Why is the F50 the only one?

An open top 288 would be just plain UGLY. That's why.

 

There are many decisions to be made when planning to manufacture a new anything. And primarily it's 'will it be profitable?' Styling and functionality are certainly considerations, so is manufacturability, strength, government regulation compliance, labor to build, serviceability, cooperation with sub-contractors, labor unions, etc. ad nauseum....

Styling is important, but it's not the overall driving force in design.

If one looks at the chassis of a 288, 246, 308, 328, Mondial, 348, 355, TR, 512TR and F40, one will see a strong family resemblance. It's so the car will make a profit.

With the 288GTO, it's a closed car due to (among many other factors) structural integrity and cost to manufacture, and certainly styling. An open car of tubular steel or steel unibody, whether targa or convertible, is tough to build as a strong foundation for power, ride and handling.

As for the F50, a true carbon fiber monocoque chassis, the strength goals in torsion and bending was easier to achieve. The F50's hardtop weighs about 28 lb.

Hope this helps,

Rob Schermerhorn

 

Hey Erik, I do love the way the F50 is open air. The Enzo for example most people will be using for track use anyway and I would guess the structure will be stronger without a removable roof. And safer perhaps in a high speed crash. I could be wrong though.

 

Definetly no !!! Look at this converted 308:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/251280/184354.jpg

 

im sorry thats ugly ! and thats not even a real GTO, j ust a 308.

 

the real reason is probaly because a barchetta style car is less rigid.
The main objective of those cars are to be fast, to handle beautifully etc...

They probably thought about doing an Enzo a la F50 but realised a closed car would be a much better solution in order to achieve their goals. A soft top would also mean either a storage space for a real top capable of resisting high speed cruise or a top as the F50's that cant be used over 80 mph.

 

I am not sure why they did not do it. Probably mainly economic reasons, but for the 288 GTO I assume it was not allowed to have a spyder or cabriolet in Group B!!!


Niels

 

the Enzo has +/-2000 miles.
I havent driven it yet ! so i cant compare it to the f40 but im sure it must be much easier to drive ! I hope i can give you an answer by April

 

YOU HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT???!!!!! Is he in another state or country?

 

1. The 288GTO was built for a series, the Group B thingy. Thus it is a real race car, and needed the roof because you do not track/rally an open car. If you track an open car it is not a convertible but like a CanAm car to gain the full aerodynamic advantage.

2. The F40 was an update on the 288GTO and while it was not produced for any race series, did end up performing well on the track ... again a race car.

3. The F50 was produced to give the F1 experience IMO to the owner, hence the carbon tub, the stressed engine and the open top. Performance was not the first consideration ... This was a common theme at the time and I think Yamaha even made (or where going to) a road car for the same reason.

4. The Enzo was produced ... hmmm, not sure why, I guess to show off ... but like the F50 JUST another road car ... but an awesome one though.

Pete

 

Yes lol..he's in NY , im in Paris ...

 

I beg to differ on the supposed "ugliness" of a 308/328 converted into a spyder. I was considering just such a car a few months ago, but the appearance was NOT a factor in evaluating the car. In my case, the car in question had some engine trouble, and the particular spyder conversion on this car did NOT have a folding top built into the car. You either attached a removable top and rode with it, or you left it at home in the garage. That's a bit of a problem if you got caught out in a sudden rain shower. Here's the car. I thought that it looked very nice.

 

Very well said. These cars were meant to be driven and driven hard.

 

Arlie, wow, that's GEORGOUS!

Bloody amazing. If I could have a snap-on top of some kind to limp home when showers started, I'd have that in a second.

Any info on the car now? How did it look up close?

Best!
Ben.

 

Those 308's need to be lowered.
That spyder looks like a rally car, 4wheel drive.

 

I thought the real reason the F50 was made into a targa because it is too noisy and virtually undrivable with the roof on. Incidentally the F50 seems popular in the USA, everyone I know who is envolved with Ferrari's in the UK thinks they are rubbish. A friend of mine who has been a Ferrari mechanic for 30 years and has worked on virtually every tipo made reckons its the WORST piece of cr*p Ferrari have ever made and that includes the 348. His favourite mechanically - the F40 and 288GTO!

 

Can't help but notice a couple of much less than enthused posts.
What data is there to support the 80 mph or POS comments?

 

I think he must be referring to the emergency soft top. I can't find a pic of it right now but it's rather flimsy looking.

 

Despite the fact the F50 was popular with Ferrari enthusiasts, it was not that well received among motoring journalists. It was criticised for not being much of an improvement performance wise over the F40, and the fact it was open led most people to belive the car was "soft" and not a true performance car.
As it was the flagship model, this was unacceptable to Ferrari. I don't hear anybody calling the Enzo "soft"!
BTW Enzo himself was not a fan of spyders, so you couldn't name one after him, it wouldn't be right.

 

It appears Mr. Skavros is using an emergency soft top for a brain.