When A Custom Car Builder Goes Too Far

by Wallace Wyss –

I always thought the Ferrari 400 GT body style when cut down into a convertible, was a great looking car. Outside cutters did them from the 365 GT4 2-plus-2, to the 400 GT to the 400i to the 412 GT.

But sometimes an outside coachbuilder goes too far. Even if it’s for a private client. That’s my conclusion after, on a blogspot called Erwin400blogspot I saw this car, cut by Pavesi. Said Erwin: “Ferrari already authorized Pavesi itself to make the electric hoods out of the 400 by performing interventions, in addition to cutting off the roof, also to strengthen other bodywork components.

Therefore the Ferrari 412 ‘Vento Rosso’ has remained at the level of the only exemplary as this initiative has not followed even for the well-known financial vicissitudes of Pavesi itself.

In light of the above it seems appropriate to note that this car belongs to that category of only one “ONE OFF” that for a collector, and even more if the owner of other Ferraris, is a unique piece of significant historical interest and certain future value.”

This particular car started as a 412 coupe. It was developed between 1991 and 1993, on chassis (no. 81.011) of the Ferrari 412.

The coachbuilder took it upon themselves to restyle the car and I think they did it for the worse. Auto covers for body and paint protection will be important for this unique car.

They screwed it up from the front, with ordinary headlights that look sort of Toyota Celica like, and the back which seems to have two separate rear end treatments stacked on top of each other. They revised the convertible top.

According to James Elliott writing in Classic and Sports Car, Pavesi did as many as 20 factory-sanctioned conversions on 400i cars, with price tags of €80,000, and those with the stock bodies.

One reason this car took so long to do is that , according to Elliott, it “was based on a write-off, the frame was reinforced, the bonnet and boot made of aluminium and the bumpers glass fibre, but the rest remained steel.”

I am sure the car cost hundreds of thousands to be re-bodied, all to no avail when you park it next to a Pininfarina designed and bodied coupe. Zero accomplished. They lost the Ferrari mystique. I know Pavesi does good body work as far as craftsmanship, but on designing their own look…, ah, no.

Let us know what you think in the Comments.

Wallace Wyss

 
 
 
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss, historian, has been a guest lecturer on design at the Art Center College of Design.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Summary

Article Name

When A Custom Car Builder Goes Too Far

Description

I am sure the car cost hundreds of thousands to be re-bodied, all to no avail when you park it next to a Pininfarina designed and bodied coupe. Zero accomplished.

Author

Wallace Wyss