classiche certification cost

Classiche is to many (me included) purely a money grab. It's now a profit center for SpA, and each dealer has to process an annual quota. The prices will only go up, of course. Whether it adds value to you or makes your car easier to sell (or a car easier to buy) is debatable, but personal.

Understand, however, what Classiche certification is and its limitations: that at one point in time, the car was "as original". That doesn't mean it remains that way, and "as original" may not be as desirable for some.

CW

 

When ours was done it was a one day deal and the book was received about 2 months later.

Different dealers have different relationships with Classiche and different levels of expertise in the process. Shop around.

 

Yes but consider that at this level of decision you're changing the car's status from a "fleet car" to a historic/provenance level that will remain with the car indefinitely--far beyond its current price or market value. You certify a Ferrari for legacy and future collectible status purposes--not for a temporary consideration of "10% of current value". In that way I recommend doing it if you plan to collect the car and keep it in a stable for decades. Even though a 1980s era TR is a low value Ferrari, certifying it will potentially command more attention and status at an RM or Mecum auction 40 years from now and beyond. It will give you an edge.

 

Maybe. Maybe not. Classiche will lose its exclusivity as more and more of the relatively high-production vehicles obtain certification.

For sure, though, Classiche certification really doesn't mean much for those who know what it is (and what it isn't). And, the rose never really even had a bloom, as Classiche, from the get go, had serious issues and its integrity is in question.

All things being equal, a car with certification could sell for a small premium, however.

CW

 

As soon as you sell the car, the certificate is no longer valid. So whoever chooses to do a certification, is doing it for the next owner, not for themselves. Do you really need to have Ferrari tell you things about your car you already know? Especially with a "lowly" Testarossa (no offense intended)?

 

My Mondial is going through this Classiche process right now. The real problem I see with the process is that when you certify a car, especially the low value ones, or at least what are low value ones right now, that is in direct opposition to my wanting to drive it a lot like I currently do. I find irony in assuming any added value of a Classiche certified car driven 100k miles 40 years from now. I'm pretty sure the lower valued 20 plus year old cars are probably driven the most among the tifosi, for obvious reasons. Heck, I drive mine to work frequently and still have regular plates on the car. I think for most lower end value all original Ferrari owners out there that it makes little sense as Claude suggests to spend this kind of money for a sub $50k Ferrari right now. Maybe down the road, but not now. I seriously doubt the Classiche certification will ever matter more to a potential buyer than miles. It would be however nice to have, especially for the other low volume and higher end older Ferrari's out there.

 

A little different question. How exacting is this certification. If I have an F40 with a tubi - assume to get certified I need to have original muffler. But if some of the undercarrage, as an example, bolts are different does that have to be remedied?

Or on a Daytona - If I have a different exhaust or the suspension is not the original cad plated does this have to get fixed.

How exact is the certification process?

Just curious.

Thanks,

Drew

 

Depends on how closely your car is inspected.

However, SpA/FNA/Your Dealer will be more than happy to sell you what you need.

CW

 

And who does it. holding my tongue . . .

The only real value I see in the certification is that, since we are in a period of increasing prices, there will be more uneducated buyers than usual trying to jump on the Ferrari bandwagon. Those buyers may think that certification actually certifies anything w/ any accuracy or finality. I am pretty sure most buyers do not understand the breadth or term of the certification.

The threads on classiche in the vintage forum are legion; check them out.

 

Since there is no name in the book, only a serial number I would suggest it doesn't lose whatever validity it does have at an ownership change. As far as Ferraris position on that? Well just like the cars, their interest ended when the check cleared.

I would also suggest it has less value on collector value cars. After all how many people buy a 250TR without either a great deal of knowledge and research or has someone who has done that for them? Generally a great deal of due diligence of some nature is done. The same can hardly be said of the average BB or TR buyer. Besides, you buy a misrepresented BBLM and fixing the botched crash repair is going to be a far smaller percentage of its overall value than the 25g's I just got for repairing a 575 that got a sharp pencil inspection prior to it's recent purchase.

I expect few if any owners deeply involved in the make to find it has a great deal of value or interest. As you say, what owner needs to be told what he already knows? I think whatever value exists is to a prospective owner. I was involved in the sale of an F40 with a red book that I helped him get. It was a major issue with the buyer. Did it pay for itself? Who knows? I do think it helped make the deal.

I find the entire topic amusing. Like other areas of the site, people recoil in revulsion at the fact the some buy their cars to just drive them and not treat them like rental cars while in the vintage section people scoff at spending a couple of grand on a red book. Lots more gets spent on dumber things. No skin off mine either way.

 

I agree with that completely. As far as the accuracy or validity of the book I will say it is in my experience better than many if not most of the pre purchase inspections that get done. A little more expensive sure but at least you get a nice coffee table book instead of some hand written scribbles on greasy note pad paper. While not exactly the same thing it will provide many with a warm fuzzy feeling and at least it is being done by someone who is willing to take credit for the work.

 

I actually think the opposite is true. The certification is a "snapshot" of its current status. After 40 years, or even 10 years, the fact that it certified many years ago will mean little because there is no "official" accounting for what happened in the following decade or several. Certification seems like a depreciating asset -- it means as much as it can mean at the time of certification, but it will mean less and less over time (assuming the car is actually used).

If getting certification is important to an individual, then it's worthwhile. If it it's being done only for resale, then it seems like it would have the most value if it is done as close to the sale date as possible.

 

You can download an example of the certification. It will show you all the things you need to have original on the car. I understand a new twist is that they are asking for numbers off the carbs.

 

Start a NCRS-type organization for Ferraris. The Corvette guys make a hobby/career out of authenticity and judging. NCRS did a judging on my old Corvette and I was shopping for '60s vintage window washer fluid to avoid losing points. Talk about strict.