Need help history of this car - salvage F355

Where was it shipped from?

I see Euro lights and a steering wheel on the left hand side, but the speedo reads in MPH.

Isn't "B" a Euro car?

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Looks amazing underneath. Is there any sign of water damage to the electrics from the hole in the roof?

 

I believe it went to Germany originally and so will have however many kms in Europe before the odometer was changes to miles, presumably when it was imported to the US.

 

Yes, a friend saw it at a German dealer in June 2000. But, as Qavion pointed out above, it is a Euro VIN so you know it is not an original US car just from that.

 

June 2000. That's twenty years ago!! I told you I believe the car was new to Germany. Clearly it is a Euro car and clearly it was imported into the USA some point after 2000.

 

It’s definitely a Euro car unless someone did all this work to a Spider to make it look like a Euro car. I’m doing work to make my U.S car look like a euro car, so I’m pretty familiar.

Front and rear bumpers are Euro spec. No side reflectors. Wider rear license plate opening.

Amber center outer tail lights. I’m interested in buying if you’re interested in selling .

Side marker on front fenders.


Very high chance this is a euro car, not U.S delivered car.

 

IMHO, your bodyshop or mechanic should be able to strip down both Spiders you have and tell you which one is the better chassis. I'd go off that. To me, something is not right if a Euro 355 Spider ends up on Copart USA.

 

I Googled the VIN and one website suggested it had been vandalised.

 

https://autoauctions.io/public/23840925/1998-ferrari-spider

Vandalized the inside, but not outside? Frustrated Spider owner ?

I see a bigger than usual gap between the front of the hood and the front accent piece above the bumper. Could be something there.

 

Why's that? I have a euro 355 thats from Germany and it was imported to the states.

 

Without inspecting a car in detail, I'd simply naturally be skeptical. If a car was not that bad or at least it's history, it wouldn't need to come all the way to the U.S. There should be a market in Europe for it. Sometimes it's better for a car with an off history, but only known to locals to go to another country where a set of new potential buyers don't have a clue what it's been through ... such as the case here.

 

??? Are you assuming the car was shipped to the US after it was damaged? Maybe someone imported for their use and it and it was damaged at some time after.

Also front bumper seems to have been repainted.

 

Yes. I assumed it was damaged in Europe and was shipped directly from Europe to Copart. I guess my assumption could be wrong because I assumed the site I linked was not an American site, but double-checking, it appears to be.

https://autoauctions.io/public/23840925/1998-ferrari-spider

Even with that said, with the abundance of F1 Spiders in the U.S, who here thought it was a good idea to import a clean one from Europe? Still sounds fishy to me .

 

I agree, there is quite a few spiders on eBay now too. They are easy to come by.

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Maybe the guy who owned it lived in Europe and moved to the US or a member of the military stationed in Europe when he bought it. Someone said it was in Germany. Lots of US people in Germany.

 

One too many maybes for me for a car that ended up in Copart . It appears I mispoke again as this car is a manual, not an F1.

Unless the car was special, unique, rare, I have my doubts. 1998 doesn't pass the 25 year rule either (much less in 2020). Too much work imho for a car more abundant in U.S. He'd probably get a higher dollar amount selling in Europe and re-buying here. Might even have a problem selling the car here as it would be 49 state legal (if passed 25 year rule) at best.

 

The 25 year rule just say it doesn't have to meet US standards after 25 yrs.

Makes less sense that it would be shipped to the US after it was damaged.

Anyway, it is what it is. The buyer is happy.

 

So how can you drive it around if it doesn't meet standards?

The buyer is happy, but that's not his dilemma at the moment. He bought the "euro" Spider as a parts car to build-up his U.S spec F1 Spider he already had in Korea. Now his mechanic is telling him his "parts car" is in better condition than his "good car." And it's already a manual. He only needs 1 manual Spider. So which of the two should he put his efforts/money into ? He's trying to uncover everything about the euro Spider before making the investment to build it up. The last thing you want is to invest money in a car that was really F'd up (beyond vandalism) at one point. You'd have to dig deep to uncover a car's true history.


There was a controversial manual Diablo on BAT where the seller put tons of time/money into a car he believed to be a "good car." Others chimed in a believed otherwise. Seller claims he was never aware.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-lamborghini-diablo-5/

https://www.**********.com/forum/index.php?/topic/66122-monterey-blue-60-at-calabas-car-sales/

 

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If it's non conforming it must be brought up to US standards (FMVSS). Importing a Motor Vehicle | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

I guess he has to decide if he trusts his mechanic.

 

… and a good autobody guy .