Ferrari 456 GT - YouTube This video appears to be a slick factory presentation about the 456. At 3:50, the worker appears to be shaving filler with a standard cheese grater. Do these cars actually come from the factory with body filler? Greg
I've always considered filler a remedial technique and would expect the CNC world to produce more precise panels. I also understand that the video is of the 90's.
Brian, I'm with you. For years the armchair body mechanics have made plastic filler out to be an evil demon. Used correctly it is quite effective and long lasting used judiciously of course. I have seen some shops skim coat entire panels with filler. I understand why they do this but I don't like to see filler on panel edges especially doors. A small impact tends to make a rather large chip rather than just some paint damage.
Tooling that precise is expensive. Labor in Italy is cheap. Also as you said that is an old video. Ferrari had not long before still been hand forming panels. Ferrari had not traditionally gone to the expense of expensive body tooling because long term plans for a model had not really existed. For example the 76 308 was fiberglass because tooling for that is so cheap they were willing to make that investment on a car they strongly felt would be a flop. All that ignores the fact too that high quality fit and finish has never been a Ferrari strong point.
There's a thread by Bradan where they repaint (among other things) a 550 and the amount of filler was both shocking and laughable. Doesn't make me love the cars any less though.
No, it isn't . . . unless you meant that tongue in cheek. It's roughly the same as in the US and higher than the UK, though cheaper than Germany, Holland, and France. Back in the days when Ferrari was still using hand formed panels, I assume that labor was much cheaper on a relative basis. Anyway, if interested, check out Country at a Glance.
A. You don't provide information about 1993 when that film was made. B. You do not provide information about Ferrari compensation. They are famous in Italy for their low pay and is why they have such poor employee retention at the factory floor level.
Likely not Bondo but a metal-content filler such as All Metal U.S. Chemical & Plastics. There is only so much hammering and welding to be done on aluminum panels before you get stretch and that introduces other problems. The use of filler is common in the manufacture and restoration of hand-built coachwork. The more complex the shape the greater likelihood of its use. Most panel surfaces made by the big stamping tools are perfect when stamped. Where you have issues is near joints and complex curves where it absolutely must be filled by hand. There is nothing wrong with such a process and it will usually last a lifetime. On such cars there is simply no other way to get a perfect result without filler and most first rate shops and manufacturers will use it, but sparingly. Attached first photo is an example. On this car, (not a Ferrari) the manufacturer made these panels by hand and then welded everything together. The piece (base of windshield and cowl) the restoration shop just made in steel, will need to be adjusted so that the profile matches and blends gently into the front edge of the door. The original factory faced exactly the same issue, but they used lead (second photo). Current facility is using the All Metal product to create the right contour. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I remember taking apart my 456 door panel and inside finding some rather 'interesting' leather items. Also, can attest that I personally saw new cars, with the stickers still in the window, getting some SERIOUS panel and other body work. That was FofSF, a factory owned dealership and the labor jockeys doing the work in San Rafael were, well, perhaps not even legal....deal is, I became less concerned and understood: they are cars like so many others regardless of price.
Ok, fine. A. But you said labor in Italy IS cheap, not WAS cheap. I was questioning your blanket statement that seemed to reference present day. Fwiw, info from the the Bureau of Labor Statistics - i.e. the web site that I cited - seems to only goes back to 1996. B. You're right. I didn't provide any information about Ferrari compensation. Nor was I trying. Again, I was simply refuting your blanket statement that labor in Italy IS cheap. But this stuff wasn't the original point of this thread.
2011 discussion - Locals don't make any more than other Italian car mfg. employees. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific-sponsored-algar-ferrari/347014-ferrari-salary.html Since then - As you may know, something exceptional occurred this year - Ferrari Employees received a pair of bonuses - 1 of which is spread over 3 years, the other is lump sum.
I was just at the factory last month, we were told that the line workers are paid an average of 1200 euros a month. Scott
Yep entire body panels with filler instead of the time and talent it takes to straighten out aluminum.
It's been a while since I last looked but there are some videos on the Zanasi website and probably elsewhere via YouTube that show some of the manual/labour intensive work that is undertaken... Zanasi Ferrari
