Ferrari chairman Luca Di Montezemolo to quit after 23 years

....and Seth is a pretty good lawyer...

 

You guys want proof this is likely heading in a bad direction... have a look at the first line of this news article:

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140912/OEM02/140919935?template=mobile&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1

The fact this begins with Turin- home of Fiat- instead of Maranello- home of Ferrari- kind of says it all...

 

Right you are but is he the right person for this? I'm not sure if its yes or no.

 

I can name at least one; me.
I don't really care if the guy at the top is an aristocrat and wears a three piece suit.

The passionate people who actually design and build the cars are probably far more likely to be machinists and mechanics; you know, "sweater" people.
I've had a Ferrari of one sort or another for the best part of 40 years, and it's always been about the car. I love cars and I love driving, and it doesn't matter if it's the 330, TR-4, or VW Splitie.
About the only thing I dislike about being a Ferrari owner, is the pretentious, elitist attitude to be found all too frequently amongst fellow owners.

Would it be so awful if Ferrari were to build a reasonably priced entry level "Dino" to bring attainable ownership to a greater number of enthusiasts?
I think it would be far better if "Ferrari" were less concerned about image and more about substance.

 

running ferrari is easy . all you have to do is
- win a F1 wc soon. like next year. no way round it.
- do not build more than 10k units overall per year.
- make quality control perfect.
- do not rock the boat.

if sergio can keep his eye on the dollars, and leave the rest of it to those who run it now, we ought to be alright for a while.

if chrysler switch gear starts showing up in the next v12.....see ya

 

He just fired those who run it now.

I hope Mattiacci becomes the next LdM when Sergio realizes he doesn't want to play around with sports cars.

 

The Maserati TT v6 engine was/is their project and assembled by Ferrari. Can't reveals my source, but it's true and I believe it.

 

So wrong 330 4HL. I disagree with most of what you have said. There are many great cars out there that aren't concerned about image and are more about substance. A Ferrari is not that car....it is what it is. Every marque has it's snob owners. I saw that when I first joined the Porsche Club of America in 1973. That all is irrelevant to LDM running a business. It would be a very big negative for the brand. Again, it is what it is...

You imply that the "sweater" people are not important in some eyes. That is also inaccurate as they are extremely important to make the company go 'round. Just not the mascot, the figurehead, the salesperson. LDM was great at that and down the road this move will rear it's head in a negative way.

As for McLaren turning a profit "pretax". Pretax is always nice except it doesn't include the kitchen sink. In McLarens case, the kitchen sink is quite large. They lost a $32,000,000 ( as in pounds) in a tax case involving spying on Ferrari. They now will need to cough up some serious cash to the UK Upper Tax Tribunal. The case known, "Stepneygate" is interesting reading. Profitable...maybe not. FYI.....I'm not cheering this decision, it is just a fact.

 

with all due respect, we'll have to agree to disagree.
For me, it is now and shall always be about the car.

My sweater remark was directed to those posts pages ago comparing the two men by how they dress; which I think was particularly silly.
BTW, I met Mauro Forghieri at a concours in Paris a few years ago wearing a sweater MF or LdM? I know who I'd have dinner with.

As for McLaren, I assume that remark is directed elsewhere as I made no reference to them nor do I care if they make or lose money!

 

Nothing new or unusual, all the "priceless" classics from 70s and 80s shared switchgear with Pandas, 131s and Ritmos.

 

The FF had to be a sign that an era had jumped the shark.

 

And those of us keeping Ferraris of that era are thankful of that when sourcing parts.

The little bits and pieces are extraordinarily expensive to design and produce in small numbers.

 

Parody... it's fair use, Counselor.

 

Agreed.

 

The irony is Fchat is filled with complaints about FNA yet the LDM haters are celebrating the head of FNA taking his job.

Progress!!!

 

Sergio will do whatever it takes to save Chrysler -- even exploiting Ferrari's brand name to do it.

Who is there to stop him?

 

I think most of you heard by now that the legendary Chairman that's run Ferarri the past 23 years Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has resigned. He lost the fight with the Chairman of the parent company Fiat Chrysler, Sergio Marchionne who wanted Ferrari to boost production from 7000 units per year to more like 10,000 units. I'm really worried that the image of Ferrari will be harmed by Sergio Marchionne who can't make money selling $10,000 cars. Will he cheapen the brand by going the way of Porsche? Will he stop at 10,000 cars to 100,000? Will we be seeing hairdressers cruising around in a 30K Ferrari? I hope this day never comes. I strongly believe if the brand is cheapened then the value of the classic cars will also drop. Does anyone have a thought on this matter?

 

John Elkann, if he so desired.

 

Surely saving FIAT comes before Chrysler?
Pete

 

I think you bring up a very good point. Marchionne said at a press conference that he sees the market easily absorbing 10'ooo cars. He might be right but I think like you say, he will dilute his brand, and brand equity for Ferrari is a key asset. I think Ferrari might go well the route of Porsche. I don't see a direct correlation to the classic cars also dropping. The past is the past and they are not producing anymore. Ferrari history is too strong in order for the classic cars to be also affected in my opinion.

 

23 years in one day - YouTube

 

There are several threads about this (entire situation) already. Go to the general discussion area or to the F1 section. At least 3 threads about the departure of Montezemolo and potential outcome exist already on fchat.

Marcel Massini

 

in the context, deliberately intending to bring the marque into disrepute

 

that was ok then, but not anymore. there is no way that a 400k car should be sharing switchgear with some 20k chrysler econobox.

 

New cars have no correlation to the classics. When was the last time Ferrari made a cool looking car outside of a supercar? 458, 430, 360, 355, 348. Impressed by any? Not me. Oh, wait. The FF is fabulous! Haha. The dividing line for me is when Enzo lost interest, according to Brock Yates, circa 1980. They can dilute the brand til the cows come home. The legacy of cars pre-1980 is etched in stone.