Has anyone changed the look of a 456

The changes were for aerodynamics and cooling.
So in effect changing the look undoes the improvements.

 

i think this might have been discussed going the other way - putting m bumpers on a pre-m car. and somebody said that the attachment points are different etc. so i doubt it works.

 

Beside the lack of hood vents, the M bumper and hood (which was upgraded to carbon fiber) have a pointier nose than the 456.

 

I've been told by Ferrari of San Francisco at the time a factory owned dealership that the hood is a direct swap. But its function would be just for bling as the air intakes require the front grill to peroform differently than the older GTs.

So, I see little problem, assuming true on hood, to swapping as air intakes would be good to go, but the reversal of course not.

 

Not sure about the bumpers but the hood is $26,000 if you can find one.

 

Here are 3 and 2 are in the $3,000 range:


1995 Ferrari 456 456GT Front Hood Engine Bonnet | eBay

Ferrari 456 GT GTA Hood Used | eBay

Ferrari 456 Hood | eBay

 

The 456 reverse scoops hood is also carbon fiber.

I would not go for such changes in styling, unless perhaps if you start with a wrecked M. Even then it does not add value, and is a lot of work. I do not see the point. If you want the looks of a GT, buy a GT. Unless of course if you consider the M interior superior, then you'll have to go with what you can find on the market.
Bear in mind, the traction control of the M, same as on the 550, is not considered as terribly good, and the other modifications are not of the kind that you are to expect significant differences in maintenance cost down the road.
Wishing you luck with the search and choices.

 

I think both cars are beautiful, but have a preference for the look of the earlier car. And I had the impression that some of the improvements in the later car introduced new electronic gremlins, so buying an earlier car was an easy decision for me.

My advice, for what little it's worth: Test drive each and pick one, rather than trying to create a mix.

 

I was under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that the 456 hood was alloy, but I defer to those more knowledgeable.

 

Hi Allan, quite a few of websites and articles refer to the 456 as having alloy body panels including the hood; it's a common misconception that sneaked in somewhere.

 

There a carbon fibre Kevlar weave.
D.

 

Hi,

AFAIK my 1995 456GT also has ABS. But traction control is manual (right foot!)

Cheers,

Pekka T.
Fin.

 

This. There is an imprint under the hood, driver's side [talking LHD] showing the 'birthdate' and particulars: it is a combo of Kevlar and CF. At the time, as told me, this was the most expensive car implementation of such in the industry...today, find larger use of the composites.

as for the $30k vs $3k listings. The higher amount is for an 'raw'/unpainted and unfitted hood NOS price. The latter is salvage. Would be lucky to find one untouched, but they do exist.

 

The early ones have ABS, even if the Teves system is a bit cruder than later ones and treats both rear wheels together and fronts separately.

 

Daniel at Ricambi has them listed at $14.000, $20.000 with indents for shields.

 

I consider that a bargain for NOS, especially the latter.

 

I had a 456M GT which came from Germany with a small accident. It was used AS as a replacement for a totalled 1996 456 GT. In Norway, car taxes are crazy and because of this, the government allow people to "chassis replace" with another car (shall be as close as identical) and still use the same (old) registration number. So what the mechanics did was to put the hood, front bumper and retractable headlights from the 1996 car into the 1999 M car. I bought the car like this. So it can be done. I sold it four years ago, and the buyer just sold it to a guy who totalled it on the way home after picking the car up from the previous owner...

 

That is the worst news to hear on a Friday night. What a pity.

 

Yes, but it certainly qualifies being included under a thread about changing the look of a 456.