How to Spot a Fake Ferrari

Italian police broke up a Ferrari counterfeiting business earlier this year, confiscating 22 cars, 14 of which had already been sold to luxury sportscar collectors. The fake Ferraris seized in Italy were used Pontiac Fieros which had been altered to pass for Ferrari Testarossas. The counterfeit industry has grown 1,000 percent in Europe between 1998 and 2004 according to EU Customs and spans beyond designer handbags, shoes, watches, and clothes. Before purchasing a luxury car, do you homework so you can distinguish a real Ferrari from a fake.

1) Who is selling the Ferrari? Do a little homework on who the seller is. Are they an authorized Ferrari dealer? If it is pre-owned, where did it come from? Check out the owner documents, service records, and paperwork. Most fake Ferraris are sold as pre-owned classic models from the 1960s-1980s.

2) Do not be fooled by the exterior. Most Ferrari fakes look the same from a distance- the same tail lights, the same fenders, also the exhaust is the same.

3) The interior of fake Ferraris lack the same quality of real Ferraris. Never buy a car without personally inspecting the car or having a knowledgeable expert inspect it for you. Look under the hood, fake Ferraris will have a different engine, frame, suspension, chassis, roof, hood, trunk, doors, and brakes. If you are not familiar with the famous Ferrari engine, stop by your local Ferrari dealership and become familiar with its features or go to Ferraris official website at www.FerrariUSA.com to locate your nearest authorized dealer.

4) Lastly, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. No one in their right mind is going to be selling a $300,000 car for $30,000. Everyone loves finding that hidden bargain and feeling like you have just hit the jackpot of all car deals, but do not let your emotions get the best of you. There are a lot of great deals on real luxury cars out there, you just need to shop around and be smart.

While the popularity of replica classic cars resides outside of the United States, it is sure to make its debut here soon with our social acceptance of owning counterfeit goods. This once taboo industry has become a booming global business. Pur Sang, an Argentine company, specializes in building Bugatti Type 37, 35, 43 and 51 replicas that can hardly be distinguished from the real thing. They are sold as replicas but some buyers obviously have no problem adding the Bugatti badge and declaring it to be an original.

By K. Verity.

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How To Evaluate A Used Ferrari For Purchase

For car lovers, the ultimate in sports car pleasure is to slip behind the wheel of a Ferrari. If it is your deepest desire to own a Ferrari, you will want to make sure to evaluate the Ferrari carefully before you make a purchase. In this way you can ensure that you are getting a quality vehicle that will be a good investment.

Once you have narrowed down which particular Ferrari you would like to have as your own, you will need to get an idea of how much that vehicle is worth. There are some good sources for Ferrari valuation. Although ordinarily a wealth of information about several different makes of cars, the Kelley Blue Book lists no pricing information for used Ferraris. Instead, try the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide. Select the "Consumer" guide, and then enter the make and model as well as the year, and you will get back pricing information.

You can search online for the investment car dealer nearest you, although you will certainly have a larger selection to choose from if your search is not limited by geography. When you have a particular car that you are considering, you will want to take a close look at the car's history. One way to do that is to request a history report of the Ferrari for sale. There are several available online, including Experian Automotive and Carfax, which offers a guaranteed used car report for the history of the car.

In addition, you will want to inquire as to how the vehicle was maintained by previous owners. Poor maintenance can make for a car that is a poor investment, so checking on this critical area can be an important criterion for your Ferrari car evaluation. You will also need to find out if the vehicle has ever been in any accidents, or survived floods, both of which can potentially reduce the value of the car. It pays to have a qualified mechanic from a Ferrari dealer perform a pre-purchase inspection of the vehicle.

Since this is an investment, you will want to be sure to look at how well the vehicle in question will retain its initial value. Since they do not make anymore vintage Ferraris from the 1950s, for example, if you have one that is in great condition, the value will increase simply due to the scarcity involved. Value can also be based in part on its popularity, as well as the way people think about its value.

You can learn a lot about Ferraris for sale by joining a Ferrari club. Members can give advice on maintaining a new Ferrari or a vintage Ferrari. Here you will likely be able to gather information to help you find a great Ferrari.

By Jonathan Blocker.