Is this a real California Spider?

[TT]

I need help my friends.. yesterday at a Ferrari trackday there was this car



Like an idiot I thought it was a replica spotted in Monte Carlo a couple of weeks ago but I checked and it's definitely not that car.

it actually look kinda right but I am no expert and there are some nice replicas around.. so, any idea?

[yg60m]

Hum, we really need an expert here It looks like a California, and there were several types (lwb, swb, covered lights or not) so it must be really hard to spot if it is a real or a replica ...

[TT]

If it's real it is sucky because I only took those three pics :bah:

[|Nuno|]

If it is a replica, then it's a damn good one.

The only thing missing are the rear reflectors (see pic), but the owner could have removed them, or maybe some cars didn't come with them.




Apart from that I don't see anything wrong, so I say it's real. But then again, classics aren't exacly my thing.


What makes me say it's real is actually the messy way the pedals are put. Very Ferrari.

[|Nuno|]

^^

I think it's because the one in your pic is a U.S. spec car. They had some different details, including the bumpers.

[TT]

Yep I think the bumper thing is not an important detail. And also the reflectors, actually in the two I saw to date they weren't there.. so again.. related maybe to the laws of the country in which that one was_



And also for the front bumper


And the other one with the "US style" bumper (if it is really that)


And no reflectors

[budagboy2]

im gonna say fake(although i have no clue if it is or not)...pedals look somewhat modern and the front grill/lights look a little "off"

[novass]

It is really hard to say when it comes to Ferraris of that vintage because they very often differed from one to the next. The most important thing about old Ferraris is the VIN number. All the old Ferraris are completely identifiable by VIN and there are some very good replicas out there...so good that they call them re-makes.

Ill print these pics out and see if any of the older guys can spot anything im missing.

[raphaelws]

rare!!! one of my favourite old ferraris

[Mers]

TT, i'd say it'd help if u discovered what is written on the sticker on the windshield...
it's like waulo something.....

[Mers]

here's a pic that can help: In between the rev counter and speedo, in this pic, there are some dials and stuff...in your car, there are not....Also, look at the rearview mirror...this one has only 3 little metal grabs, but the one you took a pic of has 4...

LOOK

This car is from a bonhams auction, so is 99% sure to be real...

EDIT: Just looked at a book I have, called "The Complete Ferrari" by Roger Hicks, and a picture of the interior of the california Spyder has the same dials...the one misteriously invisible in your car...
however, it also states that there were some options such as radio, which made the car heavier, but could be chosen...The dials could be optional, although because of law and security, I Highly doubt that...

[Mers]

In this Pic The car has no dials, however the "protectors" of the speedo and the rev counter (the leather part on top) seem to be more square than in the one u saw, and also, there is no chrome around the slot of the smaller dials, on the right, like in the one you took a pic of...

The problem, as someone has said, is that year by year the cars change...this one is a 1960 car, the one u saw must be a 50's car...

[TT]

Thanks guys for the effort. But indeed, such small details can just be due to evolution, options or whatever. As said, back then basically every car was unique, or almost. As for the sticker on the windshield, it says: Autofficina, which should be the name of a garage.
Sadly on old Ferraris the VIN isn't as easy to spot as in todays's so I didn't get it :bah:

[irrational_i]

I am not sure its a replica and not sure its authentic.

I believe the grill is too rounded.
This is the one feature I can not find on any SWB, a grill like that.
Other than that its just a feeling when I look at it. Something is not right.

Here is a list of things that I have found to show how hard it is.

Those bumpers are fine, as are the ones with the uprights. Either came with Chrome headlight surrounds or pure plexi.
There may be no bumpers for a racy version.
The air-intake may be a plexi cover.
The foglights may be big or small.
The center dials may be seperate or clustered inside an oval surround.
The dash may have leather stitching or be solid plastic.
The side vents may have 2 or 3 vertical slats.
The mileage meters are on the speedometer, which may be the right or left hand dial.
The interior door handles may be horizontal at the top or diagonal.
The speedometer may be marked in miles or kilometers.
The horizontal line under the boot at the back may be in line with the rear light bottom or about 1cm underneath.
The cavallino may stand on the lower horizontal slat or "dangle" between the lower 2.
The steering wheel may have holes in the 3 bars or not.
Iy may or may not have a radio.

So like Novass says - a VIN number is the only real way to tell. 8/

[TT]

We are fucked then