Gents, I currently have a 360 spider, saw a beautiful 1995 456 manual 38K miles, deep metallic blue and tan leather - and I am seriously considering a change. The car has been sitting for the last 5 years, last owner has put less than 1000 miles on it in the last 6 years. When I saw the car the battery was dead, but the owner hooked it up to a booster and it fired on first turn.. and appears to run very smooth.... moderately reassuring. Passenger side window is misaligned, driver side is fine.... so I'm guessing at least 500 for a fix, I believe F1 in Naples Florida recondition the actuator mechanism..... need to see if there is anyone this side of the pond that does similar. Anyway having done a bit of research here is what I have managed to dig out as things for checking pre purchase. Can I ask you guys if there are any other things that are key: Windows - alignment and sealing Stereo system - apparently almost impossible to replace Engine - the usual engine leak down and compression test - I have heard various rumours of bad valve guides similar to early 355 cars - how much of this is truth? Engine cooling - a number of issues mentioned on this forum - anything in particular to check? presume let it run hot and see what happens Engine mounts - apparently if on the way out you get drive shaft chatter on the heat seals under the car? cam covers for oil leaks Steering rack - apparently not the strongest - ? Apart from the above - the usual check everything electrical to make sure it works I haven't driven one of these before, what should I expect from the gear selection - is it like all older cars with the usual second gear synchro consideration when cold? Is there anything I should be aware of when test driving the car - noises etc etc? Your insights would be appreciated. Thanks Tom
I would expect to replace the engine mounts and possibly other rubber parts in a 20 year old car. From sitting you may get rubber crud in your fuel system, although the uk may not have the ethanol in the fuel system as we do. Valve guides on the M series cars are more common from what I understand. If it is not smoking and the cat has done that kind of mileage you may be good to go. There are places in the US to rebuild steering racks. Do a search on the forum. Worth the shipping to send the window parts to f1. They do all the work on my 550. Scott
Look for CEL / Slow Down idiot lights. I had them when I bought my '95 456GT. To correct them, I had Scuderia Rampante's gold pin connector kit installed. Also, look for sticky plastic pieces on the interior, as well as separating leather on the dash. When sorted out they are wonderful cars.
Is the slow down light the same issue as the 360, i.e. the voltage converter green surface starts to come away from the black plastic and moisture gets in causing spurious high temperature signal falsely indicating a cat overheat? put clear silicone on the joints on both units on my 360..
I may get blasted for this, but oh well: Going from a 360 to a 456 is a step in the backwards direction & am I am not referring to looks or technology so much as I am referring to reliability. I know some people who love Ferrari, but refuse to buy another due to owning a promblematic vehicle. However, with most things, driving it regularly (at least once a week) is 90% of the problem. If this thing has been sitting and not received the appropriate amount of TLC over the past few years - I think you ought to pass and find one which has been driven regularly..
I'll pick that one up . A 360 more reliable than a 456? Hm, I don't believe it for a minute, especially not in 360 F1 form. Very different cars with very different characters and needs. And then, a 456 is a lot easier to work on... Back on topic, engine mounts are indeed important, if the engine sags the oil pressure sensor can hit the anti roll bar with very nasty and expensive results. Stereo system on the early versions can be a challenge though repair of defects is usually possible. Windows are supposedly less problematic on the Ms but can still sag, fix is reinforcement of the mechanism, changing plastic sliders and re-greasing. Mostly labor costs. Doors can have water ingress because of improper fixing of window issues in the past. Valve guides seem to be limited to exemplary cases, I have seen it on M and non-M. Luck of the draw so it seems. Rear shocks can leak. Linkage of rear valve height adjuster. Issues with headlight motors (corrosion internally because of limited sealing). Volvo/Bosch item. Spoiler motor on the early models is identical, with identical issues. Quite common but also quite fixable. Valve covers can leak if improperly installed (and sometimes even if they are ). This leakage can get on the alternator, making it problematic. Expensive brake pads on the early versions for no real reason (identical to Mercedes pads). The wire between alternator and starter motor (for charging) can chafe against the chassis and short circuit leading to rapid discharging of the battery, possibly a fire hazard. The bearings of the two lower cam belt gears (at the crankshaft) are a weak item, especially if the belts were overtightened in the past. This can lead to very expensive problems! Tensioner bearings, of cam belts and alternator/AC belts. Seat potentiometers going bad leading to seats locked in awkward positions. Seat pots can be fixed or exchanged (Jaguar has the same items) Wishbone rubbers can dry out Corrosion in wiring in the doors, leading to erratic window behavior (often incorrectly blamed on the window ECUs) Sticky items (switches etc) in the interior on the M models Cooling system is a tad on the marginal side and car can run quite warm in hot weather. Dash leather shrinkage. Don't let this list scare you, all older/classic cars have lists like this. It's part of the fun.
