HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE

An expert’s view SCOTT CHIVERS, SELFTAUGHT FERRARI MECHANIC

“A 360 Modena F1 has been my daily driver for almost nine years. Using salvaged parts, I converted it to a Challenge Stradale: carbonfibre brakes, extra power, 100kg weight reduction, the lot. I bought the car with 21,000 miles and now it’s done 70,000 and never put a foot wrong. It’s even on the same clutch. I’ve got 355s but the 360 is a huge step forward in terms of usability and reliability. You have to drop the engine on the 355 to change the belts, but on the 360 you just remove a panel behind the seats. Some parts are expensive, though. For example, the wheel bearings are sealed in the hub, so you need new hubs – at £800 a corner.”

Buyer beware… ENGINE

Annual servicing is essential and timing belts must be changed every three years. Check for cam cover oil seal leaks and the engine undertray for waste oil. Ensure tappet rattles go as engine warms up. Feel for hesitation possibly caused by failing ignition coils. Check for leaky intake manifold gaskets and rattly intake butterflies. Check condition of engine mounts.

TRANSMISSION

Check gearbox mounts aren’t broken, allowing the ’box to hang and changes to crunch. On the F1, look for leaks from the hydraulic actuators and check the transmission control unit’s clutch wear record. On manuals, check for clutch slippage, a notchy change from third to second and that the linkage bush below the gearlever isn’t worn.

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES

Listen for noisy front ball joints. Wiggle the steering wheel to check tie-rod end play. Check both suspension modes work. Feel for wandering due to incorrect tyre pressures or geometry.

BODY

Feel for kerb scrapes under the nose. Look for aluminium corrosion bubbling up and behind the undertrays for corrosion and damage. Look for uneven panel gaps and wheel arch damage from track days. Check for worn boot and door seals, loose door handles, foggy lenses. On Spiders, check for hood creases and tears.

INTERIOR

Check window and locking module isn’t corroded and that rubberised trim isn’t sticky. Check door cards and that the instrument cluster lights up properly.

Also worth knowing

OE parts are often recommended but dealers and enthusiasts often turn to Hill Engineering. Its re-engineered Ferrari parts are claimed to exceed OE quality.

How much to spend £49,000-£59,999

Reasonable choice of coupés and Spiders with less than 50k miles and good service histories.

£60,000-£69,999

Low-mile, one-owner cars, those with full Ferrari or respected independent dealer histories the most expensive.

£70,000-£84,999

Mint, fully loaded cars with sub-40k mileages and watertight histories with all major work recently undertaken.

£85,000-£110,000

Ultra-low-mileage Ferrari-approved main dealer cars, others at specialists.

£135,000 AND ABOVE

A few Challenge Stradales up to £230k.

One we found FERRARI 360 MODENA F1, 2000, 37K MILES, £59,980

This car stands out for its full service history, decent mileage, right colour combo (red with cream leather), recent clutch and belts job, Challenge rear grille and stainless exhaust. Badges on wings aren’t original but that’s a detail.