Monthly Archives: January 2020

Ferrari, Pininfarina

2000 Ferrari 360 Modena

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Yesterday we checked out the bottom of the Ferrari 360 market, so today let's take a look at what we imagine most of our readers would go for if they were in the market for a 360. It would be tough for us all to agree on color, so bear with us on the yellow. What we do hope you'll agree with us on are the gated manual shifter, Challenge rear grill, modular wheel option, and Daytona seats. Shields are a minus in our book, but floss and a hairdryer and maybe some polishing are all you need to delete those.

In today's age of supercar / high-end sports car excess, the 360 doesn't outperform the field like it once did. A modern Camaro SS 1LE will put it to shame on the track, after all. And, a 20 year-old, not-quite-classic Ferrari is an odd choice for a status symbol. So, if you're in the market for one of these, hopefully it's due to an admiration for what the car represented when it came out. It's the first aluminum space-frame mid-engine V8 Ferrari, with a fire-breathing 395hp over-square 3.6L behind the driver. It has one of the coolest shapes of late 90s automotive design, and the interior design holds up even today.

2000 Ferrari 360 Modena yellow front view modular wheels daytona seats for sale rear challenge stradale
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Year: 2000
Model:  Ferrari 360 Modena
Engine: 3.6L V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage:  21,895mi
Price: $84,900
Location: Tallahassee, FL

2000 Ferrari 360 Modena yellow front view modular wheels daytona seats for sale gated manual shifter interior
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: Ferrari 360 Modena

This is an incredibly beautiful 2000 Ferrari 360 Modena with the very rare and desirable 6-speed manual transmission.  The options on this car include the deviated stitching in yellow, Scuderia shields, Daytona seats with yellow inserts, very rare modular wheels, and rear challenge grill.  It also comes with a Remus exhaust which gives it a deeper tone and screams at wipe open throttle!  All of the normal "sticky" parts have been addressed and refinished.  The dash leather was redone due to the common leather shrinkage that is common on all 360's.  The recall on the cam variator has been taken care of as well.  Car comes with the tool kit, tire inflator kit, manual pounch, and red satin car cover.  We have service records on the car that go back to 2005.  The last belt service was performed in February of 2017.  This car was judged at an FCA Ferrari event and won a platinum award with a score of 97 points.  The paint has been wet-sanded and polished to near perfection and then sealed with cermaic coating to protect the show car finish.

2000 Ferrari 360 Modena yellow front view modular wheels daytona seats for sale V8 flat plane F 136 engine
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The front of the engine, where the serpentine and timing belts are situated, is accessible to technicians through the removal of the front seats and a firewall panel. This lends to generally palatable service prices, when compared to removing the entire rear subframe, such as is required on an F355. Records dating back to 2005 are a plus here, and the 2017 timing belt service is a good point of reference, but does mean that a timing belt service is coming up soon - something to factor in when negotiating a sale.

For the price of this 360, you could have yourself a C8 Corvette that will run laps around it at the track. And you'll come out way ahead on service costs, should you go that route, especially if you plan on tracking either option. The daily usability will be much better on the Corvette too - it should be no-less tame than a Tahoe in day-to-day use. And yet, we prefer the Ferrari, which was produced to protect a brand image over a bottom line.

-Graham

Ferrari, Pininfarina

2002 Ferrari 360 Spider

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This is not the way to buy a 360 Spider, let alone any Ferrari. The way to find the right 360 is to shop for the car with the best history - title status, service records, miles - and then to decide if the color, wheels, and transmission suit your taste. Dredging the bottom of the market is generally not advisable.

But there is something about a 100k mile Ferrari that has us intrigued. Looking over the interior and exterior photos of this car, we can't pick up on any substantial flaws. And, were we to guess the mileage based on condition, we'd say 30k max.

Ferrari 360 used high miles cheap Stradale grill
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Year: 2002
Model:  Ferrari 360 Spider
Engine: 3.6L V8
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual
Mileage:  106,000
Price: $49,995
Location: Trenton, NJ

2002 Ferrari 360 Spider interior tan
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2002 Ferrari 360 Spider

-New Car Trade and a Clean carfax!
-Probably one of the most fun cars you could ever drive!!
-This car is almost pristine with no major blemishes to note, even has a clear bra to protect the front
-Garage kept its entire life
-Paint is in excellent shape and the car drives better than 360's we've had with 1/4 the miles
-Belt service done and clutch within the last 500 miles
-Great set of matching performance tires on staggered 3 piece wheels!
-Challenge grille, all stock mechanically, amazing color combo!!!
-When I took it for a test drive it performed exactly as it should, I noted nothing for the shop to address based on a 10 mile drive!

Ferrari 360 used high miles cheap Stradale grill
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At this mileage, we'd expect to see creased leather seats, warped leather on the dashboard, scuffs and scrapes, and other signs of heavy use. We don't detect any of that here. A fastidious owner who enjoyed driving and maintaining his car is likely to thank for this. The belt service and the clutch were even performed within the last 500 miles. These are substantial selling points and the majority of the expensive service one would expect to pay for on a 360. To have them complete out of the box is a great benefit to future owners.

