Source for Factory 328 Ignition Key Blanks

When I acquired my 328, the original ignition keys had been lost and I am working off a set of generic keys provided by a lockshop. But I would like to get a set of the original "hinged" black plastic ignition keys.

The local Ferrari dealer advises that these blanks are no longer orderable. In their place are non-hinged blanks with near-circular black plastic tops and a tiny chrome cavallino inset on one side. I gather these were originally made for the 348/355 and are supposed to retrofit the 328.

However they don't, quite. The groove is a hair off, and the blank is a little too long. When I had one cut, it works, but only sometimes & sticky. The generic key works smoothly.

Anyone know a source that might have those original 328 key blanks? Thanks in advance.

 

That looks like it, all right - Thanks!

BTW This is the ignition key immortalized in the Automobilia book on the 328/Mondial 3.2 thus: "... The ignition keys, however, are as ugly and depressing as usual. Unmistakably Ferrari, sure, but 'poor' compared with what Porsche and BMW offer ..." The same review goes on to label the absence of a glovebox in the 328 as "scandalous", but at least expresses relief that the car has an analog clock instead of one of "today's hateful digital clocks".

 

Well, I got two of the folding-blanks from Daniel Pass of Ricambi (a very nice and helpful gentleman, BTW), but they turned out not to be usable, as they are for the Testarossa (designed for 2-sided, not 1-sided cut). He doesn't have the 1-sided hinged blanks, so I am still looking for them.

As for the round-headed keys with the silver cavallino on them, there remains a question about them. I have a couple that were cut exactly the same as the generic key that came with my 328, but they work only sometimes, and often sticky. My locksmith showed me the differences in the slotting of these keys and the generic one, and thinks this is the problem. (He has not examined the actual ignition lock itself yet, which is the next thing on the agenda.) I would rather have an ugly key that works all the time than an elegant one that only works sometimes!

I have fired off some queries to other Ferrari.com sponsors about the desired blanks, and will check eBay as suggested. Any other leads I would welcome.

 

Got another of the "F50" (black near-circular head with silver cavallino) blanks and this time had it cut from a computer reading of the key code in the car's warranty booklet. Works perfectly.

It would seem that this should have been done previously. However, when I took the "generic" key which came with the car to an earlier locksmith, he checked the computer code and said that it bore no relation to the cuts on the generic. So I was back to working off the generic, and apparently cutting the factory blanks using the generic as a source was a no-go.

The solution was a different locksmith who evidentially did not have his head in rectal defolade. Even so, this new locksmith looked at the computer-cut key and said, for whatever reason, "This doesn't look right to me." (Not that he computer-cuts Ferrari keys every day!)

Anyway, problem solved. Pretty key with pretty cavallino.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions.