Fake shields, what's up with that?

I have magnetic ones on the Mondial; they look pretty nice.

I want to keep my TR low key for now, but would use actual badges on her. I figure since the aluminum fender won't take a magnet, I might as well spring for the real thing.

Maybe this guy is just trying the idea out.

 

I have no doubt I will get shot down over this but I thought that the shields were originally reserved for competition cars. Recently Maranello appear to have been putting them on some non-competition cars. But on most Ferraris they are non-original - this is why I have not considered them for my car. I have to admit that I think they look good and don't blame owners for applying them - just not for me.

 

I initially had the Decal type shields on both my cars but thought they just did not look good so I got the real metal shields they definately look much better.

 

I bought the cheezy magnetic ones just to see what they looked like and if I really wanted shields. I desided that I really didn't want shields. Besides I can take them off and use them on my lawn mower.

 

In my opinion, the last time Ferrari shields looked right and honorable, they were on an Alfa Romeo with Tazio Nuvolari behind the wheel.

 

Don't the real ones require a different fender as they are sunk into the fender? How is it that someone would opt for real ones after the fact? Just crush the fender with a hammer?

 

I got to see how the dealership's body shop installs the sheilds if they were not ordered from the factory. They cut out a hole in the fender where the sheild will go and build a niche or depressed area back behind it just low enough so that when the sheild is installed it sits flush with the fender. They were doing this on a carbon fiber 456 hood the day that I saw it being done. I asked the price and it was more than I would have ever considered paying. So, I'll stick with the stick-on sheilds for now. But, I sure would like to have a new set of the ultra thin metal/ceramic shields when they make them for my model car.

 

I bought the magnetic ones from Rutlands (really inexpensive) so I could better decide if I really wanted shields or not. It's a big deal to permanently attach something to the fender and then decide you really don't like it. Turns out that because they have some thickness to them they look very close to the factory ones and not like some POS sticker. In any case, some days I feel like a shield and some days I don't. I think I'll stick with the magnets - for now at least.

 

If they weren't installed at the factory, then leave it alone.

I've seen many Ferraris with stick-ons, or however they're put on, and it looks just like that - put on after the fact.

I can go either way regarding shields - yes, they look cool and add a more aggressive touch to the car, but at the same time, they break up that clean look of the fender's curves. Does a Ferrari really need another prancing horse on the side of the car because people might mistaken it for something else?

 

With all due respect... it is not "done right" if you don't have the "right" fender...

 

...what a poser!

 

If you want to add shields to your car, these are the ones to get. Superbly made, curved to fit the fender of your model, and applied by 3M tape.

http://gallery.bcentral.com/GID5103105-Home.aspx

 

I bought my Testarossa with the stickers on placed exactly in the same way as the authentic ones. I dont think they are junk at all when you have a Flat 12 monster in the back! From an eye point of view I cant really tell the difference unless you look very close. My 308 QV had the same shields.

 

But these are two models that never even offered them as factory options, so to me, it looks even more unusual. You immediately know they are fake.

 

The last thing a person has on their mind when they see a Ferrari is the shields.

 

BADGES, Badges!!!! We don't need no stink'en badges!

 

In the 1940's and 1950's, the "shields" were found on competition cars only...and they were DECALS!

 

I have a ferrari book at home that shows a 246 dino wearing the biggest shields Ive ever seen! They fill the entire space between the wheel and the door and are about a foot high. I laugh every time I see the picture and if I was the author of the book I would have barfed on the photo and not put it in the book at all.

 

I disagree. It's often one of the first things they will ask about when they look the car over.

Gary

 

What is a fake shield? Is a decal shield not a shield?

Isn't the shield an artwork? Some cars have the optional metal shield installed at the factory. Some cars have decal shields, no? What kind of shield is on the F1 cars?

If someone wants to apply a decal or whatever kind of shield to their car, why would that matter to anyone but the owner? It still represents.

G

 

cig1 is right...the "real" ones were painted on the Alfas, early Fcars too!

To each his own, I don't have 'em on my cars but they add realism on my racing karts, painted in F1 livery.

I use NART logos on my cars, that's accurate for United States owners! LOL!

 

You are also correct, in that the 'bubble style' plastic ones, as well as the flat plastic appliques are genuine Ferrari Factory items, with logo printing on the backing paper!