Top Gear review of Mondial t Coupe with Valeo

I dunno ... even thought I'm a huge fan of Top Gear, I don't especially like the review (okay, I know it's an old one) and I don't especially like the car. I'm sure a "real" Mondial with a "real" transmission must be a better machine in pretty much all respects.

 

Well, my good man ........................ your choice of forum name - "newbydude", is spot on. You sir, are entering subject matter that you obviously know nothing about. Did you think that the tranny in a Valeo equipped Mondial was - - an automatic - - maybe made of plastic in some far away land??

That's OK - - I'll help you out here You may even do some further research on your own, and find - - - God forbid , "this is too cool".

I'll throw this out for you to taste. - - - - Valeo developed the system for the Lancia Rally Team. Two back to back world championships were the result.

Enzo even built a "one off" Valeo equipped F40 for G. Agnelli (pres. of Fiat), since he had an injured "clutch pedal" leg from an early racing accident.. There are 40-some Valeo Mondials plus that one F40 (woah Nellie, would I like to have that one!!!!). I own one of them - Rachel - and it's simply the best of both worlds!!! She reads my mind - and can throw the clutch in under 100ms. No way can I throw a shift that quickly - but when I get it thrown, the clutch will have embraced the flywheel and all is glorious !!! Just for fun - - even the crowded Hollywood Freeway is "no problemo" !!!

Any questions (if you're interested), I'll happily answer

Cheers,

Hank

 

I really wish Ferrari had continued with this system. From everything I have ever read, the system operated flawlessly and was very reliable. I have not heard the same thing about the F1 pumps in the newer systems. I also liked the idea of having total control of the car and clicking through the gate as opposed to the flappy paddle gearbox. The Valeo was NOT a slushbox auto, it was a performance transmission for performance driving in the same manner as the modern F1.

I'm with you on this one Hank.

 

Thanks Hank I really enjoyed that. Being a mondial guy at heart I gotta say I watched it twice and probably some more later. Mondials are truly beautiful machines.
Did you get to watch the clip of the white Mondial cab with top down and four helmeted passengers going for an autocross run? Awesome!

 

And interesting, what so many people don't know, is that Valeo is not about the "transmission" at all. It's a full on standard Ferrari 5 speed tranny. What it really is all about, is the clutch system. Note - even the clutch is a standard single plate affair. Think of it as - an electronic brain that takes the place of our human brain (as regards clutch control) and also takes the place of our clutch leg thru the "actuator". Ah yes, one leg for the go pedal and one leg for the slow down pedal.

I personally think that the Valeo system is one of the most underrated, least understood achievements to come out of the Ferrari engineering pool.

Ahh, that deep, dark pool of the unknown

 

a clever and efficient system which I believe would have improved the F50. System provides best of both worlds: metal gate experience + left foot braking. The factory could do worse than re-introduce the valeo into new road cars once again - for that heightened sense of occasion.

 

Thanks for sharing, never knew how it worked 100%. I think it's a great alternative and too bad it didn't catch on. Mondials are great cars.

 

for what it's worth, I have a similar set up on my Pantera. Works flawlessly and is as fast as my 355F1 at clutch action.
www.panteraguy.com gives a description of the functionality.