Steve McQueens Ferrari being restored We all know there are looneys in this world and the previous owner of this Ferrari was one too. He converted a classic coupe into a spider, now the new owner is having it restored. It helps when the car was originally owned by Steve McQueen. I would hate to think what the restoration cost will be.
It wouldn't matter if it cost $300k to do it would still be worth every cent of it. I have heard of similar work on collectibles costing around $80,000 to do by hand but likewise the owner got way more than that when the genuine article was sold in perfectly restored condition.
He should be lucky to pay $300,000 I'm thinking a hella lot more than that. Similiar works by the factory range easily into the millions.Originally Posted by Redwight
Converted from a coupe to a Spyder and now back to a coupe?
Id say it would be worth less than a unmolested coupe, anyone with half a peanut brain knows its a worthless cut and shut job now.
I agree with Godzilla thats is NOT what it was and now only an interesting item mainly because of the Steve McQueen connection.
To me this would be no different if Ferrari had all the origonal moulds,plates and parts from 1968, it would still be a 2012 model.
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say, I just dont ever remember saying it !!
Guys these cars are as rare as hen's teeth and because its done in the factory it wont be your "Dandenong bodgy panel beater cut and shut" its value will be significant. But yes compared to a virgin coupe there may be some difference however this will be fully restored so you should compare like for like.
Being an Arm of Ferrari, (& giving Ferrari Authenticity Certificates) they would have to agree to all factory working procedures
Factory Measuring & jigging equipment, & full replacement of body panels, & fitting techniques, down to the same welding machines & welding techniques, & sealing techniques, even rust proof coating techniques, Paint & painting Techniques etc... (& pass Ferrari random Inspections)
If the Factory Authorized Restorer was ever found to be lacking in any detail....they would not be Ferrari Authorized anymore....
The Ferrari Factory Authorized Repairer in Sydney used to have to send people to Italy to be trained in Working on Ferrari Techniques every year, & had to Buy all the factory authorized Tools & materials they specified to keep their Authorized Ferrari Status,
So You should not be able to pick one thing between an original & a Factory restored one
Except, for the Knowledge of knowing the History of the car, & that in itself may effect the price of resale....
Last edited by OSIRUS; 14-06-12 at 02:24 PM.
Become a Premium Member and support the Austech Forum
Lets see, the car was cut where ever necessary to make it a convertible, window height was cut down to make it a spyder, most likely the chassis strengthened to stop it folding in 2.
Now you can add steel, will the whole section be removed and replaced as per original or will metal be added where it was cut off, are the joins in exactly the same place and is the steel molded by hand to the same jigs, do the original jigs even exist?
Will the glass used be the original one or a replicated or reproduced item?
Once a car has been butchered in this way and a attempt to bring it back is made, its never as the original item made by the original craftsmen, using the same tools, dies and imperfections that the original one had.
Even if Ferrari had all the original panels its still not the same.
Just like a uncrashed car is worth more than one repaired perfectly at the factory, the stigma will always be attached to that car as a repaired or re birthed one.
I understand where your coming from Godz and that applies to probably 99% of the vehicles you are talking about but as Osirus said and what I have read in other sites the workmanship is phenomenal at this location and I would not be surprised if they have original parts still stashed in their vaults. Another company that comes to mind is Aston Martin offer a similar service and who still have original chassis and bits which you could not believe still exist. Prince Charles got his aston done there.
Given Ferrari's rep I would not be surprised at the extent they go to rebuild this vehicle. Especially when cost is not a problem.
Last edited by myf360f1; 14-06-12 at 07:39 PM. Reason: typo
OSIRUS (14-06-12)
I still go with Godzilla on this that it isnt the origonal.
The only exception I would consider would be if Steve McQueen had the alterations carried out BY Ferrari back then and the vehicle has remained untouched since but then I would see a greater value in leaving it in the altered state than restoring it but only because Steve McQueen owned it.
The minute you replace ANY part,its a Restoration, just as Prince Charles had Aston Martin do for him.
Start fiddling around too much and it become a replica.
