The times when Prancing Horses have been pimped seem to be long gone. The cars from Maranello have been used predominantly as showcars for rim manufacturers, except Capristo, who showed -once again after the Hockenheim FRD- their interpretation of the 458 Italia Spider engine hood.
Everybody agreed that this is the design, the Factory should have fitted the car with. Looking on it from the outside does not really give the full impression how many details have really been added. An additional air intake has been fitted -the Factory car has three fins, Capristo's show four of them- and the hood around it has been slightly lifted. The lock has moved completely and is hidden under the small carbon bridge that carries the Ferrari lettering that has been moved from the original hood.
Novitech and Hamann have not been present in Essen, it looks like they found a new home at Frankfurt's IAA. The time of crazy conversions on display seems to be over for cars based on a Ferrari - no Sbarro or anything comparable was shown.
Highlights sure have been the original GTS Dino in US-specification and fitted with Daytona seats and one of the ten or eleven 348 tb Zagato Elaborazione.
However, interest was high and an amazing 360,000 people (an increase of 6 %) visited Essen Motorshow this year - Kaboom! to all of you and see you again next year.
Here is the list of cars present at 45th ESM
07808 246 GTS Dino 74 Rosso Corsa/Nero Daytona seats LHD US
36077 308 GTSi Argento/Nero LHD US ZFFAA02AXB0036077
45201 308 GTS QV Rosso Corsa/Nero LHD EU ZFFLA13B000045201
84810 348 tb Zagato Elaborazione 90 Argento met./Nero & Grigio LHD EU ZFFKA35B000084810
135122 360 Modena Spider Nero/Crema LHD EU ZFFYT53B000135122 ass. # 52235 Novitec rear Challenge Grill
163478 F430 Scuderia F1 Rosso Corsa Grigio Corsa stripes/Alcantara Nero Rosso & Nero mesh inserts Racing seats Rosso Stitching LHD EU ZFFKZ64B000163478 Giallo dials Shields Red Calipers matte Black Spath Rims
165790 California 2+ F1 Rosso Corsa/Crema LHD EU ZFFLJ65B000165790 Shields Giallo Dials Red Calipers
180075 458 Italia GT3 Orange met. Silver Stripe/Rosso Racing seats LHD EU ZFF71NXX000180075 eng. # 171568 Aluminum Calipers
192031 458 Italia Spider F1 Rosso Corsa/Nero Racing seats Rosso Stitching LHD EU ZFFLJ65B000165790 Shields Giallo Dials Red Calipers rear Challenge Grill Capristo glass engine hood
193162 F12 Berlinetta F1 Argento Nürburgring/Nero LHD EU ZFF74UHB000193162 Nero Calipers Hankook Rims