Rebadging a Ferrari...can I do it?

Your Kermit avitar still throws me! Congrats on the new one!! My wife and I are about at the half way mark with our first.

Brian

 

Congratulations Sy! Two beautiful "packages" delivered in a short time. Enjoy them both.

 

Just enjoy your car Si and forget about the haters.

Technically my car can still be called a Modena [as on paper it is] and always will be but regardless of that little detail my cars spec is now beyond that of a stock CS, it has more CS DNA than Modena so my CS badge stays [see pictures] and it drives absolutely sensationally.

I have however so far stripped over 120kg's out of my Modena with startling results. I still have another 40kg's to go and in some places I am using more exotic materials such as a full titanium exhaust system. Most strads only lost ~70kg's because they have glass windows, stereo, xenons and some options) so thats significantly less than a stock Stradale improving handling and braking even more [yes its possible!].

This is not some all show no go replica, its a full on conversion. I have transplanted every last detail of the exterior aerodynamics package [as personally I don't like the modded look on F-cars], so that means all the CS bodywork and engine bay cf has been fitted. I've also fitted the entire suspension, brakes and engine upgrade package, afm's, cf airboxes, ecu's, the lot, and then upped the engine power further beyond a stock cs with some extra fine tuning [such as polishing the cf airbox insides to improve airflow] (my car dyno'd at 30+ ft.pounds more torque than a stock cs [on the same dyno], and only -40ft. pounds down on a SCUD!). The interior dash is being fitted soon to complete the conversion.

So in summary, I have more power than a stock cs, less weight than a stock cs and my favourate bit a 6-spd manual gearbox [by choice]. If you took a factory cs and retro fitted a manual box, is it still a CS? Tough question, Maybe not to some people but to others it still is, whatever they think I don't care, I'm smiling all the way to the Nurburgring!

In essence I took all the best bits of the factory cs thinking, added more power, stripped a whole lot more weight out [ (even fitting carbon fuel tanks from the Challenge car) and ended up with exactly the car I always dreamed Ferrari would build (but didn't), an even more hardcore manual CS. Downsides has been the time its taken to do (over 2 years) as I've done every last detail (even down to the enzo key) and the cost required to do it (substantial) but then since my car is a keeper I don't care about resale value or trying to convince anyone about my cars future value - don't care, built it for myself.

The only issue I've got now is the factory CS 'sports' driving mode of the ASR cannot handle the extra powerful torque curve and reduced weight [time for a reprogram I think...], kicking in anytime I get anywhere past 7,000rpm in any gear, always need to keep it in 'race' mode now to drive it and have fun. The acceleration is absolutely brutal, the braking superb, the handling surblime. Exactly what I wanted, Ok, I cannot shift as fast as the Transmission computer and paddles but my substantial extra torque and reduced weight more than make up for it.

Here's a recent picture... Nothing like a CS huh?
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^^ looks good

 

Couple more pics...
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IMO a manual gearbox 'CS' is the best combination ................ ............... I would do the same thing, as I cannot see myself driving an F1 gearbox ..... not even on an enzo .........

 

I drove a few auto Ferrari's, even a 360 Challenge car but didn't really get on with the jerky automatic and the loss of satisfaction of doing the gear rev matching myself! I'll have to try a Scud and see how its improved.

You can call an auto anything you like including an 'f1' (great marketing PR from Ferrari there btw). Try parking one and you'll see why I call it them the 'Frustrating one' not f1 !

They do at least work well on the track, especially for engine braking into a tight corner with 2 hands on the wheel but then I'm not earning my keep as a professional racing driver so don't really care if I'm a couple of tenths slower around the track doing the work [and being more involved in the experience] myself

 

I wouldn't put those badges on. It isn't a 348 Challenge car......period.

Anyone that knows you will know it isn't a Challenge car. Anyone that would appreciate what a Challenge car is will ask you about it and you will either have to lie (and get found out when they take a closer look) OR you will have to tell them it isn't and look foolish when you then try explaining why you put the badge on it.

Just leave your car be what it is......a nice example of a 348.

 

+1

If it wasn't FACTORY spec'ed as a Challenge, then it isn't a Challenge. Period. VIN# tells all. Plus, the only people who would actually care are other enthusiasts....

 

Complete and utter tosh!

None of the 348 Challenge cars left factory with racing equipment installed. All 32 tb and 13 ts model 348s imported to the U.S. for model year '94 were Factory Challenge cars, but all were imported in STANDARD 348 street trim[/]. They where then later retro-converted to Challenge spec cars (as were some Speciale's and earlier cars) by installation of the optional Challenge kit at the dealer. For those interested this kit was a delete option, saving you some $14,000 off the list price. Some decided not to take the kit, others took the parts in a box but never converted the car, and others converted and used the car only on the track, which avoided registration and luxury tax.

Some of the features of the 348 Serie Speciale carried over to the 348 Challenge (also known as 348 CH), such as Speciale paint, chrome Cavallino's front and rear, Spider exhaust, and the drop down main gear. However, the track reverted to 1578 mm (since solid bushings were in the Challenge kit) and the taillight slats returned, as did the standard seats.

The only difference between Factory Challenge cars and regular street 348's dealer converted cars was the amount of time required to convert a 'street spec 348' into a Challenge spec car. The factory challenge cars included carpet cutouts pre done for the roll cage (with mounting points already welded in and covered with leather-wrapped caps), mounting points for the five-point harnesses, aluminum pedals (found in the kit if purchased to convert an earlier car) and a larger heat shield. Some cars also had carbon brake cooling ducts and rubberized tow hooks, front and rear. This factory pre-prep allowed installation of the Challenge kit in about sixty man-hours, vs. 110 for an earlier car.

 

Having been close to buying a true challenge car from Ferrari of Beverly Hills (but did not, it was the wrong color for me) a few years back, I can assure you there is no way to tell. The only modification you can see in the car are velcro areas of the rear panel (in carpet) where the roll cage is bolted. Other then that NOTHING else is can be seen to the naked eye.

 

I will stay out of the 're-badging' issue ..... ........... but I will always condone optimising ones ride, using factory parts when available and custom/aftermarket parts of high quality to bring out better performance and reliability ........

 

+1 Thats something I agree with. Amen...

TBH, its probably better to De-badge the car if you make significant mods to factory specs...

 

Awesome signature there trev ...... those are words I do my best to live by !!

 

Egad, as if you weren't already enough of a perfectionist...

 

Well, not quite true. I have a 348 tb Challenge (#24 of 32). In addition to the roll cage mounting points and requisite carpet cutouts and leather caps, my car also has "348 Challenge" script on the rear deck lid, which is a dead give away. Other visual clues include a suede Momo steering wheel (looks exactly the same as regular 348 steering wheels, only in suede), and drilled aluminum clutch and brake pedals. Otherwise you're right, my 348 Challenge looks the same as any other (non-SS) rosso corsa 348 tb. Some cars apparently came with a Serie Challenge identification plate (located in the same place as the plate in SS cars) though mine didn't.

 

What about the heart, the engine?

 

What about your stripes? Are they gone for a while? That really set your car apart from the others.

 

LMAO! That is classic. Thanks for sharing that, you made my day.