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say
Godzilla (14-06-12)
Ferrari Classiche Department
Ferrari Classiche was established specifically to provide restoration and maintenance services, technical assistance and Certificates of Authenticity to owners of classic Ferraris. Housed in the former Ferrari foundry, the Classiche offices and workshop, which cover 950 square metres within the Maranello factory, were officially opened by Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo, in July 2006.
It is Ferrari Certified Factory Original, Restoration & Maintenance, by Ferrari themselves.
Last edited by OSIRUS; 14-06-12 at 08:57 PM.
Become a Premium Member and support the Austech Forum
The fact that Ferrari has an enviable reputation for 'CLASS' when they built it origonaly and that they are doing the restoration on this vehicle certainly adds a 1000% over any other restorer makes this project way above the average but because the vehicle was altered so drasticaly, does anyone know who did the conversion back then?, regretably still reduces its 'Origonal' status.
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say
Gordon is on my wavelength, its not original, its certified as being brought back from the dead by the builder, as close as possible to the original, is it genuinely original? No
They can restore till the cows come home, they only value in this vehicle is the fact that it was a "certified" restoration, lets translate that in English, if you have money we at Ferrari want it.
Ferrari take the car, restore it, add their brand name department to the papers and put a price on it as though its gold plaited.....
Is the head lining the original? Id guess its a reproduction.
Is the leather from the same supplier? Id guess no. Id even guess the ladies that use to do it and the machines and threads they used are not even around any more.
Are the brake pads still the same compound made of asbestos? Id guess no.
Im betting its a modern restoration, not a original.
The one sitting under a cover, unmolested with cobwebs, matching numbers with the factory pistons and small casting imperfections on a standard bore with all the little casting details down to numbers, materials and aging paint is the real deal, not the one with a modern respray and reproduced pistons.
I could go on and on....
Would a rebuilt/restored Falcon GT HO be worth more than a genuine one kept for 40years under a cover on bricks?
Think about it.
Last edited by Godzilla; 14-06-12 at 10:23 PM.
True knowing the Cars History will effect how a buyer sees it....& all buyers may have a different view....
But The way it was, it was a Converted coupe into a spider,....non genuine....who wants a non genuine worn out Spider Ferrari ?
I think that a Ferrari that has had a conversion, is worth less than one restored as Original,
They can now sell it as "Owned by Steve McQueen" (who will remember Steve McQueen in 50 years time ?)
& Restored Original, & Certified to be a Genuine Ferrari, by Ferrari themselves.....
To be Certified Genuine it must not have any part of the Spider conversion left on it.... all part numbers must line up to the original model.....& also meet all other Specifications of the Genuine Factory model.
Which is why I think they have decided to make it into a Coupe again, so it can be certified Genuine Ferrari again.
& who would have better access to all new parts, they also have Coach & body work builders who can make the car panels by hand, or any other part in the car, they also have access to all the original Plans & specifications to the cars.
Restored in the Same building where it was probably built as new
Who knows what it will be worth as a Factory Restored Ferrari to New Condition, & how the price will compare to an original one that has sat in the shed under a cover for 50 years....?
& if it has got brand new leather interior, & brand new rubber seals & brand new carpet, & brand new genuine Ferrari motor & suspension parts, all made at the Ferrari Factory
But I think of all the options they could have done with this car, getting it restored by Ferrari to Certified, as original standards, is the best option.
As a previous repairer myself, converting it into a car it was not meant to be, is a much harder option then using original parts that line up naturally, this also applies when it comes to restoration.
Also the cost to restore this car, this way, will be astronomical..... & there are people who will pay it.....but if your paying an astronomical price .... you want a new car standard of workmanship.... & that's generally what they get.
What else better option could they have done with this car ?
I don't think Ferrari would have be interested in restoring it as a Converted coupe into a spider....
Last edited by OSIRUS; 15-06-12 at 01:27 AM.
Become a Premium Member and support the Austech Forum
Who really cares? Obviously the owner has more money than sense.
On top of that, if they are that rare you'd be unlikely to ever see two side by side for comparison.
OSIRUS (15-06-12)
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks