Oldtimer Security

In the end, it is almost impossible to really protect cars like this from theft. The physical solutions only work to deter small-time opportunists. If people want to steal a $1 million car, they will find a way. I think your best protection is, in fact, the value of the car and the fact that serial numbers tend to be known, and cars like this are not that easy to sell. But if it gets shipped to Russia, well then it might not resurface for several decades.

I don't really have an answer for you, because I don't think there is a really good answer. You can certainly do a lot to your garage to make it very hard to physically move the car. But that won't help when you're using the car away from home.

I lock my GTC, and I take the master switch with me, whenever I'm on the road. I also make sure the parking spot (especially overnight) is as secure as possible. Not much more I can do, really.


Onno

 

don't understand the reason against GPS tracking

they can be programed to alert as soon as the car leaves its' parking spot regardless of whether it is new / temporary / or otherwise

they can be set to remain silent ( not transmit ) and then transmit in quick short bursts,
in an effort to better conceal the tracking device... seems like a good anti theft system

reminds me of when a chief of police in a European city got his new Lojack equipped car pinched by "the boys" to prove a point ( it was returned ). They used an enclosed truck whose body was shielded to prevent any signal to transmit

 

You can buy a jammer for GPS trackers for about $300 and they are very easy to buy. Surely people who steal a $1 million car know this. What's the point in getting a tracker (unless your insurance demands it)?


Onno

 

A GPS Tracking device in my opinion seems a very good way to build up advantages on your side. Disabling the car electrically or otherwise is also building points in your favor. Parking it in sensible places, installing an alarm or anything that will help you. Yes I agree that someone who is intent on stealing your car could come along with a truck, lift your car on to the tray and be gone. However deterrents do help.

 

I am always careful to make sure my garage is secure, shades draw with doors alarmed.

As an obvious, when parking I try to be pro-active as to where it will be parked before I get there. Thought about hidden kill switch for electric fuel pump, and/or tracking device, but have not done that, at least, yet.

I do have the car highly insured and have current photos and recorded video, plus "certified" value from appraisers.

I am a firm believer, locks are only to keep honest people honest.

 

the electric circuits in a car can be customized where a separate hidden switch can be installed that can disable various circuits to prevent the car from being easily driven off...

a well prepared thief would most likely use an enclosed vehicle to make off with the car away, it wouldn't matter if the car was drivable or not or how secured it was...

most anti theft devices are a first line defense against the common thief,

 

Hmmm,I must say most of you mob seem to be overly zealous in your defences of what,being realistic,is ONLY an insurable object.Unless of course it is an historically important car.
When ever I go anywhere in my 330(a very poor second cousin to what most of the rest of you have,admittedly..but it's the best I've got!),I,where practical,leave it unlocked with the windows down(weather permitting....it gets hot down here),and mostly with the keys in.
Who is going to steal something that the owner is obviously not too worried about loosing,AND being empathetic to the thiefs mind......why are the keys in this type of car???
Reverse psychology,perhaps,but it's worked for me for years..my friends in the city(I DO live in country Aussie,though my cars live in a city)think I'm nuts....but in the end,I appear to have a very good insurer and the car is slightly over-insured.

 

a few years back there was a lockable and removable steel post for sale, which was 3 feet in height. It was inserted into a 1 foot deep female coupler solidly in concrete. This was constructed to be placed in the middle behind your car and forward of your garage door. The lock mechanism was complex and very tamper resistant. If my memory serves me correct it was not unattractive, painted yellow and the post was 6 inche square. Obviously for multiple cars you had to have one behind each. For some reason that escapes me now I didn't get around ordering it.

 

Hello Simon. Hope your not insured as I doubt there is very little chance of you getting a payout if the insurance company knew the above.
All the best.

 

I have a reasonably secure garage at home, but out and about I don't worry about it. In fact, I don't even always lock my 365, although I must admit I don't leave the keys in it, and I always turn the ignition switch off.

If it gets stolen, which I think is highly unlikely, well, that's why I have insurance.

 

As an owner of the much unloved 400i (albeit a 5 speed), I have the opposite problem. When I go out driving and park it somewhere, I'm worried that someone else will discard their 400i next to mine in the same way that a bag of garbage on the side of the road seems to attract more bags of garbage.






This is a tongue in cheek joke of course!






I would think that the biggest deterrent to having a high value vintage Ferrari stolen is to keep it well secured in a garage and don't let anyone know the location other than those who must know about it.

 

I think the opposite. The more people who know about you and your car the more people will notice something odd. Plus as the original reply said we are talking rare cars.

If you owned a 275GTB/4 in Australia you would be one of a small select few.
Pete
ps: I don't believe you guys who say you do not lock your cars ... joy rides do lots of ugly damage ... must be a joke.