http://www.fzrestoration.com
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Ferrari launches 2014 Formula One engine, tests it in a LaFerrari? [w/videos] - FZ Restoration - 925-294-5666
Ferrari is the last of the three engine manufacturers remaining in Formula One to reveal its 2014 power unit. Called the 059/3, like the Mercedes and Renault units it is a turbocharged, 1.6-liter V6 further boosted by an energy recovery system that is twice as powerful as before. The 2013 KERS was good for 80 horsepower, could power the car for six seconds and reduce a lap time by about 0.3 seconds. For 2014, the energy recovery system puts out 160 hp, powers the car for 30 seconds on full batteries and, according to Ferrari, can shave a massive three seconds per lap.
The car that surrounds this engine doesn't have a name yet – that will be chosen by Ferrari's social media followers in January from a selection of names provided by the Scuderia.
Ferrari didn't provide an audio sample of the power unit at its introduction, but a brief video taken at Fiorano has led folks to believe that the team has been testing the engine in a revised LaFerrarichassis. The clip shows a camouflaged version of the marque's new supercar fitted with a roof intake and sounding nothing at all like a V12 as it takes the hairpin and powers onto the straight.
You'll find videos below of the engine and its details, along with the LaFerrari mule and press releases from Ferrari and Shell with all the details you could want on what will power the scarlet cars in Australia in March of next year.
source: autoblog
by Jonathon Ramsey
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - 1,500 BHP Bugatti Super Veyron Arriving in 2014 - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
Word has it Bugatti is preparing a final edition of its
Veyron supercar. Rumored to have more than 1,500 under the bonnet, the Super
Veyron will reportedly arrive next year with a top speed of at least 280 mph (450
km/h).
According to Autocar, the new vehicle is set to arrive with “dramatic weight-saving technologies”, which are said to to make it 440 lbs (200 kg) lighter than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (4,162 lbs/1,888 kg). As for the power, it will reach the 1,500 bhp figure by increasing the quad-turbo W16 engine’s capacity. The new supercar won’t benefit from a hybrid system.
“We are looking at several options. The reality is that we are not under time pressure because we are confident of selling out the full Veyron production run regardless. Only after that can we see if there is time and appetite for such a program. It would be expensive and time-consuming, so we must be sure it is worth it,” a Bugatti source told Autocar.
The new Bugatti Super Veyron will cost about about £5 million, which means €5.87 million and $7.69 million at current exchange rates.
Story via Autocar
source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/1500-bhp-bugatti-super-veyron-arriving-in-2014-61819.html
According to Autocar, the new vehicle is set to arrive with “dramatic weight-saving technologies”, which are said to to make it 440 lbs (200 kg) lighter than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (4,162 lbs/1,888 kg). As for the power, it will reach the 1,500 bhp figure by increasing the quad-turbo W16 engine’s capacity. The new supercar won’t benefit from a hybrid system.
“We are looking at several options. The reality is that we are not under time pressure because we are confident of selling out the full Veyron production run regardless. Only after that can we see if there is time and appetite for such a program. It would be expensive and time-consuming, so we must be sure it is worth it,” a Bugatti source told Autocar.
The new Bugatti Super Veyron will cost about about £5 million, which means €5.87 million and $7.69 million at current exchange rates.
Story via Autocar
source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/1500-bhp-bugatti-super-veyron-arriving-in-2014-61819.html
by Ciprian Florea
Friday, December 20, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - What's With All the Ferrari Fires?! - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
There you are, in your Ferrari, which you’ve bought with the
money you’ve saved up for the last four years. You’ve purchased the 458 Italia,
the coupe not the convertible, because you think you have good taste. What’s
more, it’s not red or yellow, because that would bring with it throwing of
rotten eggs at you as you’re driving around town. No, after spending countless
hours with in the official Ferrari website, which by the way runs awfully slow,
you’ve chosen one of the retro colors, like Celeste or Avio, because let’s face
it - you’re old and don’t want to stand out that much. Either that or you’re
from Dubai and it took your father 5 minutes to decide what to get for you 18th
birthday!
You might have the most impressive V8 or V12 engine, with variable valve timing on each of the five cams and a steering wheel that nobody can understand, but your Ferrari is going to ruin your life when it catches fire. The 458 Italia, the FF, the 599 GTB Fioranno, the old 360 and especially the F430, they’ve all caught fire in recent years. And I’m sorry but this can’t possibly be a coincidence!
If I was a Ferrari owner right now, I would have constant nightmares that my six-figure investment is going to go up in smoke. And i’s not like this is expected. Lambos are supposed to be a bit crazy, so it will not surprise anybody if you stick it into a ditch. But a Ferrari is supposed to be the epitome, the pinnacle, the creme de la creme and all that jazz!
And it probably is, but it’s like a horse or racing hound that can run so fast that its lungs can explode. How humiliating would that be if your prized steed that you payed millions for (yes, horses can cost that much) just had a heart attack and died underneath you, braking one of your legs in the fall. If people knew I was good at making investments and my Ferrari turned into ash one day, why, I would even contemplate suicide.
All my friends would start laughing at my, and the whole local community will spread rumors about how much of an idiot with a bank account I am. My kids will even ask their mother to drive them in the nice, safe Mercedes ML to school. No more cool dad with a supercar!
