Somebody hit the Mondial--Boy am I glad! | FerrariChat
Buy

Somebody hit the Mondial--Boy am I glad!

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by JoeZaff, May 14, 2010.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Page 1 of 2
  1. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Aug 5, 2007
    5,459
    Philly suburbs
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #1 JoeZaff, May 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    A little over a month ago, a woman wasn't paying attention and dinged the rear fender of my Mondial in a parking lot. At the time I was devastated. However, luckily for me, Karosserie is nearby. For those who don't know, they are considered by many, myself included, to be the best bodyshop in the country. They took my car and painstakingly remolded the metal by hand over the course of countless hours. The pictures don't do it justice, but I felt their handiwork from the inside of the fender, and I just couldn't believe how perfect it was. When they took my car, they promised me that when I got it back, it would look better than new. I just got it back today. The workmanship was without peer, but the detail job they did on the car was sublime. Their is not a swirlmark or scratch anywhere to be found, and the interior...I just don't know how they do it.

    Anyway, thanks to Karosserie, I am closer than ever to making my car a true concours contender.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Aug 5, 2007
    5,459
    Philly suburbs
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #2 JoeZaff, May 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Aug 5, 2007
    5,459
    Philly suburbs
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #3 JoeZaff, May 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Aug 5, 2007
    5,459
    Philly suburbs
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #4 JoeZaff, May 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,451
    Winston Salem, NC
    #5 Ricambi America, May 14, 2010
    I saw their work on a friend's 360 that had a wee shunt on track. The quality of their work is absolutely awesome.
     
  6. jgoodman

    jgoodman F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 29, 2009
    3,267
    Central PA
    Full Name:
    Jay Goodman
    #6 jgoodman, May 14, 2010
    Yes you are! Wow, Joe, they did a fantastic job. Looks perfect. I'm happy you are happy with the end result. Now avoid parking lots and go drive!
     
  7. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    #7 finnerty, May 14, 2010
    True Craftsmen (in any trade) are wonderful assets to society!! ..........just wish they weren't a dying breed here in the States...
     
  8. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    #8 PV Dirk, May 14, 2010
    Great news. Good time of year to have the car back. Looks great!
     
  9. birddog

    birddog Formula Junior

    Jun 24, 2006
    415
    Illinois
    Full Name:
    Ed
    #9 birddog, May 14, 2010
    Wow - nice work - the car looks beautiful! Just curious - did the lady's insurance pick up the bill?
     
  10. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,723
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    #10 308 GTB, May 14, 2010
    Joe,

    Karosserie is one of just a few Ferrari Factory authorized body repair shops in the United States. Yes, they did a beautiful repair. The pictures you posted show an Old World approach, a craftsmanship that truly is disappearing. The hallmark of a proper repair is the inner aspect of the panel they repaired and it's finishing.

    It truly is as if "nothing ever happened."

    Barry
     
  11. Easyrider7467

    Easyrider7467 Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2005
    980
    Northen N.J.
    Full Name:
    John
    #11 Easyrider7467, May 14, 2010
    WOW !!!!
     
  12. Robz328

    Robz328 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 16, 2009
    6,299
    ATL, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Rob Hemphill
    #12 Robz328, May 17, 2010
    Nice work...

    ...you were very lucky that it could be hammered out...didn't have to buy new metal.

    Nice repair.

    :cool:
     
  13. johng

    johng Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    2,298
    northern va
    Full Name:
    john g
    #13 johng, May 17, 2010
    i went to karosserie when my blue 308 was backed into. they did an awesome job. no sheet metal replacement, just hammered it out. blended the paint perfectly.
     
  14. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Aug 5, 2007
    5,459
    Philly suburbs
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #14 JoeZaff, May 17, 2010
    Last edited: May 17, 2010
    I really have to hand it to them, they did a fantastic job. The car took Platinum yesterday at a regional Ferrari concours. A month and a 1/2 ago, I didn't even think my car would be back on the road for months, much less winning anything.

    As a postscript, when the car got hit I was devastated, but in retrospect I shouldn't have been. I love my Mondial, but it is NOT a member of my family, in the end its just a car. This whole drama has definitely given me a new perspective on things. I am pretty sure that there will be no more shows for me. I think I have taken her as far as I want to in that direction. In the future, there will be less preening...more driving. I plan on turning my attention to making memories with the family and not finding the correct OEM nut for this or that. My daughter adores the Ferrari and begs for drives constantly, I want her memories of Dad and his Ferrari to be about the drives and not the hours he spent in the garage trying to buff out road rash.