We'd prefer the traditional manual transmission to the automated unit in this car, and we'd be quick to install the modular wheel options. The Challenge rear grill is always a welcome modification in our books, though. Silver over tan is a very appealing combination to us, and we like the optional Daytona seats on this example. We hope that the next owner of this car cares for it as completely as the previous owner did. Who know, someday it might even show 200k miles on the clock.

-Graham

Giugiaro, Maserati, Uncategorized

2004 Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa Track Car

Serial eBay prowlers are probably wondering why this car hasn't turned up here sooner. It would be dishonest of us to not admit that it's mostly due to the fact that we were hoping to come up with the courage to list our 2004 Coupe GT in order to make room for this track version of the same car.

The Tipo M138 Coupe straddles the line between a true GT and more of a large sports coupe. The general internet consensus is that, in comparison to a true Italian GT such as the Ferrari 456, the Coupe is sportier, and easier to toss into a corner. On the other hand, a Ferrari F430 owner might prefer the streetable power curve of the Coupe, but nobody will confuse a Maserati Coupe with a sports car after stepping out of a Ferrari F430.

2004 Coupe Cambiocorsa blue track car race seats Brembo rear
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Year: 2004
Model:  Maserati
Engine: 4.2L V8
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual
Mileage:  18,288mi
Price: $20,000
Location: St. Louis, MO

2004 Coupe Cambiocorsa blue track car race seats Brembo Recaro seats Shroth harness
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa Track Car

This particular motorcar was purchased by a gentleman who always wanted to race cars. He spared no expense when it came to outfitting his dream.
It has Forgeline Alloy Wheels, Brembo Calipers, Recaro Seats, Schroth Racing Harness, Mychron 5 Dash lap counter, Camera and special roll bar.
The transmission is manual six speed CC using paddle shifters. The Cambiocorsa electrohydraulic manual transmission uses a Formula One type of gear box operated by F1 style paddles behind the steering wheel, similar to the system used in Ferrari sports cars. It allows the driver to choose between 4 different modes of operation: Normal, Sport, Auto and Low Grip.

2004 Coupe Cambiocorsa blue track car race seats Brembo Ferrari V8 F136
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We love the idea of getting one of these out onto the track. After all, the Cambiocorsa gearbox was designed for track use, and by most accounts comes up short on the street anyway. The platform deserves to be let loose. Hopefully you don't mind getting lapped by Mustangs and Camaros though - we aren't betting on the Coupe being anything spectacular out on the track.

Pricing here is on the high side for a paddle-shifting Coupe, but between the wheels, brakes, dash display, camera, seats, and harness, there is plenty to sweeten the deal. The color is less common, and the mileage on this example is quite low. Of course, those miles contain many hard track miles. Now, who is ready to double that count?

-Graham

Autobianchi, Fiat

1973 Autobianchi Giardiniera

Despite the Giardiniera's considerable production numbers - almost 327,000 in total - the elongated 500 is a rare sight on US soil. Interestingly, giardiniera itself is a relish commonly found at delis across the US. How the model got its name will remain a mystery to us.

Stylistically, the Giardiniera is put to shame by the classic shape of its standard 500 sibling, but makes up for it handily in the utility department. The flat load floor in the rear covers the engine compartment, and is accessed with a swinging door that creates a large opening for the loading of cargo. In addition to the large cargo space, the rear bench provides more leg room than in the standard model, creating quite the usable little runabout.

1973 Fiat 500 Autobianchi Giardiniera bianca white usa rear for sale america
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Year: 1973
Model:  Autobianchi 500 Giardiniera
Engine: 499cc twin
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  27,400mi
Price: $17,700
Location: West Palm Beach, FL

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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1973 Autobianchi 500 Giardiniera

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Up for sale is a real nice & rare 1973 Fiat Giardiniera ragtop! and suicide doors! Painted in white pastel with red interior. Many hours and money has been invested in this nice sport Italian car. This is a true collector's car.

Based on the standard version of the Fiat 500, the Giardiniera benefited from front quarter lights, winding windows in the doors and sliding windows at the rear. The Giardiniera retained its suicide doors throughout production even when the later saloon cars were built with front-hinged doors. In addition, the sunroof folded back three-quarters of the roof length, providing ample opportunity for all passengers to enjoy both fresh air and exposure to the elements.

In order to provide the Giardiniera with a useful flat-loading platform, an innovative engineering solution was used: a 499.5-cc motor was turned on its side and laid under the rear floor. Engine cooling relied on air collected from grilles on the body sides, which were mounted as high as possible to reduce road dust being drawn into the engine compartment and to keep engine noise down.

This car drives exceptionally well, you can take it to the car shows & for weekend cruises. Definitely gets a lot of attention & questions at the cars and coffee.It has a 4 speed manual transmission. Engine Bay is well detailed. Has a nice exhaust that sounds really nice. Mechanically the car is sound! See the video.

The car did receive a full restoration a couple years ago. The Body is straight as an arrow. All doors, trunk, hood are all aligned like they should. It has always been garage kept and well taken care. All the exterior chromes, trim, latches, bumperettes are in like new. Underneath the floor pans are in great shape, everything was properly redone.

