Replacement chassis: am I the only one that is nervous when reading that? | FerrariChat
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Replacement chassis: am I the only one that is nervous when reading that?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by bitzman, Mar 7, 2013.

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  1. bitzman

    bitzman F1 Rookie
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    wallace wyss
    #1 bitzman, Mar 7, 2013
    I just reviewed a book called Lola T-70 which is a narrative and has serial number by serial number listings of the cars. Good job. But I was shocked by how many "tubs" have been replaced, just as in the GT40 field. In the Ferrari field, I don't recall so many cars being described as having a replacement chassis. Of course I realize most old Ferraris have tube frames, and the Lolas and other race cars of the mid to late '60s have unitized chassis, but Iam I the only one who is wary of a car's pedigree when it says "chassis was replaced in such-and-such a year?" The author of the book told me that's normal and you wouldn't want to race a 40--year old chassis, especially when some race cars of that era had 1000 hp and can go over 200 mph.


    am I a fuddy-duddy (try translating that into German or French...)
     
  2. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
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    #2 Mitch Alsup, Mar 7, 2013
    There are numerous articles on the net where a shop takes all the rivets out of the T70 chassis one pannel at a time, and then rivets it all back together again. After a couple hundred hours of racing the rivets were no longer holding the pannels to the tubes with adequate stiffness.
     
  3. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
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    Ian Anderson
    #3 Fast_ian, Mar 7, 2013
    T70 was skin over tubes and not a true monocoque? I did not know that.

    As for replacement 'tubs' on race cars, no big deal. Generally easier to throw a new one at it than try and fix it. Even more so today with C/F tubs or course - Look at one the wrong way and it'll break. We used 3 (aluminum) tubs in the first 4 F3 races Andrea De Cesaris competed in...... IIRC, we simply moved the chassis ID plate from one to the next.....

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  4. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
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    Phill J
    #4 4rePhill, Mar 9, 2013
    When Ferrari repair a damaged Enzo and use a brand new tub section, don't they simply transfer the old chassis number over to the new tub rather than giving it a brand new chassis number?
     
  5. cheesey

    cheesey Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2011
    1,921
    #5 cheesey, Mar 10, 2013
    there are no rules or definitions of what constitutes original, restored, or recreated... they all hinge on a serial number of some sort on a part or ID plaque that can be carried forward to the new car... if the work was done by one of the top facilities, it becomes anointed, if done by a lesser shop it is reverted to junk regardless how high the quality of work performed... it is not unusual for parts to become separated allowing two cars claim to the same number... if it's vintage anything goes, the best hype wins, if it is a current car it's immediately relagated to junk status... there is a double standard, young cars must be virgins...
     
  6. WilyB

    WilyB F1 Rookie
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    #6 WilyB, Mar 10, 2013
    Vieux jeu?
     
  7. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    #7 James_Woods, Mar 11, 2013
    I believe that the T70 was in fact a true monocoque. If there were any tubes used, it was minimal, perhaps for front suspension or engine mounts.
     
  8. merstheman

    merstheman F1 Rookie

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    Mario
    #8 merstheman, Mar 11, 2013
    Napolis would know, he owns one.
     
  9. shill288

    shill288 Formula Junior

    Feb 24, 2005
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    Steve Hill
    #9 shill288, Mar 15, 2013
    You don't want to look too closely at a lot of the Ferrari mid-engine prototype cars then. Quite a few do not have their original chassis. Porsche 917s (tub) the same. Everything is just a spare part when you're racing.
     

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