Ultrarare Classic Ferraris confiscated by Guardia di Finanza/Italian IRS

A superrare Ferrari 340 MM Spider Vignale chassis #0284 AM, a red 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta, a 275 GTB, a 599 GTB Fiorano, a 458 Italia, a Lamborghini Miura and a Murcielago, a Porsche 996 and a 997, a Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America and other classic cars have been confiscated by the Italian Guardia di Finanza (IRS) of Bologna and Parma from a dealer based in Parma, Italy. Also confiscated were 435'000 Euros in cash, 176'000 Euros on a bank account plus 61 rare wristwatches. It appears there has been some sort of a scheme with cancelled registrations but cars were not actually exported and just remained in the country without tax paying, use of payment methods that cannot be traced, and use of bank accounts in countries with special tax privileges.

Bologna, sequestrate dalla Gdf auto di lusso e d'epoca a un commerciante - Il Sole 24 ORE

Marcel Massini

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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 ?

 

I remember well in June 1997 during the 50th anniversary meet in Rome, Italy, there were two very similar 750 Monzas with the same chassis number, standing nose to nose, at the same place, at the same time, everybody scratching their head, until the authorities/Police showed up.
That probably wasn't about money but rather about the same number.

Marcel Massini

 

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

 

Was either confiscated or did both got to go home ?

 

One had come from northern Italy, the other one from Switzerland.
The one from Switzerland had been overstamped in California ages ago.
It was a real Monza but using a wrong identity (the same one as the car from Northern Italy). Again, that was in 1997. In the meantime it has been sorted out.
And also, again, I don't think that was a money/tax/fiscal problem but Italian government/authorities showed up in Rome, at the meet, early morning and nobody was happy.

Marcel Massini

 

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.

 

Once again: Everything is outsourced, especially bodywork and paint, they use at least five individual bodyshops in northern Italy.

Marcel Massini

 

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.