Prior to '97, only cars that were prepared by the racing team in some way got them. Then Ferrari probably decided to cash in on all the posers sticking them all over their cars and made them a factory option.
And by their latest financials ferrari merchandise adds 60 million to their bottom line and I think yoshi ET al received strongly worded letters from the home office.
I'm partial to the cheap magnetic ones. Sometimes I like them on, sometimes off. If I put them on crooked, it pisses off the pperfectionists. My wife is ADHD obsessive-compulsive. She goes nuts when one is crooked. Sometimes I give one to a kid. Sometimes I feel like a nut. Sometimes I don't.
Si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi. Because I live in the United States, I place these static-cling vinyl decals on my Ferrari when I take it on the track... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bruce - where do I get cheap magnetic ones? I removed my metal aftermarket shields from my black '99 355 because I thought they looked cheesy but if I had magnetic ones I would stick them on once in a while.
To each his own. I think they look great on some cars, but I've removed every set of stick-on shields that have been on cars I purchased. I think they look fine if factory applied or maybe on a race car. As I said, this is an area that depends on the taste of the owner and I respect that. I certainly don't look down on cars that have stick-ons any more than I might look down on a Lambo owner with a neck full of gold chains for example
Before anyone points out that my avatar picture car has shields, that photo was the first day I owned it and they had not "fallen" off yet!
Pete, yes it was those cars that were partially developed by the Scuderia, but if that's what you mean by "prepared" then basically you're spot on. The "SF" is obviously "Scuderia Ferrari" which was pretty elitist and used the shield to differentiate cars it had developed from 'normal' Ferraris. The Scuderia were heavily involved in the development of the 250 GTO and 330. The 348 I've posted is a 348 Challenge (resisted throwing up a GTC, too obvious) When the Challenge cars were developed the Scuderia was also involved, albeit in a much smaller way. Actually many of the aspects that were new to the 348 generally were taken directly from developments by the Scuderia which is why it's introduction saw the largest leap forward in on track performance, and reduction in Fiorano track times, in Ferrari's history. I digress but anyway that 348 can certainly wear them with pride, as the Scuderia was involved with the development of the 348 you could argue others can as well. The Daytona, or rather this Daytona, is the odd one out, at least I'd be surprised if I'm wrong. The Scuderia were only involved with any development on 16 cars, not the basic road going ones. The ones the Scuderia developed that I have seen all had different side windows to that (yes plexiglass but they had an additional window pillar of some sort, two different types). Given the huge worth of the official 'Scuderia Daytonas' I would be massively surprised if they were not all in original condition. (If anyone knows this to be one of the 16, do let me know though) As Pete said, that all went out the window later, possibly because the Scuderia was working more closely with the main company but more likely because everyone started putting shields on their cars and Ferrari wanted to 'cash in', but it ceased to be an elitist emblem that only the Scuderia could bestow. So when someone says "My Cali can have shields, your 348 can't!" they are in fact showing their ignorance given the involvement of the Scuderia in the 348's history and development. The obvious retort of "Do you mean a Maserati one ?" while possibly accurate is normally best avoided
Sparked quite a debate this! Perhaps ill just get the cheap ones my Ferrari dealer sell and see how I get on with them before purchasing the yoshi ones. I have seen some later 99 F355 that had the shields from the factory but were they moulded into the wing like they are on say a 360???
I'd do whatever you like Harry. Just don't let guys with the newer cars say you "shouldn't" have them on your 355, they're missing the point and frankly just make themselves look a little silly. "Don't personally like..." is fine. "Shouldn't" (which no one has said on here, I don't think) is ignorant.
I wouldn't sweat it. They used to mean something, key part of that phrase is 'used to.' Now they're just another badge no different to the nose badge or grill cavallino. I'm kind of a purist so they won't go on my car unless it gets some challenge parts and goes to the track as that's the only way I wouldn't feel like a poser with them on. Even then I probably still wouldn't put them on. That should have no bearing on what you do with your car, do what makes you happy. It's just good to know what they (used to) signify.
The voice of reason agree totally. Off my soap box now just niggles when people say you 'shouldn't' when actually they haven't a clue what they're talking about
Think we called it F355 with Fiorano handling pack over here in the uk but basically the same car, I think.
interesting thread. thanks for the history lesson. Have them on mine but they've been on so long I'm not sure how faded the paint is underneath should I pull them. WHICH i have no desire to do to my speciale... my mother always learnt me, if you don't have anything nice to say, just smile and be on your way... (ok maybe not so hillbilly but you get the point) maybe I'll change my mind when I open my museum.
They were different cars, the Serie Fiorano all had the handling pack and were all spiders, 100 made, but you could get the handling pack on GTB's and GTS's. I believe the shields were available on cars other than the Serie Fiorano but maybe were part of the handling pack? Not sure if they were available on their own.
Thanks Pete. I think (though not sure) that the handling pack cars all had the indented shields as you say. We don't have the serie cars over here as you're probably aware, seems to have been brought in with the 348 for the US market only. Always try to see where those cars fit in when compared to ours (348 GTB/GTS vs SS etc) but it seems like there often isn't a direct correlation between the Serie cars in the States and any models we get over here. With the 348 they seem to fall sort in between our earlier TB/TS models and the later GTB/GTS.
So it wasn't an extra that you could have on your 355? I thought you could choose to have it from 97 onwards??
Thank you for this comparison research on the best badges to put on our cars firstly. But, 400 usd for a set. C'mon man wtf???
You're right of course Steve, British company seems to have a good supply of them and is cashing in. But I looked around for the best I could find, looked pretty extensively, and when I couldn't find better I went for them anyway. There again, in getting my car sorted I paid £1400 for a Ferrari specialist to do a full engine out cam belt service as per the Ferrari schedule. Just remind me what you guys pay
Agree. Very expensive. There are shields on eBay that look identical and made in the same manner for £160. I'm just reluctant to stick things on my 355 that are from eBay!?
