Ultrarare Classic Ferraris confiscated by Guardia di Finanza/Italian IRS

Bummer, the only certain thing in life is death and taxes.

Ben Franklin.

 

Based upon the two recent Italian confiscations of special Ferraris, I don't think I would want any of my cars at the factory right now for any Classiche work.

 

Or participating in public events like the Mille Miglia. When I drove my ex 308 in Italy once during the MM I was almost stopped by GdF officers, until they noticed the Dutch license plate. I bet they were waiting for Italian registered classics.

 

It seems like the best car Museum is about to be a Government Building. I wonder how much care is taken when these types of cars are siezed, I imagine not much and they are immune from responsibility.

 

If there is no resolution of the case they will probably be auctioned.

 

I can think of other reasons.

 

Kind of like the Schlumph collection or the Mustang Ranch in Nevada. IRS put the Mustang Ranch out of business they ran it so badly. Government cant even run a whorehouse without bankrupting it.

 

Brian: Yes there certainly are many additional reasons to never send a car to Classiche for any type of work. We have just finished "re-restoring" a 225 Sport that was a Classiche restoration. Probably one of the worst I have ever seen. The floor pans were attached to the chassis with silicone!. They left dozens of holes where the pans were originally attached and just stuck them in with lots of silicone. Bondo over 3/4" think all over the body. one rear spring installed with a broken leaf, and on and on.

 

And even the first won't save you from the second.

 

Now, if it wasn’t for these “recent Italian confiscations” would you send any of your cars to the factory for Classiche work ?

 

Dare I say it times were simpler then.....to some degree.

 

Was either confiscated or did both got to go home ?

 

I believe every word.

 

I was once at the factory Classiche dept., spoke with so and so. Delightful, until...

He asked what I did, and said I restored 2 Dino in El Salvador, and made body parts that sold all over the world,
looking aghast, said:

"Would you restore a Rolex anywhere but Switzerland ? " I replied that I had many restored in El Salvador
by a Rolex trained tech. that by then, he was about 80 years old. No reply, when I asked him, how many years experience he had.

After, and non-plussed, (and in Italian) he said that no Dino can be restored anywhere but Maranello.
Pompous ass. Typical Maranello cretin, as is Luca, whom I bumped into in Rome last October.
Knew him when we were both young(er), now, not even the neighbours like him.

You can get 'Communion' in other churches, but they don't agree.

Regards, Alberto

 

Thanks for the explanation and I'm glad the issue got sorted.

 

Why am I not surprised.

 

Was this very unacceptable work done by one of the Carrozzeria that Ferrari Classiche instruct to do their work?

 

Thats the Ferrari I know and love.

 

Steve: It was certified by Classiche and restored for a prior owner. I would assume it was "restored" by a outside contractor, as Classiche does not perform any real body restoration work themselves.

 

Thank you, Dyke. Could it have been the case here that Ferrari Classiche did not instruct/oversee this particular substandard work and just certified the car?

When they have been instructed to do a restoration, Ferrari Classiche in their videos do like to give the impression that they do the work themselves when they have merely overseen or managed it.

 

So Ferrari Classiche do nothing whatsoever of any restoration?

There also seems to be a trend now of certain clueless dealers managing restorations by these well known Northern Italian bodyshops, engineering/electrical shops and upholsterers. Not saying all are clueless, as I know one of them to be knowledgeable, but another most certainly not, and just having the gall and unfounded confidence to the point of being overconfident, to claim they have the expertise and knowledge they do not have.