Hey all! So…it appears I’ve started a bit of a, errrr..,”light scuffle” in another thread regarding the amount converted 575s potentially hitting the streets. If you have converted your 575 to manual, please chime in here with What you did (OEM, hybrid, pure aftermarket) Who did it, When (please include how long), and Any issues you had/have. Also - if you a considering a conversion, I’d like to hear what you are thinking re: method and what your concerns may be. Parts quality, job quality, cost, etc. I’ll start: OEM save for shift gate (which may soon change), Abacus Racing in Va Beach, VA, December 12 ‘22-February 6th ‘23. No issues. I’m not just trying to win an “argument”, at this point I’m genuinely curious because I don’t feel like there are THAT many people rushing to have this done, and it seems there are some very definite limitations. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong, so be it!
My life during COVID was manageable so my research was insane…. Here are just some of the notes from my phone. Soren’s conversion thread is https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/yes-i-converted-my-f1-575-to-a-gated-three-pedal-manual.544974/ GTO engineering in LA has done at least 3 The red with all the options ZFFBV55AX20129439 it also has Fabios full system. The other GTO conversion is 129483 that..Argento with shields owned before by pasofirm on fchat. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-ferrari-575m-maranello-21/ That GTO converted car sold to jcaspi1979 and he checked in on the value thread 1/3/22. Last GTO conversion is ZFFBV55A540134695 as for sale 7/2022 Scottsdale Ferrari black/tan modulars, Daytonas 2004 model Bought by fchatter rbp https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/gated-575m-hot-rod-build.674051 Universal has done at least 2 Universal as of 6/2022 has done 2 conversions with Oem parts a red one and one is xxxxxx dark blue one https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148603842/ TDF w/ Cuoio Daytonas is an ‘02 Red w/ Black Racing seats is an ‘04 Miles in the low teens 1x,000 No FHP or HGTC. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148624007 I really haven’t kept close notes on EAG in Texas. The first EAG 575 was an Argento with modulars We have @dhalperin13 (now Alicorn black with ALL of it including Fabio). Plus Super Car Dan just recently sold his Red converted 575. @458Lvr i know EAG has done others (I don’t have notes on if all of them are shafts or some or cable actuated. @458Lvr would know for sure. As this development continues to generally mature it sure feels like ExoticCars ie Wil deGroot is the shop to use. Not sure exactly how many he has done….his personal original 612 converted is on BaT right now (I’m watching it) and his team has done @Qksilver @Mellow_Maranello (this is the highest order car in my opinion as one of only 2 HGTC 6MT’s that I know of in the USA). @355michael @kvm ‘s car i thought ….was the original deGroot car from the magazine. That’s a LOT of notes. My wife has a lot of patience (I already own way too many toys that don’t get driven)….I love my 550 so much I can’t imagine selling it….so it’s more likely the one last straw before really upsetting my wife will be something exotic with 4 seats so I can take our daughters….perhaps a 612 or an FF…..prefer the looks of the FF (don’t need AWD)….my lust seems to be boundless….my wife’s patience not as much ;-)
Wow, you are obsessed So that’s, what…10, 11 here plus mine? PS - I fully support the family Ferrari idea…especially a gated 612!
Don’t forget those are only the ones I know about…I’m sure there are others. As I mentioned on the other thread, given the investment in R&D and equipment….it would make sense for EAG to sell or sell&install as many 575 conversions as possible.
To the OP, did you change the cowl around the steering column too? If so, how easy was it finding those bits? It’s little things like that that my OCD wouldn’t cope with.
I did. Even had the VIN plate for the old one affixed to the new shroud when it was refinished by StickyNoMore. Couldn’t live with it any other way. I don’t think it’s terribly easy to source those things. Brogenville can tell you better than I can
Thank you! As you say, OCD (I am 100% diagnosed, card-carrying, haha!) But…God is in the details, and this thing is nearly a religious experience!
One of the main issues for RHD car conversions is the manual gate is in a different location to the F1 control panel, so a new centre console is required, which is unobtainable. Before I bought my 575M manual, I was going to convert an F1 but knew it would be impossible to make it look factory. The first photo is F1, the second my factory manual, and the third a RHD conversion with a modified console, which I couldn't live with. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes, that would do my head in having to look at that each time I drove the car. Here’s a pic of a car converted here in Australia, same result, no thanks Image Unavailable, Please Login
Just for fun…. For discussion purposes…. Reducing the US number for accidents and conversions…..perhaps there are…..425-ish F1 575’s left of those imported? What percentage of the F1 cars remaining ultimately get converted over time….half?….a quarter? Every time a 550 dies a 575 or 612 gets its wings…
I don’t know…you know, the 575 is not necessarily a model coveted by collectors, so the sales prices for F1s are staying pretty reasonable. That puts them firmly in the first Ferrari or attainable Ferrari category, which is not necessarily populated with hard-core enthusiasts. Then there are those of us who LOVE the model for various reasons, can’t find or afford (or both) a factory manual and are insane enough to spend the time and money required to convert to have what we want. I think it all comes back to just how large that last group is, and I’m juuuuust nooooot suuuure there are too terribly many of us.
No light scuffle or argument, this is a discussion forum, you opened up the debate on the other thread by questioning the content of a post of mine, I responded that's all. Fchat only represents a small minority of 575 owners hence also only a minority of converted owners, even so quite a few have been identified already, just take a look at pics from the EAG facility, plenty sat in there waiting their turn.
I'm hoping to do a longer write up soon covering my first 2.5 years and 5,000 miles with my 575. My car was converted by Wil De Groot and team (Tommy) at Exoticars in NJ. I got the car back this January (roughly 6 months door to door and actually work probably took them 2 ish months). They are great to work with and I highly recommend to anyone looking for top quality work. Parts are mostly OEM except I have a chrome Hill Engineering shift kn*b (I bought for when I was planning on EAG conversion...) and I think the shift stalk they use looks a little longer than most OE 575s so maybe that's aftermarket but I like the 250 GTO style of it. Ultimately I don't care about OE vs Aftermarket and if EAG was a reasonable business I'd have no problem with their approach provided it works and you get a OE gate and use shift rods. In short I couldn't be happier with the conversion. F1 575s are awesome but gated 3 pedal setup is a darn near perfect car for me. Image Unavailable, Please Login
OMG! I have been trying to do this and then I worked out a way with my painter at work who used to own a panel shop how to do this. This is going for final paint and fitting today! Beyond pleased with the result! Image Unavailable, Please Login Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I think that third photo is a poor job. Surely they can do better than that! Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
The hard one to match is going to be the cowl for the 599. I am thinking of doing it in black as Ferrari botched their match anyway! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I’d have to check the invoice, I’ll dig it out later. Not sure about time. It just kind of melted in to the rest of the process
