Bradan Razza Pura

The Razza Pura is a total reimagining of the classic Ferrari 550 design, down to its most basic components. Inspired by a void of what we consider truly remarkable modifications in the supercar market, this thoroughly modern build takes cues from some of the most celebrated vehicles in Ferrari history – the 250 TR, 250 GTO, and the Daytona to name just a few.

While modern Ferraris have never lost sight of the company’s illustrious history, the newer cars have been built to adhere to the limitations of mass production and broad appeal, at the expense of some of the more nuanced and intricate features of the older models. These classic designs were true driver’s cars. Still, though the older models posses a charm and distinct road-feel renowned by driving enthusiasts, they tend to be more difficult to drive and are somewhat unreliable by modern standards. A balance had to be found.

With the Razza Pura, Bradan has incorporated the character and beauty of the classics, while incorporating a modern sensibility and state-of-the-art technology to produce a car the likes of which have never before been seen. We invite you to follow us through the process of taking on this challenge, and learn of the challenges and innovations that come with reinvigorating a classic.

The Razza Pura is planned to be completed for the Palm Beach cavallino classic.

 

Stage 1: Body Scan
The first step in this ambitious project is scanning the base vehicle upon which the Razza Pura upgrade will be built – the legendary Ferrari 550. This process precisely collects the body geometry and lays out a computer blueprint for the team to use to reverse engineer the car from scratch.
Reference dots are placed across the surface of the body, which are used as anchor points for a 3D scanning laser. The laser-scan provides measurements accurate to a thousandth of an inch, and outputs a rendering for our engineers to evaluate. Additionally, the computer model allows for simulations and aerodynamic testing, providing scores of data for more precise and detailed analysis of the vehicle. The process is a true twenty-first century approach to coach building, creating an exacting and reproducible precision that simply wasn’t possible with earlier hammer-on-wood methodology. While it does make one appreciate the work that went into building vintage models, there really is no comparison to the results modern technologies have borne.
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Stage 2: Engine Removal

While the surface modifications are important, the true heart of the beast lies within its engine. The stock engine must be removed and stripped bare by our technicians, to be analyzed at every facet. Stress points must be found and eliminated. Weight must be reduced where applicable. Power must be ramped up wherever possible.

The particular engine being used for this build has 17,000 miles on it, and fortunately showed only two major issues; excessive wear on the OEM Nikasil liners, and hot spots on the liner, cylinders, and some of the block’s casting. Interestingly enough, however, we discovered that the cylinder heads in the engine were perfectly hand-ported, a feature rarely seen outside of Formula 1 vehicles. Typically, these cylinders heads and exhaust ports have rough casting marks that decrease flow, but here, one can see the care put into the Ferrari design.

From these observations, our team will carefully craft a plan from which to approach this stage of the build. The engineers must maintain a balance between the limitations of their raw material with their ambition for this aspect of the project. It is imperative to figure out exactly what can be done to improve the engine and the overall performance of the vehicle at this granular level of the car’s mechanics before proceeding.
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Engine internals. Notice carbon build up on pistons.
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Detailed block/head photos.
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