It seems that even though the heavy gearboxes have been replaced by easy flappy paddles, and the one-piece torture seats are now comfy pieces of cow bottom, backed by ergonomic mattresses, Ferraris still can’t be everyday cars. Because the violent nature of a track car ca not be switched off my a manettino and some electronics. And being scared your car will catch on fine is no way to enjoy it everyday.
And I know that every time you look at the picture of a Ferrari, you start to stop caring about the flaws underneath. But that’s a bit like saying you don’t care that a six-foot Nigerian girl will stab you and sell your heart on the black market.
Let’s stop for a second from making fun of Ferrari and come up with some factual information, so as not to bring upon us the wrath of their fans. In August 2010, media reports started focusing on the Ferrari 458 Italia fires and crashes. Ferrari themselves later stated that they were aware and were looking into the problem. The official recall cam the next month, in September.
No less than 1,248 Maranello Marvels, all that had been sold up to that date in fact, had to be recalled. The brand and the supercar’s good name survived, so what was the problem?
The first thing that came in everyone’s mind was that the mighty 4.5-liter V8 engine was to blame, that somehow maybe petrol was sprayed all over it and it caught fire spontaneously. Instead, the fires were caused by the adhesive used to hold the vehicle's inner protection of the fenders in place. This is flammable and sits too close to the exhaust system. When the vehicle is driven hard or for a long period of time, it results in you being forever scared of driving a Ferrari.
I could live with my car catching fire if it was hand-built by 10 Germans and one Dutch, but Ferrari will probably make about 25,000 units of the 458 in over about five years or so. If you’ve ever thought it’s supposed to have a few quirks because it’s a rare Italian job, let me tell you it ain’t so!
Last year, they sold 7,195 cars and had a revenue of €2.251 billion with a ‘B’. While most major European automaker struggle to make a profit, they brought in €312 million, which is an impressive return they can only achieve by playing the the luxury pond. If I tell you they made about 14 percent return per each one of those really expensive cars, will you agree that “driver error” can’t really be spoken of in these fires? If they make that sort of money, they had better make sure the FF, the 599 and even your old 430 don’t catch fire for whatever reason.
Am I exaggerating? Are just a dozen or so cases every year cause for concern? Does that fact that only a few humans are attacked by great white sharks per year mean that I can ride on the back of one safely?
At least another guy with a lot of money will see smoke and fire coming out of his engine compartment next month, I’m sure of it. And I won’t feel bad for him at all, because he bought a Ferrari. But it’s definitely not ok for amazing supercars to end of in a pile of ash and not have a reasonable explanation.
You might have the most impressive V8 or V12 engine, with variable valve timing on each of the five cams and a steering wheel that nobody can understand, but your Ferrari is going to ruin your life when it catches fire. The 458 Italia, the FF, the 599 GTB Fioranno, the old 360 and especially the F430, they’ve all caught fire in recent years. And I’m sorry but this can’t possibly be a coincidence!
If I was a Ferrari owner right now, I would have constant nightmares that my six-figure investment is going to go up in smoke. And i’s not like this is expected. Lambos are supposed to be a bit crazy, so it will not surprise anybody if you stick it into a ditch. But a Ferrari is supposed to be the epitome, the pinnacle, the creme de la creme and all that jazz!
And it probably is, but it’s like a horse or racing hound that can run so fast that its lungs can explode. How humiliating would that be if your prized steed that you payed millions for (yes, horses can cost that much) just had a heart attack and died underneath you, braking one of your legs in the fall. If people knew I was good at making investments and my Ferrari turned into ash one day, why, I would even contemplate suicide.
All my friends would start laughing at my, and the whole local community will spread rumors about how much of an idiot with a bank account I am. My kids will even ask their mother to drive them in the nice, safe Mercedes ML to school. No more cool dad with a supercar!
It seems that even though the heavy gearboxes have been replaced by easy flappy paddles, and the one-piece torture seats are now comfy pieces of cow bottom, backed by ergonomic mattresses, Ferraris still can’t be everyday cars. Because the violent nature of a track car ca not be switched off my a manettino and some electronics. And being scared your car will catch on fine is no way to enjoy it everyday.
And I know that every time you look at the picture of a Ferrari, you start to stop caring about the flaws underneath. But that’s a bit like saying you don’t care that a six-foot Nigerian girl will stab you and sell your heart on the black market.
Let’s stop for a second from making fun of Ferrari and come up with some factual information, so as not to bring upon us the wrath of their fans. In August 2010, media reports started focusing on the Ferrari 458 Italia fires and crashes. Ferrari themselves later stated that they were aware and were looking into the problem. The official recall cam the next month, in September.
No less than 1,248 Maranello Marvels, all that had been sold up to that date in fact, had to be recalled. The brand and the supercar’s good name survived, so what was the problem?
The first thing that came in everyone’s mind was that the mighty 4.5-liter V8 engine was to blame, that somehow maybe petrol was sprayed all over it and it caught fire spontaneously. Instead, the fires were caused by the adhesive used to hold the vehicle's inner protection of the fenders in place. This is flammable and sits too close to the exhaust system. When the vehicle is driven hard or for a long period of time, it results in you being forever scared of driving a Ferrari.