The Interior is splendid and contrast well to the exterior paint, Red Italian upholstery has been fitted, and tastefully done, and overall condition looks new. Black roll-up top!

I'm located in Miami about 30 minutes away from the airport. Feel free to come see the car in person. Any inquires email me. $500 non-refundable deposit required within 24hrs of buying. Sold As-is. Thanks for looking. For those interested you can call me at 305 five four two 5662. If I don't answer just leave me a voicemail.

If you're looking to finance I would recommend JJ Best. They can finance your classic car or hot rod and are very pleasant to work with.

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The engine was mounted on its side in order to achieve such a low load floor. A highway speed of 65mph is possible, owing to the 21bhp on tap, but if that were possible at high ambient temps, then color us surprised. The meager power rating is sufficient for maintaining speeds, though any sort of ambitious acceleration attempts will likely result in disappointment.

If the long-wheelbase 500 was produced for so long, then why does this one command such a premium over the typical 500 on the market? Part of that is due to the overall condition of this example. Prospective buyers should check photos of the restoration and understand if there was rust and how it was addressed. But, we are optimistic on this one; it really does come across as a tidy restoration. More space is not always the answer when it comes to weekend (or weekday) cars. That said, we'll make an exception for this Giardiniera.

-Graham

Bertone, Fiat

1968 Fiat Dino Coupé Project

Peter Egan's project car cardinal rules begin with a firm warning: never buy any car that was disassembled by someone else. Today's Dino was disassembled by someone else.

An earlier Dino, this example is (was?) powered by the first iteration of Lampredi's Dino V6. That means 2.0L of displacement and an aluminum block, compared to 2.4L and a cast iron block on the later cars. The sleek body and the 158bhp output were good for a top speed of around 130mph.

1968 Fiat Dino Coupé project car bare metal chassis rear primer coat
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Year: 1968
Model:  Fiat Dino Coupé
Engine: 2.0L V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  N/A
Price: $35,000
Location: Naples, FL

1968 Fiat Dino Coupé project car bare metal chassis tan leather seats interior
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1968 Fiat Dino Coupé project

This FIAT DINO COUPE is a solid project car. ALL THE METAL WORK IS DONE this one is ready to be assembled. It comes with a plethora of new old stock parts, several components have already been restored, way too many items to list!! Comes with all of its original components (engine, transmisssion, differential, suspension, brakes, body harness, dashboard, door panels, seats, everything!!! 

1968 Fiat Dino Coupé project car bare metal chassis interior transmission tunnel
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The teardown on this example reveals a clean body, no doubt. How much metal work was required to achieve this state, we can't say. And how well the metal work was performed is another mystery. No fans of bodywork ourselves, we can see the appeal of buying one with the metal all taken care of and ready for assembly.

With this car, you must choose between trusting the seller's work, or redo the work yourself. Take for example the exhaust - was rust removed fully, and will the new paint or coating stand up to heat? It certainly looks nice on the surface, but this and all similar work must be verified. That said, if the work tends to be of high quality, and the car is complete, original, and without accident history, we can see this as a relative bargain, should the buyer assemble the car at home.

-Graham

Abarth, Fiat, Uncategorized

2019 Fiat 500 Abarth

We're part of the problem, if you agree that the Fiat 500 departing the US market after an eight-year run is problematic to begin with. See, we bought our 2013 Abarth in 2017, once the value had dwindled to 30% of the MSRP. At around $24,000 new, we didn't see the sense in springing for a new model.

Our reservations with purchasing new had little to do with the vehicle itself. Our Abarth been delightfully reliable, requiring only a reseal of the transmission case under warranty (admittedly likely due to porosity in the casting, so we'll be doing that on our own dime next time). And, as a commuter, we love our traffic scalpel, whether slicing through traffic in sport mode or sitting in the right lane on cruise.

2019 Fiat 500 Abarth olive green 17 optional wheels rear
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Year: 2019
Model:  Fiat 500 Abarth
Engine: 1.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  48mi
Price: $24,170
Location: Strongsville, OH

2019 Fiat 500 Abarth olive green 17 optional wheels interior manual updated
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2019 Fiat 500 Abarth

Fiat 500 Abarth 1-Yr SiriusXM Radio Service, Abarth Premium Hatchback, ATC Air Conditioning w/Micron Filter, Beats Premium Audio System, Black Trimmed Lights, For More Info, Call 440-319-3743, GPS Navigation, Heated Front Seats, Power Sunroof, Quick Order Package 2HX, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Wheels: 17" x 7.0" Forged Aluminum Hyper Black.

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Were we to option a new Abarth to buy today, it would be identical to this other than the inclusion of bronze wheels. The leather on our car has held up very well, but the cloth seats on this example are much more to our taste. And, the updated information screen and the U Connect are substantial improvements over the serviceable-but-basic units in our Abarth.

With the departure of the 500 from North American shores, we may be past the point of being able to order from the factory in Mexico. But, if our instincts are to be trusted, there should be no shortage of 500s on dealership lots for the next few years. And those examples that continue to languish on the lot should be ripe for some aggressive discounts.

-Graham