Probably a different reality here in the States vs. the UK.. Reason being; 456 is considered ugly duckling over here. There, not so much because you guys understand the historical and nostaligic meaning of the model. In America - it takes a real afficianodo to have kept a 456 up.
I've had two 330's, a Dino, a Boxer and a Daytona. Now I have a '94 456GT. Setting aside whatever problems you might look out for (and i have had zero problems) its a really great car, plain and simple. Its very comfortable and very reminiscent of the older cars. It has lines similar to the Daytona, and the layout is what a 330GTC would be if it were done today. Yes, the gearbox is balky in second. Its also very mechanical, and of course the gated shifter is beautiful. The seats are extremely comfortable, the power is great, and everything works. Maybe i set the bar low by comparing it to much older cars, which are the classics the brand is based on, but its a real pleasure to own and drive. I'm very happy to have it, and i've put 10,000 miles on it in the last year, with literally not a single issue.
I wouldn't say ugly duckling. I personally think the styling is very well refined, especially the early ones. It's a tad modest perhaps, but in a time where people frown upon flashy cars that is probably more a good thing than a bad thing. Plus, I love the extra seats - two seater cars may be a status symbol, but in real life it's mostly less practical and in a way less social, like having a house with no guest room. Just my opinion.
Having an early 456 in black I really question "ugly duckling"...it's true there's no disputing taste....But...Marc
Guys Guys Guys: I agree with you - looked for one before purchasing 550. Just couldn't find one well taken care of for the right price. Passing on opinions of other Ferrari owners. The nostalgia and appeal of not having to deal with a gearbox that makes you feel stupid (like most F-Cars) is why I sought one.
I am the type of fellow that does not relish a lot of attention; that is one reason I enjoy my 456GT. Oh sure, I get some thumbs up and waves, but the car's understated elegance and dark color doesn't scream out "Look at me!" as do many other Ferraris, i.e. the bright colored sports cars in particular. It all depends on what you want, and are willing to accept. This link, oft cited, could seal the deal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytQ4g_pR5sY Good luck, and if you do buy one, bookmark this site: great people and an unmatched wealth of info.
Sean- Like anything, it takes time to learn how to drive F1 smoothly. You just have to understand how it works and the best way to get the most out of it. The 456/456M is definitely not an ugly duckling. A duckling that has been ignored sometimes, but still pretty.
Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the valve problem related to the fuel in the 1990s in the States? In Europe, say Germany this is usually not an issue. Not sure about Ireland.
No, the problem was soft valve guides like those on the F355. Gasoline had nothing to do with it. Random batches of the valve guides Ferrari used all the way through the 550 came with copper content too high and the guides wore rapidly. Ferrari finally solved the problem with sintered steel guides on the 575M and issued a bulletin on installing sintered steel guides on the 456M and 550. Luck of the draw, luckily not affecting a large part of any model's run, with mostly good valve guides coming from suppliers. Ferrari fixed the problem on the F355 late in production, but never did on the V12s.
Allan- Affirmative, and yours happened at relatively high mileage. John's 550 has some pretty significant valve guide wear at ~15,000 miles. Might have run ok for a few years, but the guides would have needed replacing eventually. Now that he is turning her into a 600 Maranello, the guides are not as big a proportional expense as before.
Yes, US related - their is a lot more sulphur in US fuel - I'm sure that was identified as the cause. It is not a common problem on Euro cars
Incorrect, the valve guides were the problem. Had nothing to do with gasoline. Nice try, but not the problem. So if you think it is limited to US 456/456M/550s, no such luck. At least one Euro 550 owner (in Europe) wrote here that he had to have his guides replaced. The problem with sulphur here several years ago was with diesel fuel, not gasoline. That, too, has been fixed.