I could live with my car catching fire if it was hand-built by 10 Germans and one Dutch, but Ferrari will probably make about 25,000 units of the 458 in over about five years or so. If you’ve ever thought it’s supposed to have a few quirks because it’s a rare Italian job, let me tell you it ain’t so!
Last year, they sold 7,195 cars and had a revenue of €2.251 billion with a ‘B’. While most major European automaker struggle to make a profit, they brought in €312 million, which is an impressive return they can only achieve by playing the the luxury pond. If I tell you they made about 14 percent return per each one of those really expensive cars, will you agree that “driver error” can’t really be spoken of in these fires? If they make that sort of money, they had better make sure the FF, the 599 and even your old 430 don’t catch fire for whatever reason.
Am I exaggerating? Are just a dozen or so cases every year cause for concern? Does that fact that only a few humans are attacked by great white sharks per year mean that I can ride on the back of one safely?
At least another guy with a lot of money will see smoke and fire coming out of his engine compartment next month, I’m sure of it. And I won’t feel bad for him at all, because he bought a Ferrari. But it’s definitely not ok for amazing supercars to end of in a pile of ash and not have a reasonable explanation.
source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/what-s-with-all-the-ferrari-fires-42925.html
by Mihnea Radu
by Mihnea Radu
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari Back to Le Mans? - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
Scuderia Ferrari is reportedly planning to make a 24 Hours
of Le Mans comeback in the top LMP1 tier now that the FIA decided to replace
F1’s familiar V8 engines with turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 units.
And that’s because the Italians have a few ideas on how to develop a LMP1 prototype around the brand new mill. Nothing’s official, but Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said the engine “would allow some interesting projects”, which could mean a Le Mans racer.
About five months have passed since Domenicali made that statement and nothing has changed, as Ferrari is still mum on details. However, speculation is again on the rise after Luca di Montezemolo said he likes the idea of racing at Le Mans in the LMP1 category, which hasn’t happened in 40 years.
“We have won with the 458 GTE, but I also quite like the idea of racing at the Le Mans in the highest category: who knows, maybe one day we can return and win, say thanks and come home,” di Montezemolo was quoted saying by Autosport.
The last factory-backed Ferrari to compete in Le Mans’ top category was the 312 PB. The Italians entered three of those 3.0-liter flat-12 race cars in the 1973 event, scoring a second place finish with Arturo Merzario and Carlos Pace taking turns behind the steering wheel.
And that’s because the Italians have a few ideas on how to develop a LMP1 prototype around the brand new mill. Nothing’s official, but Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said the engine “would allow some interesting projects”, which could mean a Le Mans racer.
About five months have passed since Domenicali made that statement and nothing has changed, as Ferrari is still mum on details. However, speculation is again on the rise after Luca di Montezemolo said he likes the idea of racing at Le Mans in the LMP1 category, which hasn’t happened in 40 years.
“We have won with the 458 GTE, but I also quite like the idea of racing at the Le Mans in the highest category: who knows, maybe one day we can return and win, say thanks and come home,” di Montezemolo was quoted saying by Autosport.
The last factory-backed Ferrari to compete in Le Mans’ top category was the 312 PB. The Italians entered three of those 3.0-liter flat-12 race cars in the 1973 event, scoring a second place finish with Arturo Merzario and Carlos Pace taking turns behind the steering wheel.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Chinese Ferrari 458 Spider Crashes in Tunnel - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
Another supercar crash recently occurred in China with
the car in question this time being a stunning, bright red Ferrari 458 Spider.
The exact cause of the crash is not yet known, but it is
believed that the driver was cruising along at around 100 km/h when he lost
control on a downhill section and speared into a wall absolutely destroying the
front left of the Italian supercar. Further highlighting just how brutal the
impact was is that the airbags were deployed.
Fortunately, the driver emerged from the wreck unhurt.
However, his bank account will inevitably take a hit as repairing the
lightweight aluminium body panels, suspension and brake components as well as a
whole new wheel, wing mirror and windscreen will cost a lot!
As a reminder, the Ferrari 458 Spider features the same
4.5-liter V8 engine as the standard Ferrari 458 Italia and therefore produces
an equal 570 hp. Despite weighing slightly more than the Ferrari 458 Italian
coupe, the Spider can still hit 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and has a lower top
speed of 319 km/h, surely still sufficient to tear up an mountain road and hear
the roar of the cars brutal V8! The following Ferrari 458 Spider however, will
be out of action for quite some time.
by Brad Anderson
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Monday, December 16, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari wins it all for Silicon Valley executive - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
Two years after forming a Ferrari racing team, a Silicon
Valley technology veteran and his partners took home the Grand AM Rolex GT
Championship. This week, they brought the winning car home to be adored.
Art
Zafiropoulo, chairman and CEO of Ultratech and partner in Ferrari Maserati
Silicon Valley, and partner Giacomo
Mattiolicreated the Scuderia Corsa racing team in 2011. This year, one of
their cars, the #63 Ferrari 458 Italia (pictured in all its
over-the-top-sexiness in the accompanying photo array), too first place.
The #63 car's vital stats make it as dangerous as it is
beautiful: a 4.6 liter V8 engine makes 530 horse power. She does 0-60 mph in
under 3 seconds and tops out at 202 mph.
