550 body shields: can they be retrofitted?

Call Luc Grondin 305-494-8772.

 

Anthony- Very expensive since the originals were inletted into the fenders and then attached with studs and bolts plus 3M double side tape. Several thousand dollars to do the inlet, repaint, and purchase OEM shields.

There are very good thin metal and enamel reproductions available now that cannot be distinguished from OEM unless you are very close. Plus they can be removed easily if you change your mind.

 

Anthony- Real ones sit in a depression. I do not think I ever cared enough about shields to save any photos, but I am sure someone has some. The good ones are for sale above in Ferrari Parts and Collectibles.

 

Anthony- Affirmative, Jim's quality is really high. Lots of happy owners. His shields are as nice as Yoshi's were.

 

To each their own, but enamel badges that are not recessed look much worse than no shields at all. Even though the badges are high quality, the fact that they're sitting on top of the lacquer and are quite thick makes it look cheap, Just my humble opinion, to be ignored as seen fit.


Onno

 

Here's an example of an aftermarket shield (no idea who made it) sitting proud [sic].

P.S. I found the image here...

Used FERRARI 575M Maranello in Exeter GB
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I agree, the above looks "wrong"...i'd rather have nothing than this

what about having it hand painted under the lacquer, as they use to do it in the 50-60's ?

 

And OEM recessed...
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With no shields the 550 looks so elegant. It is after all an understated, chic, v12 grand tourer not a race car. You should enjoy the fact that it has no shields.

 

Not only will the cost to do it correctly be high, it will probably actually detract from value when you sell the car, as it is not a factory installation. And the surface mounted ones may look nice enough on their own, but they just look wrong on the car. And if you decide to take them off....then what?

 

I believe the price for doing this has been posted previously in this section. You will have to do a search. If I remember correctly, it was quoted as $5K but that was a few years ago. There is a shop in California that does it. Requires embossing and repainting of the fenders. I know of at least one 612 that got this done. Looked OEM to me post the embossing. Would either spend the money and get it done right or else leave it as is, imho.

 

If you really have your heart set on shields, it may be cheaper and easier to change cars. There may be someone on this forum that wishes their 550 had no shields...

 

At some stage down the road I will be getting the indents cut out, the badges don't do anything for me. I will be de-badging my car totally. It is such a nice shape and I know it is a Ferrari. The artist still gets a plug however. Re-consider!!
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Nice looking Maranello

 

For the record...

The factory shields mounted within a recess still stand proud. The recess is about 1.5mm deep and the factory shields are about 3mm thick so they stand proud about 1.5mm. Well made aftermarket shields will stand proud the same amount.

 

Thank you Terry! Happy Holidays!

 

That may be...but it's pretty obvious once you get to within ''touching distance'' IMO. General public won't know, perhaps not even most Ferrari people, but to my eyes it's quite obvious. And once you know, you know. Like finding out your girlfriend once had crabs. It may look the same but you'll always know .

 

I love your comparison, did you find out the hard way?