97 Ferrari 456 GTA bought in auction

[idealstandard]

lukeharding said:

Did you end up selling the red one?

Yes, sold last month! Was sad to see it go.

[keith2.2]

carinaman said:

I'll continue to look, but there's Atkinson's 456:

https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2011-0...

well isn't that...revolting.

[snotrag]

keith2.2 said:

well isn't that...revolting.

fastgerman said:

The Racing Green 456 is stunning!

It takes all sorts I guess. It looks far, far better in the photos I posted than it does on that auction link to be fair. I am very much in the same camp as fastgerman!


The Ian Tyrell video link is a good one, I remembered seeing some good footage of one recently but couldnt remember where.

[fastgerman]

First purchase to keep in the boot if the windows fail me haha:

[leglessAlex]

You legend!!

Myself and a friend have been looking at these for a while now, yes they're hugely expensive to run but they're at the price point where if you had a garage and the inclination to do so, you could do most work on them yourself I imagine.

Following this thread with great interest, bravo again!

[gforceg]

fastgerman said:

Amazing old Top Gear vid, this followed which is equally incredible - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gf20FKWrbM4

Around 20 secs., who knew Barry Manilow had a hand in the design?

These still look great after 20+ years.

[5pen]

Lovely. I absolutely love these.

I have the copy of Car including the Rowan Atkinson article about buying his 456 somewhere - I remember it well. I will try to find it. From the N plate it should be somewhere in the 1995-96 issues.

[Spinakerr]

An absolutely incredible car - congratulations. Great colour, and I suppose the hunt on ebay.it now begins for all the matching luggage!

I have dreamt of a manual, green 456 purchase for many years since PH featured an auto that was sold here for 18k in the depths of the last financial crisis (where is it now?), though whenever I have built the funds something in life inevitably quashes the goal (house purchase, work abroad etc.)!

At the last Auto Italia at Brooklands in 2019 I was talking to a 456 owner and we tweaked the throttle cables slightly as shown in Tyrell's video, plus tightening of a weeping jubilee clip. It was an honour to have a good scmaper around under the bonnet with a cup of coffee - you're fortunate you cna do it any hour of the day!

I hope you get a huge amount of enjoyment and the bills stay below four figures, and I would recommend the Automobilia book for some decent history. It's always way overpriced but I picked my copy up in a charity shop in Richmond, worth £20 if you spot it.

Thank you for sharing your experience and photos, and I hope to see the car at some show or meet in future.

[fastgerman]

Thanks guys and we’ll find out if I’m a legend or loser shortly haha

Pictures of the Atkinson article please :-)

Thanks for the recommendations on books and events, think I went to a Brooklands AutoItalia event by mistake after being bought an AMG experience.

Matt (PH) has asked me to write a Car Pool, which I’ll do after I’ve driven the car properly. Probably won’t get it back until end of Oct. I’ll ask Rardleys to send me some pictures along the way along with Rudler’s who are transporting.

Edited by fastgerman on Saturday 26th September 11:43

[ferrisbueller]

Their inspired decision to call their magazine "Car", makes searching for items rather more tiresome than it could be.

[Gus265]

I love the idea of these cars but not the ruinous costs. Look after the bonnet and exhaust system. However I think you might have bought a blinder there - pretty much perfect service history with the right people. Enjoy!!

[5pen]

fastgerman said:

Pictures of the Atkinson article please :-)

Edited by fastgerman on Saturday 26th September 11:43

I’ve found the copy of Car (July ‘96). Tomorrow, when I have some good natural light, I’ll take some pictures of it. Tricky to do so without shadows at the moment, but here is a taster...

[richatnort]

Might be worth looking at jayemm YouTube video wirh his ferrari he seems to think the main dealer is cheap so could be worth looking at for you.

https://youtu.be/8MdSgE6qYU0

[Davie_GLA]

Very interesting to see it spent some time in my neck of the woods (Bothwell, Bellshill, Motherwell) and spent some time in the Douglas Park network. (and what a typo on the milage!)

Not unusual machinery for these parts mind you but back then I wonder who was kicking about in it. Good luck OP.

Edited by Davie_GLA on Sunday 27th September 21:05

[EarlofDrift]

keith2.2 said:

carinaman said:

I'll continue to look, but there's Atkinson's 456:

https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2011-0...

well isn't that...revolting.

I think the green is quite smart, not my favourite but I could live with it. However those red interiors would push me over the edge.

[fastgerman]

Thanks 5pen! amazing you have this article still :-)

Will check out Jayemm also, cheers

Re - other owners:

2004 - 2006, 3rd owner is Michael Barratt, who appears to be a TV Presenter if it's the same person.

2006 - 2010, Tony Conetta who is Director of 'Scotland's largest independent restaurant operator'. This owner would have used the Douglas Park Ltd MOT station, which seems to be BMW Group? Would have been nice if they retrofitted some E36 window regulators.

Next few owners appear to be in 'Capital Management' type stuff... then down to Cornwall, then Devon (owned by Devon Classic Cars from 2014 - 2016), back to London with 'Capital Management' type stuff (I won't type his name as it appears some sort of Bitcoin fraudulent activity haha), then to the person I bought the car from who runs Hortons Books specialising in rare and limited addition Automotive books.

Other parts information I have found out:
- Suspension is Bilstein, which can be refurbished by Bilstein for not too much ££.
- Suspension actuators are also used on Maserati and some Corvette's, these can also be refurbished and there are several on eBay for £300 ish (£1k new each).
- Oil filled suspension cylinders/accumulators which are £600 ish from Ferrari are also the same as on a similar period BMW 7 series for £150 ish.
- According to Rardleys the auto gearbox is American and pretty bullet proof. Must be interesting gearing if it can wheel spin but also manage 190 mph in 4th gear.
- I'm sure I'll find out other parts along the way.

[5pen]

As promised. I hope it’s legible.

[67Dino]

Congratulations. Loved mine, think it’s a vastly underrated car. Does need a lot of maintenance but then that’s why there’s a discount on the £100k buying price these should be worth. The V12 would be worth that alone. Enjoy!

PS Good article vs Daytona in this one too...

Edited by 67Dino on Monday 28th September 09:58

[fastgerman]

[quote=5pen]As promised. I hope it’s legible.



Awesome thanks so much!

Love this picture, you can imagine him asking Baldrick to take a good photo :-)

Think I need to find a car phone with the cord for the arm rest also, too cool.

[5pen]

67Dino said:

Congratulations. Loved mine, think it’s a vastly underrated car. Does need a lot of maintenance but then that’s why there’s a discount on the £100k buying price these should be worth. The V12 would be worth that alone. Enjoy!

PS Good article vs Daytona in this one too...

Edited by 67Dino on Monday 28th September 09:58

Ha! I found that one too whilst looking for the Atkinson article.