Zafiropoulo in 1993 led a management buyout of Ultratech
Inc., a semiconductor equipment maker, and led the company through its initial
public offering.
soruce:http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/12/12/sexy-ferrari-wins-it-all-for-silicon.htmlby Vicki Thompson
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Friday, December 13, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari 458 Italia crashed by kid in Switzerland - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
A 20-year old kid from Switzerland has managed to crash his
Ferrari 458 Italia, while driving it like a douche, into a university medical
center.
You may remember the young
American who crashed his Lamborghini Aventador just a few weeks ago
and with parents becoming more irresponsible than their children more and more
often, these scenes continue to happen. The newest example of such an incident
is coming from Switzerland, where a 20-year old kid has managed to ruin his
Ferrari 458 Italia by crashing it into a university medical center. He nearly
ran over a pedestrian before hitting another car. He was apparently showing of
and driving in the bus lane. I bet daddy will make him drive something awful
from now, like an SL63 AMG.
The Ferrari 458 Italia is a rear mid-engined, rear-wheel
drive supercar, which has been in production since 2009. The model is currently
being made in Maranello and it replaced the F430. The 458 is coming in two body
styles, the 458 Italia, for the Coupe, and the 458 Spider, for the Convertible.
Power is being provided in both versions by the same 4.5 liter V8 unit which is
good for 562 HP (419 kW) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque. This is mated to a
7-speed dual clutch transmission. The 0 to 100 km/h sprint takes 3.3 seconds and
top speed stands at 325 km/h.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Video: Ferrari F50 Drifts in Slow Motion! - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
The Ferrari F50
is one of the all time great, a legend and one of the most desirable and rare
cars ever to be built in Ferrari’s factory. Not the sort of car you would
expect to see being thrashed around a farm yard in serious anger! TaxTheRich
have been at it again. After hooning
around in an Enzo they have done the same in slow motion with one
beautiful F50!
by Zaid
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - LaFerrari Gets Rear-Ended by a Truck - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
It was bound to happen at some point.
No matter how expensive, rare or special a car may be, the
risk of an accident or any other sort of serious crash always exists. And the
new Ferrari
LaFerrari isn’t immune from an accident-free life. Thanks to car
spotter Marchenttino, today we have an image and a few details regarding the
first LaFerrari accident. The incident took place on a highway around Mantova,
Italy, an area known for Ferrari testing.
From the looks of the single image taken, the LaFerrari was rear-ended by a
truck. No one was injured and the car doesn't look too bad, but that truck
driver has some serious explaining to do for smashing into a $1.3 million car.
by Jay Traugott
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari 458 Italia Splits In Half in Alabama Crash - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
When you jump inside a supercar, it is easy to get carried
away by the power and speed of these incredible machines. One transport company
employee recently discovered that point in the worst possible way after
crashing and absolutely destroying the following Ferrari 458 Italia in Birmingham, Alabama.
It is reported that the transport company employee took it
for a quick spin before delivering it. However, at speeds of around 225 km/h,
the driver lost control and slammed into a post splitting the 458 Italia in two
Lamborghini
Aventador style.
Despite the rigidity of the Ferrari 458 Italia, the driver
is said to be in a coma while the passenger received serious injuries.
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari F12 Crash: Totaled During Test Drive in Holland - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
![Ferrari F12 Crash: Totaled During Test Drive in Holland [Photo Gallery]](http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/ferrari-f12-crash-totalled-during-test-drive-in-holland-photo-gallery-71673-7.jpg?1385366276)
A Rosso Corsa Ferrari F12 Berlinetta was totaled in
the Netherlands yesterday, with the accident taking place in the city of
Breukeleveen.
The details of the crash are rather sketchy at the moment, but it seems that the driver had taken his grandson out for a spin in the 740 HP Ferrari.
The F12 exited the road, rolled and stopped against a tree on the side. The car was put back on its wheels using a crane. Subsequently, the full damage became clear - notice the effects of the crash on the supercar’s front fascia.
It appears that this example of the F12 Berlinetta is owned by a local dealership. The car was offered for a test drive during the weekend, so the situation is probably pretty interesting at the moment.
Via: regio14.nl
The details of the crash are rather sketchy at the moment, but it seems that the driver had taken his grandson out for a spin in the 740 HP Ferrari.
The F12 exited the road, rolled and stopped against a tree on the side. The car was put back on its wheels using a crane. Subsequently, the full damage became clear - notice the effects of the crash on the supercar’s front fascia.
It appears that this example of the F12 Berlinetta is owned by a local dealership. The car was offered for a test drive during the weekend, so the situation is probably pretty interesting at the moment.
Via: regio14.nl
Friday, November 29, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari 458 Niki Lauda Created via Tailor Made Program - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
![Ferrari 458 Niki Lauda Created via Tailor Made Program [Photo Gallery]](http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/ferrari-458-niki-lauda-created-via-tailor-made-program-photo-gallery-71183-7.jpg?1384764396)
Ladies and gentlemen drivers, be prepared to meet a driving
tribute to F1 icon Niki Lauda. Ferrari has recently released the 458 Italia
Niki Lauda, with this being a one-off ordered by a customer who wanted to pay
homage to the legendary F1 driver.
