Given The Size Of The USA Why Is The F-40 Still At The | FerrariChat

Given The Size Of The USA Why Is The F-40 Still At The

Discussion in '288GTO/F40/F50/Enzo/LaFerrari/F80' started by 512Tea Are, Feb 7, 2008.

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  1. 512Tea Are

    512Tea Are F1 Rookie

    Apr 22, 2004
    2,742
    Dear American Ferraristii Comrades,

    Whilst being gently wafted along the motorway in the Rolls this afternoon quietly enjoying the Ferbruary sunshine, I became alerted to the enormity of our English colony of The United States of America by the broadcaster on a mid-afternoon wireless programme. He mentioned just how large the market was for motor cars and how the American car industry supplied such an inordinate volume of pick up trucks. The programme was most interesting, but it struck me that considering the size of the market place the F-40 remains remarkably inexpensive. Accordingly, my question is: Given the gigantic size of the market place the F-40 does appear to be remarkably good value and it left me wondering why this should be so. For example, there are only circa 216 US F-40's and I would have thought that this in itself would have driven the price, particularly that the European F-40 is unavailabe within The United States Of America.

    With kind regards,

    512 Tea Are
     
  2. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2004
    4,781
    Michigan
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    Paul
    Don't worry. F40s and the other supercar exotics Ferrari has made will be worth sh*tloads in the future.
     
  3. StoryBook

    StoryBook F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 1, 2003
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    MPL
    Graham.............."inexpensive" is a relative term. That said..........for anyone who has followed the market for any given time............they are definitely on the rise. For most, including myself..........they were "expensive" then, they are "expensive" now.........and will be even MORE "expensive" in the future.
     
  4. Tipo815

    Tipo815 F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    3,565
    Newport Beach, CA
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    Jeffrey
    Although 216 US examples were imported I highly doubt even 200 still exist on these shores. Over the years a percentage have been damaged or exported (many examples found their way to Japan in the early 90s for example). I would speculate that at perhaps as many as 10% to 15% of the original allocation no longer exists on these shores.
     
  5. DM18

    DM18 F1 Rookie

    Apr 29, 2005
    4,725
    Hong Kong
    And you used this precious time and all too rare time to reflect on the size of the market place in your former colony now economic master? What a waste!
     
  6. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
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    Tom
    Take the amount of the motoring poplulation, that can afford to spend 500k on a car, and your choices shrink dramaticly. There are only so many people who will spend that kind of money on a car. Even if they have the dough they choose not to.

    I know many people that could buy any car they want (any number of Enzo's for example) but just are not "car people". They drive a minivan, or a domesic auto of some sort. They spend their money on houses and cottages and collect art or other things.
     
  7. DM18

    DM18 F1 Rookie

    Apr 29, 2005
    4,725
    Hong Kong
    That argument applies to all countries big and small. There should still be more people in the US than anywhere else as the car culture in the US is advanced. The US consumer at all levels is the global powerhouse. I am in Beverley Hills now and was talking to a few dealers yesterday - all anyone wants to talk about is the muscle car market tanking
     
  8. StoryBook

    StoryBook F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 1, 2003
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    MPL
    And as "developing" countries come "online".........the number of people chasing these cars will become greater and greater.
     
  9. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    Correcto.

    Joe
    www.joesackey.com
     
  10. Finitele

    Finitele Formula 3

    Sep 26, 2007
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    DIR
    The new markets of Asia are ripe with fresh money, but those people all want new Mercedes and BMW's, not old 20 year aged Ferraris with Japonese turbos.
     
  11. Tipo815

    Tipo815 F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    3,565
    Newport Beach, CA
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    Jeffrey
    Not yet. The wealth in the developing countries is "new money" aka the nouveau riche class. Most of this class wants to portray wealth through name brand acquisitions - Mercedes, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, etc. They have not developed "depth and knowledge" to appreciate collectibles, art, etc. It's only a matter of time though. You have to remember that 10 years ago this class barely existed. China's growth over the last decade has been staggering. India's recent explosion can only be measured in the last few years. It's a cycle that will undoubtedly bode well for the collectible car market in the future.
     
  12. DM18

    DM18 F1 Rookie

    Apr 29, 2005
    4,725
    Hong Kong
    Really. I have constant enquiries on my F40 in HK. A dealer and Fchatter brought an F40 to HK and it sold easily
     

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