Is Ferrari confiscating and crushing replicas?

I have heard and read rumors to that effect... Terrifying really; that a private company can compel a government agency to confiscate and destroy private property composed of lawfully obtained components merely assembled in a way that replicates another object. Especially if it is a "one off" replica. I can maybe see a mass produced item being under such scrutiny but not a compilation of rare genuine components.

 

Yes they should - but mainly when driving to Italy. Italians really do not have a sense of humor when it concerns Ferrari: http://austriantimes.at/image/9768/news/Around_the_World/2009-10-26/17544/Car-ushed

 

By the way, the problem here is that the owner was using Ferrari badging. If it were just to "resemble another object" then it would not be as bad, the authorities' case would have been a whole lot more difficult.
They say imitation is the ultimate form of flattery, but apparently you have to do it better than this guy did. Sad story in so many ways.

 

Well then someone should tell them they actually have a 250 California replica in their own museum in Maranello, they would probably destroy it right away...

 

FWIW, and , IHMO....
As outrageous as it sounds, they are well within their legal rights to petition for such orders, in principle, to protect "intellectual property and trademark protectiion" concerns.
As far as current legal thinking goes...any owner can do with as they please, anything, to any ca, whichr they own...so the re-body of a GTE-while offensive to some-is completely ok-legally-as Ferrari MADE the car-nee frame(!)-, and you as an owner, may do with it as one pleases...including, the rebody of it to "resmble" anything you so desire...but the chassis number clearly prohibits a "legal representation of that which it is mimicking.."

On the issue of "bits and pieces" cars-based on FRAMES NOT made by Ferrari-they are
completely within their rights to cry foul, counterfeit, and an infringement on intellectual propert/trademarks-an issue with which Ferrari takes extremely seriously....these days in particular...
They seemingly take particular exception with a firm in the UK, as they have muddied the waters on some extremely significant racing cars-or so the scuttlebutt goes-but at the time of fabrication of many of these "suspect cars," they were not nearly valued in the high seven and low eight figures which thery are currently trading at...this is the driving force in IP/TM protection these days....also the driving force behind the Classiche program(in theory, a GREAT idea...implementation has had some severe teething problems apparently?)

 

They have also targeted some outright fraudulent makers in Italy itself....

I think one would have to be pretty high profile to attract their attention...

 

Geeze guys, just get your replica Classiche certified and it's all good!

 

APEX:
The whole issue of Classiche, as it is currently configured, is that exactly such cars CAN'T and WON'T be certified....they WERE GTEs or 2+2 saloons...NOT SWBs, TRs, or '62 Competition Berlinettas...
They will NOT certify a 2+2/GTE, etc., with a re-pop body of the ones being alluded to-PERIOD.

Racing cars of the period, ones with multipole rebodies/wrecks, etc, are "white book cars" and a story of another ilk...and discussion in another forum....

 

Of course you're right. Ferrari doesn't give Classiche certification to such cars... they just put them in the Museum.

 

They apparently also invented the "partial certification", I think they used it for the 250 Breadvan. What would Enzo have thought of that?

 

I don't think he much cared where the money was coming from. Why would he now? Best wishes, Kare

 

I know some people have replicas built of originals, which they keep in the garage while they race the replica. I don't think there is that much wrong with that, it's a bit like copying a CD for your own use. That's also legal
Especially wonderful if built to a high standard such as by this company: http://www.hietbrink.com/

 

Yeah, the Breadvan is Type 2 certified, it is "A Ferrari Of Historical Importance".

 

I think Ferrari, if this is true, would be in a ridiculous position. I can only imagine them going after the 156 Sharknose...Jan, hide it!

Rather pathetic attitude, when the Cali spider is on display at their place...
I think I will call the Squadra Mobile in Maranello and have them seize it.

Regards, Alberto

 

......and if the police did, that would be the funniest thing to happen in this century.

George

 

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If Ferrari were smart, they would forget about fakes and start making the 50s and 60s classics on a bespoke basis.

 

Exactly, create two new companies, Scuderia Classico for chassis and bodies, and SMF (Specialisti del Motore del Ferrari) for engines, and then start selling cars as Turn Key Minus, to get around having to certify them for the road. Kick those South African GT40 guys right in the Webers.

.

 

I've been saying this for years. It would certainly help stem the tide of the butchery of 60s 2+2s . . .

 

Think about it. With all the demand for classic "reproduction" cars, there would be plenty of buyers. Factory made with same specs as originals. How much do we think they could get for a "new" 250 GTO or Testarossa? Honestly there would be a small, but very wealthy client base paying at least 10x over the average modern F-car IMHO.

 

The trouble with this is that the owners of original 250 GTOs (or original TRs, Californias, or whatever) would all come entirely unhinged, and justifiably so, at the prospect that even one more genuine, certified GTO in the world would cause the value and cachet of theirs to plummet.

 

Ferrari would only care about upsetting those customers if, and only if, they stopped buying modern Ferraris.

 

Exactly. Personally I think it would be very bad marketing. The fact that some of these classic Ferraris have a certain kind of magic to them in style, value and rarity, gives the marque its pedigree. Ferrari making replicas or reproductions or whatever you would want to call them would undermine part of that magic. I think that would cost them way more than they will ever make on them.