This 458 Italia was customized through Ferrari’s Tailor Made program. A designer from the Maranello Style Center assisted the customer, with the car receiving a special livery.
The new colors remind us of Ferrari’s F1 racers from the mid 70s - back then, Niki Lauda brought countless victories to the Prancing Horse.
While the car is dressed in red, it sports a white roof, which wears the Italian flag. In addition, the supercars also features a Gold finish for the wheels.
The Ferrari 458 Niki Lauda also comes with a bespoke cabin. Climbing aboard, we find the same Italian flag theme on the seats and center tunnel. There’s also red stitching, as well as the optional steering wheel, which uses LEDs to tell the driver it’s time to shift.
The timing is perfect, since this year has seen the “Rush” movie being launched. The motion picture talks about the battle between Niki Lauda and James Hunt.
source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-458-niki-lauda-created-via-tailor-made-program-photo-gallery-71183.htmlThis 458 Italia was customized through Ferrari’s Tailor Made program. A designer from the Maranello Style Center assisted the customer, with the car receiving a special livery.
The new colors remind us of Ferrari’s F1 racers from the mid 70s - back then, Niki Lauda brought countless victories to the Prancing Horse.
While the car is dressed in red, it sports a white roof, which wears the Italian flag. In addition, the supercars also features a Gold finish for the wheels.
The Ferrari 458 Niki Lauda also comes with a bespoke cabin. Climbing aboard, we find the same Italian flag theme on the seats and center tunnel. There’s also red stitching, as well as the optional steering wheel, which uses LEDs to tell the driver it’s time to shift.
The timing is perfect, since this year has seen the “Rush” movie being launched. The motion picture talks about the battle between Niki Lauda and James Hunt.
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Monday, November 25, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - How not to unload the 1 of 1 Ferrari P4/5 Competizione from a trailer - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
Believe it or not, unloading a car from a transport vehicle
is a delicate science. It's alarmingly easy to damage a car in the tight,
elevated confines of a dedicated car hauler, but as these gentlemen at the
Monterey car week found out, even getting a car off a flatbed comes with its
own unique set of challenges.
When the car you're moving off said flatbed is the only Ferrari P4/5 Competizione in existence, meticulously built to the specifications of Ferrari collector James Glickenhaus, we imagine the stress level is even greater. Yes, this is an unloading gone wrong, although it could have always been worse. The movers have the right idea, working boards underneath the car, but simply didn't account for the car moving them. The result is a racecar, resting ever so gracefully, on its carbon-fiber nose. Getting the car out of such a precarious position safely requires nearly as much skill as getting it off in the first place.
Take a look below for the full, cringe-inducing video.
When the car you're moving off said flatbed is the only Ferrari P4/5 Competizione in existence, meticulously built to the specifications of Ferrari collector James Glickenhaus, we imagine the stress level is even greater. Yes, this is an unloading gone wrong, although it could have always been worse. The movers have the right idea, working boards underneath the car, but simply didn't account for the car moving them. The result is a racecar, resting ever so gracefully, on its carbon-fiber nose. Getting the car out of such a precarious position safely requires nearly as much skill as getting it off in the first place.
Take a look below for the full, cringe-inducing video.
source: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/10/28/unload-ferrari-p4-5-competizione-from-trailer-video/
by Brandon Turkus
News Source: A.TWorldChannel via YouTube
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Friday, November 22, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari 250 LM Sells for Record $14.3 Million in New York - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
Estimated at $12 million to $15 million, it was part of “Art of the Automobile,” the first car auction in
Manhattan in more than a decade. Organized by Sotheby’s and RM Auctions, it
offered 34 trophy vehicles valued at a combined $50 million.
The salesroom was packed, with the elevators full and
champagne flowing at 2 p.m. The winning bidder was on the telephone,
represented by RM Specialist Ian Kelleher. While the 250 LM price smashed the
record of $6.9 million for the model, it fell short of the top price for the marque:
a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO racer became the world’s most expensive car, selling for
$52 million privately.
The red Ferrari, just 44 inches (1.1 meters) tall, was
designed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, on chassis number 6107. Only 32 examples of
Ferrari 250 LM have been produced, including the last Ferrari to win the
24-Hour race at Le Mans in
1965.
The car had been owned by Ecuadorian car racing duo as well
as collectors from Japan,
the U.K. and California. Sotheby’s, RM Auctions, or both companies had an
economic interest in the lot, according to the catalog.
source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-21/ferrari-250-lm-sells-for-record-14-3-million-in-new-york.htmlby Katya Kazakina
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Restoration or Preservation?- FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
If you were to extract the spare change from between the
cushions of your couch and invest in a new Porsche 918 Spyder, then store it in
a climate controlled vault and let it simmer for fifty years, it should be
worth like a billion dollars. But unless cryonics becomes a legitimate option,
you would be long gone and a tube of Fluoride Crest would cost about a grand
anyway. And am I sure that would improve its value?
Last month at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia
there was a special event and demo; a magnificent and eclectic assortment of
racing sports cars you will not find anywhere else in the universe. The founder
and archivist is Dr. Frederick Simeone, a Neurological Surgeon by trade and
collector of some seriously fine automobiles in his spare time.
