Filed under: LA Auto Show, Time Warp, Ferrari
Ferrari's Classiche program meets the USA in LA
Although several months old now, the Ferrari Classiche program had one of its big coming out parties at the LA Auto Show last week. A beautiful 275 GTB sat at the back of the Ferrari booth, glowing as brightly as the modern 599 GTB grand touring cars out in front. One of the first Classiche cars, it was sporting a wholly new engine under that elegant bonnet. Similar to what Mercedes does at the Classic Car Center in Irvine, CA, Ferrari offers Classiche customers the chance to have their classic or vintage vehicle restored using factory blueprints, parts, molds and technicians to guarantee its authenticity.
Unlike the Mercedes program, however, Ferrari does its restoration and certification in Maranello. In fact, the 10,000 square foot Classiche facility is housed in an area of the factory that was previously a foundry. Certain service facilities around the globe will be added to the Classiche program, but where's the fun in that? Might as well have it done where the cars were born, right? Road cars that are at least 20 years old, or racecars of any year are shipped back to the factory, evaluated for originality and then accepted or rejected. It is expected that only a fraction of the potential customer cars will meet the stringent criteria for entry into the program.
Follow the jump for more info on what the Classiche program offers Ferrari customers and how it works...
If accepted, the car will be restored using genuine Ferrari parts from NOS or will have reproduction pieces made using original molds when possible. Think of it as the ultimate certified pre-owned program. With classic Ferrari values going through the roof in the '80s, many of the less desirable cars were unfortunately converted to replicate more valuable models. A program like this helps to guarantee that everything is copasetic when people go to sell their cars. The certification part is one of the more important aspects of the program, helping owners prove their car's worth and allowing the vehicles to participate in vintage events more easily.
But the Classiche program will do so much more than that. Jean Todt had given us a hint of what else is in store when he talked about the program at its opening in July. He promised that Classiche customers would have "a nice clubhouse at Fiorano." The idea is that the program will cater to Ferrari owners and enthusiasts and it will act as a country club of sorts. Vintage race support from the factory will also be available to participants. Finally, the Classiche program is also a sensible way for Ferrari to stay in touch with its classic car owners, who might not be known to new car dealers, and possibly selling them new Ferraris in the process. Keeping people in the fold, taking care of their old cars and helping them into new ones: that's the kind of synergy we can get behind.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tjodleiv 7:53PM (12/05/2006)
How much per hour.
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gkz 11:28PM (12/05/2006)
yeah... clearly money isn't the issue here...
more importantly - damn, that 275 is a beautiful machine
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carbuzzard.com 11:32PM (12/05/2006)
If you have to ask...
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Shaun 11:40PM (12/05/2006)
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/popup_print.asp?print=true&lPageID=3300&id=13060
60 Euro/hour... not bad.
S.
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oliver jacq 3:26AM (12/06/2006)
If you like Ferrari 275 GTB/4s, here is a rather special "survivor" with some interesting history and exciting ownership:
http://www.classicrallies.com/view_carforsale/34
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John riley 9:04AM (12/06/2006)
Rusty on my Italian... The ch in classiche is a hard k sound so it is pronounced the same as classic, right?
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Frank Filipponio 11:46AM (12/06/2006)
#6--You know, the Italians pronounce every letter in a word, so it would technically be KLAH-see-kay, but I heard more than one person in the Ferrari booth pronounce it classic. toe-MAY-toe, toe-MAH-toe, MOE-day-nuh, moe-DEE-nuh...I don't think they'll turn you away if you mispronounce it. :D
And regarding price, the information we gathered in L.A. suggests it costs about $7,500-$15,000 for shipping, evaluation, and certification, plus parts and about $80/hr for labor.
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Auto Parts for Brains 3:33PM (12/06/2006)
Ferrari owners are a rare group. I think that there as few members as people who can pronounce "Classiche" correctly. It is nice though that a program like this is made for such a select few.
Ferrari never was about money. Because who, if he were money minding, would buy one right. These cars are about class, and distinction. The same goes for the way it is taken cared of.
Kudos to you guys. And the 275 make me drool...
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chuck goolsbee 7:21PM (12/06/2006)
I'm just happy they didn't pick a red 275GTB!
I love them in silver:
http://www.goolsbee.org/i-old/forzamille/images/Tuesday/1967-Ferrari-275-GTB-4.jpg
--chuck
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Jack 1:25AM (1/02/2007)
I saw that 275 in person. Pics don't do it justice- it's gorgeous beyond words.
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