and Michael Michael has very eloquently expressed my views on the subject. It must be something about C4 owners, as our cars are not highly regarded by the vast majority of the Ferrari community but boy are they fun to drive, with a noise to die for. I visited the Classiche Dept a few months ago and was amazed that it was so slickly marketed, with image a very high priority. Anyway thanks Michael for expressing my views so well. Cheers John
There seems to be a lot of pent up anger among the old dealers. For dealers performance standards have a different meaning than 0 to 60 times or top speed. Mr Roush spent a lot of the story covering the position the dealer has been put in by Ferrari. No product for many good customers and Ferrari twisting the blade by dumping in new markets they keep an iron grip on. Thus maintaining the illusion of a rare car. The Ferrari factory didn't even want expansive pictures of the assembly line that might give the impression of a larger enterprise cranking out too much product. As long as the order books are always full the games will continue unabated. Just as with lambs going to the abattoir; the result is inevitable, when seller and buyer don't toe the party line at every turn. CH
Classiche will make the Nouveau Riche (China Russia) feel more comfortable to buy the vintage Ferrari that they know nothing about!
an expensive Ferrari will be bought upon inspection, imo. I do not think that program will make that much difference. I doubt someone will buy the car sight unseen just because it is "certified.
Interesting comparison to Berretta as they have moved in this direction in the last decade(I love my 60's So3). Most luxury brands go after the lifestyle dollars because it is so easy. Trick is not to cheapen the image and the bling set is one way to do that in short order. One difference with Berretta is that even within their core product line of firearms, they sell mostly pistols and automatic shotguns at reasonable prices. The special order line has always been just that. But they have also recently been pushing their boxlock guns with wood and engraving upgrades at prices they used to sell the more complicated, desirable, and more expensive to produce sidelocks. Style over substance. Ferrari helped sell luxury products through Symbol and Rosso so they figure why not their own. Now, if K-Fed gets out of his bling-bling Ferrari wearing a Berretta quilted jacket and tweed driving cap (turned sideways of course), I am in big trouble!!!!!!! All that being said, I think the Classiche program is a joke. The big dollar vintage cars are all documented now anyway and if not, Ferrari's stamp would not mean much to me and I think we know for a price, they will replace themselves and stamp as authentic.