While touring the facility, you are immediately struck by
the condition of these rare and unique machines. They were not pristine as you
would have expected; none were on mirrored displays with halogen lights; some
were actually sitting on cardboard blotters collecting pools of leakage from
one orifice or another. Many are driven regularly and maintained as if they
have some place to go.
The museum is a nondescript space with a warehouse motif,
and at this moment you realize what makes it unlike any indoor display of cars
you’ve ever seen; It smells like your grandfather’s garage. Oil and gasoline,
dried rubber, corroded metal and aged leather permeate the structure. This is
not a place for spotless presentation.
Later people gathered behind the building for the demo. Dr.
Simeone spoke briefly about four Ferraris poised in front of us, and then drove
them around in the parking lot. Consider for a moment that just one of these
beauties is worth about 40 million. This would be something akin to busting out
the crown jewels and sporting them at brunch.
He described a philosophy and contrast of restoration and preservation. At first you would think it was rather silly; if you have the choice, don’t you want a museum piece in faultless condition like your Porsche 918 Spyder? But as you listened to him you realized what a noteworthy point he made. After all, what would hold more value… a car in almost sterile condition, or a living breathing organism carefully and meticulously cared for throughout its long and exceptional life?
He described a philosophy and contrast of restoration and preservation. At first you would think it was rather silly; if you have the choice, don’t you want a museum piece in faultless condition like your Porsche 918 Spyder? But as you listened to him you realized what a noteworthy point he made. After all, what would hold more value… a car in almost sterile condition, or a living breathing organism carefully and meticulously cared for throughout its long and exceptional life?
Each car bears its own history with a specific personality
and uniqueness. Whether an interesting racing ancestry or lineage of ownership,
every example is in some way exceptional. Would you repaint the Mona Lisa or
rebuild the Parthenon?
Friday, November 15, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - FERRARI 458 CHALLENGE EVOLUZIONE- FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
The Ferrari 458
Challenge Evoluzione racecar, released under the prancing horse’s Ferrari Challenge series for
up-and-coming racers, is based on the 458 Challenge and features a number of
modifications for faster lap times. Chief among those upgrades is the
large rear wing, developed using experience gained in GT racing. The
increased downforce generated by the wing, balanced by the splitter and the
undertray up front, allows drivers to achieve higher cornering and top speeds.
No mention of an increase in engine output, likely meaning the 458 Challenge
Evoluzione’s 4.5-liter V-8 engine produces the same 562 horsepower as the
current 458 Challenge and the road-going 458 Italia. The car was unveiled
this week at a rain-soaked Finali Mondiali event – the final
race of the 2013 Ferrari Challenge — at Italy’s
Mugello Circuit.
source: http://www.freshnessmag.com/2013/11/14/ferrari-458-challenge-evoluzione/
by John
http:www.fzrestoration.com
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Tax The Rich returns with reckless driving in a Ferrari 288 GTO - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666
Tax The
Rich, the YouTube channel that exists mainly to terrorize ultra-rare,
ultra-expensive cars like theJaguar XJ220, Ferrari Enzo and Rolls-Royce
Phantom, has come out with its first video in two months, starring one of
the rarest Ferraris of the past 40 years – the 288 GTO.
Now, by Tax The Rich standards, its treatment of the 288 is
better than what the Enzo or the Rolls (especially) got in their videos. The
most cringe-worthy parts are in the very beginning, before transitioning to
actual roads (yes, we know the 288 was originally meant as a Group B rally car,
but that makes zipping about on grass and dirt in a very rare Ferrari no less
difficult to watch). After that, it's more of the stuff we wish collectors
would do with their cars – drive. Seeing and hearing this 288 GTO at full clip
is a thing of beauty, and something we wish were a far more regular occurrence.
source: News Source: TaxTheRich100 via YouTube
autoblog
by Brandon Turkus
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Exotic and Vintage Car Restoration Livermore - Felipe Massa’s farewell: A day to remember a life in Ferrari Red - video - FZ Restoration Livermore - (925)294-5666
Mugello – An unforgettable day. Felipe Massa’s farewell parade in front of the Ferrari crowd will always stay in the Brazilian’s heart. Over fifteen thousand turned up to give him a send-off, braving the less than welcoming weather, given that it rained heavily for much of the day.
They turned out to see Felipe at the very same track where he had his first Formula 1 test, for Sauber way back in 2001. After twelve years, the end of an important page in the history books for Felipe the man and for the team he grew up with, is gradually coming to an end, as he still has the USA and Brazilian Grands Prix to race for the Scuderia.
“I’ve been lucky, I have had a great career with Ferrari, longer than I had ever dreamed of at the start,” said Felipe when he met the press. “When I began racing in go-karts as a kid, I had a red Ferrari suit and it’s always been the team I supported. Even when Senna was at McLaren and Piquet at Williams, I was cheering for Ferrari!
Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138
Yesterday’s tribute took place at the owners’ gala dinner at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence, which was opened by Felipe arriving in a Formula 1 car and ended with a ten minute standing ovation, while today it continued in front of all the fans at Mugello. “These are memories that will stay with me always, just like so many other beautiful moments spent together, starting with the wins,” continued Felipe.
