I Predicted!!! Manual Conversions < F1

Some modifications can greatly increase value…if the factory blesses it. Michelotto comes to mind

 

So I bought and old school 328 and I love shifting it. But I wonder, if I'm 18 today, and in advancing years I get the money to buy a "classic" Ferrari of my youth, would I buy a manual?

Probably not. I've never driven a manual. I'd get in it and wonder why all the fuss and work when I just want to drive it. Why do I have to learn this and deal with this?

Lets face it ---We are dinosaurs and the meteor is headed our way.

 

I was in my 30s and just starting to be able to afford by dream cars, but never learned to drive stick. DCT cars were already in full stride at the time.
I knew I had to learn to drive stick if I was ever going to get any classics, which I found more visually appealing than anything modern. So I bought a 993 to learn on. I haven’t considered buying any dct/auto cars since

 

I am going to flip the conversation for contrast. It used to be Corvette guys paid top dollar for original cars and turned their nose up at modified. Today a restomodded Corvette pulls a premium over an original. This holds true except for highly rare versions like L88 or ZL1. If you touch those then you're just stupid. So what I am pointing out is the contrast between the two bases. It seems to have flipped and will most likely flip again.

 

The corvette (classic American muscle car category) is COMPLETELY different from exotics. For every reason… the buyers/owners, the values, the purpose, everything is different. Poor analogy


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There seems to be a different psychology among European sports car enthusiasts. Originality and preservation are key. If you have an original, time-capsule 328 with low miles, it is likely a $150K++ car at this point. Drop a Chevy engine in the back, add some expensive Recaro seats and top of the line aftermarket rims and ... good luck getting a third of that when you sell. If a buyer wants a Ferrari, he/she wants to feel like it's a purchase off the showroom floor.

More recently I'm back in a classic 911, and the concours Preservation Class makes obsession seem like an understatement.

 

That is why I said for contrast. It use to be all about Bloomington Gold and it is to a point. But when it comes to value, the retros are pulling the money bigly.

 

You lost me with putting a small block in a 328. Whoever does that, provided the car is in good shape, is an idiot.

 

I've participated in plenty of Ferrari FCA Concours and they ding you for anything non-original.

I did two Porsche PCA concours in the normal classes (non-preservation) and they just did not care about originality at all. As long as mods look appropriate and not gaudy, they just don't care. Most of the other Porsches participating in the concours were very modded. It's literally just a "cleanliness" contest with them reaching deep into the engine compartment with a white glove (I did very well with that).

As an example, I didn't have time to change my winter wheels out before one of them (car was otherwise spotless) -- the winter wheels are aftermarket alloys and I "knew" I would get dinged -- but they didn't care about that at all. On the other hand, my original options sticker under the front trunk had a slight stain, and they said I should scan it, clean it up the stain with Photoshop, print a new one and replace the original. It was very disheartening.

 

I'm a hard-core originality guy in every respect, but in a Ferrari, I prefer manual so much over F1 transmission that I would violate my own originality rules buy a properly (correct parts) converted Ferrari over an original F1.

I've owned two F1 transmission cars -- I get the competence of F1 -- but it's just not as much fun (also I've found F1 to be a bit of a nightmare to live with when there are issues).

To me, it's good news that the converted cars don't command a premium over original F1. It sounds like a bit of a financial blood bath for those who went through the conversion process though (if it's not a "forever" car for them).

 

Preservation class is a different animal.

But my broader point was that unmolested collectible cars are valued highly. Their numbers dwindle over time. If there was a general sentiment that inefficient old carburetors should be replaced by sophisticated injection systems, we would all be breaking out the pitchforks and torches to save the doomed 512BBs, for example.


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The problem is how do you know if the modifications were done well? What if something goes wrong? No Ferrari dealer will work on it.

 

I know Ferrari wants to stay out of this, but I honestly think these modded cars pose a risk to the brand, so my hope is that they will try to take control of this trend by offering something like a $100-150k factory-blessed conversion for a few models (F355, 360, F430, 575, and 612) under the Classiche banner.

I'm increasingly uneasy w/ the custom code and use of non-factory parts. I really liked the idea of the conversions, and some early ones were even exciting to see built out here - but now I see a bunch of people selling them after very few miles, and it doesn't feel like speculation, it feels like buyer's remorse.

 

The converted manual 599 drives great for me... what an experience.

 

Ferrari dealers WILL work on a converted car. The transaxle engagement is still mechanical.

 

Yes, Trev spent a lot of time developing the software. The 599's V12 does just fine with the converted manual and ECU updates.

 

Some like chocolate and some like vanilla. You have your truth, others theirs. Some drivers want cars with nanny systems, others want direct engagement. So that's that.

 

I see why you are banned with such ignorant comments....

 

Your opinion is worth exactly _____? 1 and 2 are empirically incorrect for manual conversions so far, and I believe so in the near future. Obviously, you have not driven a manual conversion of a 599 or 575.

 

Good. If manual conversions don't go for a premium, it'll be easier to get one. But I want a 612 manual, which isn't a real valuable Ferrari anyway. Paddle shift vehicles just don't do anything for me. There's no way to fix that.

 

Maybe Straman conversions are the proxy for how well these manual conversions will fare. Real Daytona Spiders trade at a significant premium over the tin tops. Even though the Straman conversions were top notch, these cut cars trade about the same as the hardtops.

 

It is my understanding the original manual 599s left something to be desired. The ECU updates make all the difference.

 

FCA does not judge dirt. We expect you to drive the car.