Vintage Voltage - Ferrari 308

Zep

Zep

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Ryandoc said:
So you’re fine with it then?

Something like that shouldn’t be changed in that way. I could buy a Picasso tomorrow and get my crayons out on it just because I like crayon pictures.
The fact I owned it doesn’t make it right. It would be very wrong
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I’m totally ambivalent about it. Picasso’s paintings are valuable because they are unique. If there were thousands of Picassos, some of which were more cheaply made later in Picasso’s production run and weren’t that good in the first place, I wouldn’t care that you wanted to draw on it with crayons. It’s yours after all. Maybe this Picasso was a damaged CAT D Picasso that was repaired by lesser artist with no service history.

So if it suits someone and keeps a beautiful car on the road, then good for them. It’s not my bag, but I don’t want one anyway.
 
Ryandoc

Ryandoc

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I see two sides in your response though. It doesn’t bother me or effect my life either so I slept soundly last night. But what does that mean. Doesn’t change my own opinion that it’s totally wrong though.

That 308 is now a 308 in looks only nothing else. It’s a circus show now. Ferrari didn’t design it with an electric motor to suit someone who wanted a 308 without an engine.

If one of these classic, desirable cars comes to a point it’s uneconomical to repair then it’s a donor to keep a working version going. My post and my own thoughts apply to this happening end of irrespective of a cars status. Because it is also happening to perfectly good classic cars, that’s where it enters a dangerous territory, yes they won’t all be converted, but not a single road worthy one should be.

Doing these modifications and tearing out an engine which is the biggest material change in something that is defined by its engine turns it into something it isn’t.
There’s no two ways about it that car is now so far away from its designers concept it’s turned into a clone. It’s a vision of its former self, no longer original, no longer as it was created.

If someone did it to an F40 would you have the exact same thoughts because it’s no different whatsoever. One might be a £50k car one a £1.5m car it makes zero difference. It’s no longer the car it once was and by some margin.
 
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Phil H

Phil H

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IMHO much of Picasso's later work was garbage that could be bettered by school kids, and I've never worked out why folk get all starry eyed over impressionist stuff. But that is just my opinion, and if someone wants to pay zillions for it good for them. Likewise, I can't see the fascination for Mk1 Escorts at £30k a pop when a good QP can be had for much less.

Given the problems that E10 is causing with some of the older cars, I would rather see a 308 converted to EV than scrapped due to burgeoning repair costs (at least until alternative and viable ICE fuels can be adopted); it's still a thing of beauty, and EV does give it performance that it deserves in the modern era as well as keeping another example on the road; I say that as a classic car fan who's not enamoured with EV's!

Originality is often the final arbiter of concours competitions, and yet people pay big money for competition cars that are far removed from their original specs, go figure.
 
Phil H

Phil H

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IIRC, roadgoing CSL's were supplied with the appendages only for homologation purposes, and fitting them was optional for the owners. Quite a few CS/CSL's were fitted with aftermarket stainless or chrome wheelspats as well.
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

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In the follow up video, the VW Syncro build, there is a Maserati in the background! That should wind a few up....
 
GeoffCapes

GeoffCapes

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If you alter a Ferrari I though they issue a charming letter to cease and decist?

Surely they’ll do the same in this instance?
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

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zagatoes30 said:
One of our suppliers doesn't have an ounce of petrol in his veins but the love of his life is an electric Merc SL Pagoda, he loves its style, its simplicity and its get up and go. He bought it for journies outside the city but finds he uses it often for his daily commute. He wouldn't have an original classic car but wouldn't be without his Pagoda.

It takes all sorts just not my thing
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$349k. Yikes! https://www.hemmels.com/mercedes-benz-280sl-electric
 
midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

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The only time I would consider electrifying a classic is if the motor had gone pop big time. Then I'd fit non-t€sla motors and a small new klear pile for endless mileage...

Does anyone know where I can get the materials? ;)
 
mowlas

mowlas

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Felonious Crud said:
$349k. Yikes! https://www.hemmels.com/mercedes-benz-280sl-electric
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Saw a pagoda at a car meet in a dark plum, almost black, colour. One of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen. I can see why the owner (acquaintance of @zagatoes30) of the electric version would cherish and want to drive it everyday!

If successful, Hemmel would be systematically converting a limited but good number of these cars every year, making a dent in the overall Pagoda population. I can appreciate both sides of the argument for and against, including opening up classics to non-petrol heads, but overall doesn’t feel quite right.

104857104858104859
 
safrane

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I would love to have a horse, but not keen on the feeding, cleaning up poop, and the general cost of care... maybe I could electrify one and a stuffed one on wheels... all the looks and charm without the pain.
 
Ryandoc

Ryandoc

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safrane said:
I would love to have a horse, but not keen on the feeding, cleaning up poop, and the general cost of care... maybe I could electrify one and a stuffed one on wheels... all the looks and charm without the pain.
Click to expand...

Applicable to woman also (shrugs shoulders). Whoopsie here comes my ban lol
 
c4sman

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Although I don’t love the idea of these conversions, I see a good counter argument for cars like the pagoda (which I hired a few years back for my wife’s birthday as it’s her dream car). The car is not in any way a performance vehicle and not defined by its engine. That’s where it could make sense. The engine in an F40 is to critical to defining it for me to understand why anyone would want an electric one. Same for old 911s which are also being converted regularly, the engine is the heart of those cars. If however I take another Mercedes as an example such as some of the later SL range, merc tried their best to make the engine as smooth and silent as possible with a seamless auto box. Sticking an electric one in might make sense here.
 
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mowlas

mowlas

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@c4sman interesting angle which has made me think more on this. Overall, I think it’s about preserving the originality and integrity of a limited and reducing population of beautiful, iconic cars. For some cars, it is not just about the design or engineering, but the ‘whole’, representing an overall idea or belief by the designers. It is for me, anyway…
 
c4sman

c4sman

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mowlas said:
@c4sman interesting angle which has made me think more on this. Overall, I think it’s about preserving the originality and integrity of a limited and reducing population of beautiful, iconic cars. For some cars, it is not just about the design or engineering, but the ‘whole’, representing an overall idea or belief by the designers. It is for me, anyway…
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All valid and completely agree with the caveat that many of these machines end up static and unused hidden away in collections. If making them electric means I will see more of them in our towns and cities where old ICE vehicles are unwelcome or banned then for those “non engine defined models” then I think that’s a good thing. Example is I’m staying in Reims tonight and just found out I’m within the low emissions zone. Our GTs are allowed in but I need a special window sticker (only 4 euros) which I cannot get in time so will be taking my chances with a fine! BTW my GT will never be separated from its V8! It’s definitely engine defined for me!
 
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