“For example, I think back to the wins at Interlagos, because for a Brazilian, to win your home race is something amazing. Sure, the dream just slipped out of my grasp, namely winning the world title in front of my home crowd, but that wasn’t the race where I lost the 2008 title: when you finish second by a point the key moment could have come at so many different places and I’m thinking of Singapore for example, or Budapest, or others still…”
It’s not just memories that Felipe will take home with him. At the end of his demonstration run at the wheel of an F10, which he drove alongside another veteran, Marc Gene, President Luca di Montezemolo, Vice President Piero Ferrari and Managing Director Amedeo Felisa presented the Brazilian driver with a special cup, engraved with the names of the eleven Grands Prix he won during his time in red. It’s a rather bulky piece of silverware, as the cup stands 120 centimetres tall, but we are sure Felipe will find it a prominent position at home and metaphorically in his heart.
Scuderia Ferrari
by Joao Correa
http://www.fzrestoration.com
Monday, November 11, 2013
Exotic and Vintage Car Restoration Livermore - The Ferrari factory, then and now - FZ Restoration Livermore - (925)294-5666
We're not sure what we were expecting. Modern cars require
modern construction methods; craftsmen can't exactly hand-hammer carbon fiber
into exotic shapes, after all, and Ferrari's contemporary creations rely
increasingly on computer-aided engineering, up-to-date electronics -- and with
the LaFerrari --
even hybrid technology to deliver heart-pounding performance.
Still, the long, impeccably clean assembly halls seemed like
an odd cradle for the roughly 6,400 wild vehicles produced there each year.
(You can check out a brief Financial Times tour of the facility below.)
source: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130509/CARNEWS01/130509804
by Graham Kozak
Friday, November 8, 2013
Exotic and Vintage Car Restoration Livermore - Crafting the LaFerrari - FZ Restoration Livermore - (925)294-5666
Ferrari's limited-edition supercars are special. They appear
about once a decade, cost a small fortune -- which has never hurt sales -- and
often become the benchmark for next-generation supercars at Ferrari and in the
industry.
Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo says the new
LaFerrari is no exception because of features such as the supercar's
gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, its Formula One-inspired carbon fiber
cockpit and its state-of-the-art active aerodynamics.
Despite a pretax sticker price of $1.3 million, Ferrari sold
out its 499-unit run of the supercar before its world debut in March at the Geneva motor show.
Montezemolo said the company had more than 700 requests to buy a LaFerrari,
which carries a name that the chairman picked despite internal skepticism.
"We chose to call this model LaFerrari [Italian for The
Ferrari] because it is the finest expression of our company's unique,
unparalleled engineering and design know-how, including that acquired in
Formula One," Montezemolo said.
Automotive News Europe spoke with the men responsible for
LaFerrari's engineering and design. Here is an in-depth look at some of the
challenges faced en route to delivering the company's fastest, most
technologically advanced road car.
Cutting-edge ideas
"Replacing the Enzo was far from easy," said
Roberto Fedeli, Ferrari's technical director.
The carbon fiber Enzo, launched in 2002, was powered by a
6.0-liter V12 engine that delivered 660 hp and accelerated from 0 to 62 mph in
3.6 seconds.
"Ten years later, there is no way that we would have
allowed ourselves to make just a small step forward from the Enzo," Fedeli
said, adding that one of the best parts about developing LaFerrari was the
chance to take cutting-edge ideas from the drawing board into the car.
Ferrari knew that the Enzo's replacement had to be the same
weight or lighter. The first step toward this goal was a research model
unveiled in 2007 called the Millechili. Ferrari developed the car to test ways
to shave 584 pounds from the 3,009-pound Enzo.
To do this, Ferrari decided to make LaFerrari about 35.4
inches shorter than the Enzo's 185 inches and downsize the engine to a
3.0-liter twin-turbo, gasoline direct injection V8 with 550 hp.
Although Fedeli and his team supported the engine switch,
which would have cut more than 198 pounds, the company later decided that its
next-generation supercar had to have a normally aspirated V12. Period.
Making Fedeli's bid to maintain or cut weight even tougher
was Ferrari's decision to equip its next supercar with a hybrid powertrain
derived from Formula One's Kinetic Energy Recovery System, or KERS.
"We wanted to use the hybrid technology to boost
performances, like in F1, rather than use it just to reduce fuel consumption
and emissions," Fedeli said.
When development of Ferrari's HY-KERS system started in
2009, Ferrari predicted the hybrid's parts would add about 441 pounds because
of the electric motors, batteries and wiring. By the time Fedeli's team was
done with LaFerrari, the HY-KERS system's weight was down to 330 pounds. The
electric motors and control systems weighed about 132 pounds, the batteries 198
pounds.
That was just one of the methods to make sure LaFerrari
would match the Enzo's weight.
On a diet
Another key was having Ferrari's Formula One team build the
cockpit using the same grade of materials and the same construction used for
the company's race cars.
The resulting carbon fiber cockpit weighs just 154 pounds,
66 pounds less than in the Enzo's.
Another way Ferrari limited LaFerrari's weight was by
eliminating its seat structures, a solution first tried with the Millechili
research car. The driver and passenger of LaFerrari sit on upholstery that is
fixed to the carbon fiber cockpit. Instead of moving the seat, the driver
adjusts the pedals and steering wheel. This solution also let Ferrari shorten
the passenger compartment because there was no need to make room for seats
moving farther back on rails.