    Everything came into focus when I saw an elderly gentleman at the show who had a lusso with a ton of miles on it (the clock showed 96K, but I am pretty sure it made its way around at least once). The car was so well driven the seats had worn through to the bare frame.

    We can't take them with us boys, so we might as well enjoy them!
     
  15. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,723
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    #15 308 GTB, May 17, 2010
    Right, Joe. Just drive and enjoy that Mondial with the knowledge that if anything happens, The Karosserie can make it "like nothing ever happened."

    Congratulations on the Platinum at Reading!

    Barry
     
  16. Oengus

    Oengus F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Sep 29, 2004
    10,830
    Between timing belts/chains or West Palm Beach FL
    Full Name:
    Chas
    #16 Oengus, May 17, 2010
    wow that looks like some awesome work :)
     
  17. Mfoncerrada

    Mfoncerrada Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2009
    419
    Monterey, CA
    Full Name:
    Miguel Foncerrada
    #17 Mfoncerrada, May 17, 2010
    Joe, after reading so many of your posts I must say I was a little surprised by the shifting of your attention away from shows...but then again I have also read your posts where you talk about enjoying the Mondial with your family, so I am not very surprised by the new direction. It is pretty much the way I enjoy my Mondial...I went to a show once just to see what it was like, but it really wasn't fun for me. I find my time driving, with my daughter in the car, to be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things I do. Best wishes to you and your new direction! May you and your family Enjoy!!!
     
  18. GrayTA

    GrayTA F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 25, 2006
    15,130
    Deep South
    Full Name:
    PDG
    #18 GrayTA, May 17, 2010
    Looks great!!! Very nicely done on their part. If something like that happened around here I think I would be SOL.


    PDG
     
  19. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Aug 5, 2007
    5,459
    Philly suburbs
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #19 JoeZaff, May 17, 2010
    Last edited: May 17, 2010
    Thanks! I know it seems sudden, but I know what it takes to take my car "to the next level" and I am not willing to do it, so either I enjoy the car, or sell her...and that ain't happening.

    Not to get too heavy with this, but some of the impetus came from my little girl. I am not shy about saying she is everything that is beautiful in this world to me. There are only so many years a little girl will give her Daddy before "Boys" and "popularity" make a Dad suddenly uncool. I am going to cherish every minute I get.

    She really loves the car and loves spending time with me driving around.

    I never want my daughter to run down to the garage again, bag in tow (she always "packs" whenever we go for a drive), just to be told, no because Daddy just cleaned the car.

    As you said, when I am done or have moved on to something else, I will take the Mondial to Karosserie and have them clean up the mess, or leave the bumps and bruises as evidence of a life well lived.
     
  20. Mfoncerrada

    Mfoncerrada Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2009
    419
    Monterey, CA
    Full Name:
    Miguel Foncerrada
    #20 Mfoncerrada, May 17, 2010
    You're quite right there....it seems like they grow up so quickly. One day it's Barney, then Barbie, then Boys....then they turn sweet again when they get older...Have fun!
     
  21. David Lind

    David Lind Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2008
    2,248
    Full Name:
    David Lind
    #21 David Lind, May 17, 2010
    The work looks great, and I'm glad you are happy with it. I must admit, however, that my stomach got queasy when I saw that 5 pound hammer in the trunk!
     
  22. ferrari 512 tr

    ferrari 512 tr F1 Rookie

    Nov 16, 2008
    4,180
    Australia
    Full Name:
    Paolo
    #22 ferrari 512 tr, May 17, 2010
    i agree
     
  23. Option Seller

    Option Seller Rookie

    Mar 31, 2013
    5
    Arlington Heights
    Full Name:
    Patrick M
    #23 Option Seller, Jun 5, 2013
    Nice work....I wish they were closer to Chicago!
     
  24. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
    San Antonio
    Full Name:
    Russ Turner
    #24 snj5, Jun 6, 2013
    Beautiful !! Work like that is worth it.
     
  25. ferrarisun

    ferrarisun Formula Junior

    Feb 13, 2011
    960
    #25 ferrarisun, Jun 6, 2013
    Looks like excellent work! What did the final bill amount too? The person that hit you, did their insurance take care of it, and what company. The way an accident is supposed to be resolved. Enjoy!
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page