"Between the elimination of traditional seats and a
smaller passenger compartment, we saved another 110 pounds," Fedeli said.
The single-minded focus on weight also led Ferrari to use
lighter body paint, which saved 15.4 pounds, and superthin carbon fiber body
panels, which cut another 22 pounds.
Along with finding ways to limit weight, Ferrari engineers
looked to optimize the HY-KERS system, which uses two electric motors developed
by Magneti Marelli. One motor powers the wheels while the other powers the
car's ancillary systems.
"Every time you accelerate, the electric motor's 120
kilowatts [equivalent to 163 hp] work together with the 800 hp from the
6.3-liter V-12 engine. The result is an acceleration boost never before seen in
a road car," Fedeli said.
Ferrari said the high torque levels available at low
revolutions from the electric motor enabled the engineers to optimize the
internal combustion engine's performance at higher revs. The LaFerrari redlines
at 9,250 rpm. Total torque generated by the engine and the electric motor
exceeds 664 pounds-feet. By comparison, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta delivers 509
pounds-feet.
While LaFerrari replaces the Enzo, its performance benchmark
was the F12 Berlinetta, which debuted last year and raised the bar considerably
from the Enzo. For instance, the F12 Berlinetta needed just 1 minute and 23
seconds to complete a lap at the Fiorano test track, which was 3 seconds
quicker than the Enzo.
With help from the HY-KERS system, LaFerrari's lap time at
Fiorano was 1 minute and 20 seconds, making it 3 seconds quicker than the F12.
LaFerrari also needs less than 3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph, less
than 7 seconds to go from 0 to 124 mph and 15 seconds to go from 0 to 186 mph.
Fedeli said that although performance statistics are
important, he is most proud of the "emotion and feeling" that
LaFerrari drivers experience behind the wheel.
Not a plug-in
Fedeli pointed out that LaFerrari is not a plug-in hybrid.
The batteries are charged in two ways: during braking and every time the
internal combustion engine produces more torque than required, such as in
cornering.
"Rather than cutting off the engine, we store the
excess energy in the batteries so that energy can be used to provide a boost
the next time the driver accelerates," Fedeli said.
Technically, LaFerrari can travel 9 to 14 miles in pure
electric mode, but Ferrari has limited the top speed in full battery mode to 3
mph to discourage drivers from trying to use the supercar as a zero-emission
vehicle.
"You can exit the garage in pure battery mode, but
that's it. This car is designed for extreme performances," Fedeli said.
LaFerrari has slashed carbon dioxide emissions to 330 grams
per kilometer, down from the Enzo's CO2 output of 545 g/km and below the 350
g/km of the F12 Berlinetta. The CO2 decrease comes mainly from optimizing
LaFerrari's internal combustion engine, Fedeli said.
When driving, the HY-KERS system disconnects only when the
car reaches its full speed of about 217 mph. At this point, all 800 hp
generated by the V-12 goes straight toward powering the wheels.
Fedeli said that few LaFerrari buyers will notice this
because even on a Formula One race track such as Monza, the supercar reaches
"only" 170 to 180 mph at the end of the main straightaway.
Designed in-house
LaFerrari is the first Ferrari production model designed
in-house and the first in 40 years created by a company other than Pininfarina.
Leading Ferrari design is Flavio Manzoni, a 47-year-old
Italian who took charge of Ferrari's styling department in January 2010 after
working three years as creative design director for the Volkswagen, Skoda,
Bentley and Bugatti brands. Before that, Manzoni worked at Lancia, Seat and
Fiat.
Along with leading the Ferrari design team, Manzoni oversees
any work done by Pininfarina. During the creation of LaFerrari, the automaker's
in-house team won a tense design competition against Pininfarina for the right
to style the supercar. The competition started in October 2010 with 10 1:4
scale models. The next round, which came in April 2011, featured five
full-sized styling models used to show different potential shapes for
LaFerrari. Three models were from Ferrari's team and two from Pininfarina.
"Ferrari management decided to proceed with two
in-house styling models, one internally called Manta, like the fish, the other
called Tensostruttura," Italian for tensile structure, Manzoni said.
In July 2011, the Ferrari styling center built another
full-sized styling model that had two different sides that showed different
interpretations of the Tensostruttura theme. The aim was to find the best
combination of aesthetics and aerodynamic performance.
A seventh full-sized model was built in May 2012. The model
underwent minimal design changes, mainly in the rear. In August 2012,
LaFerrari's final exterior design was frozen.
Manzoni said two goals drove his team: "Everything we
did on styling was guided by aerodynamic inputs and by an intense desire to
save weight. What was not absolutely necessary simply had to go."
Supercars often look aerodynamic, but need huge spoilers and
tall rear wings to add the necessary down force to remain stable at high
speeds.
LaFerrari has active aerodynamic devices such as diffusers
and a guide vane on the front underbody and diffusers and a rear spoiler at the
rear. These generate down force when needed without compromising the car's
overall drag coefficient. The devices deploy automatically according to
performance parameters that are monitored in real time by the car's dynamic
vehicle controls.
"We tried to design a shape that intimately interacts
with the aerodynamic fluxes," Manzoni said, "rather than fighting
against them."
source: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130506/CARNEWS/130509886by Luca Ciferri
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)