The market for racing memorabilia is a fascinating one. There's endless apparel, tools, parts, and products that go into every single race, meaning a wide swath of opportunity for fans to own a part of history from their favorite team or driver. But unlike cars, which have service histories and supporting documentation, things like used race engines are a bit harder to keep track of.
Ferrari didn't much like the current state of the memorabilia industry, so the company decided to take matters into its own hands. While the Italian carmaker has been privately selling gear and used parts for years, it's finally taken a step to codify the history and value behind its memorabilia.
To that end, Ferrari has formed a team inside its design center to "reframe" stuff like old race car parts and prototype engines, turning them into displayable works of art for buyers. The line of products, called Ferrari Collectibles, features items like engines and body pieces from Formula 1 cars. There are also smaller objects, like valves, pistons, camshafts, and connecting rods.
Instead of selling the pieces as-is, Ferrari's design team aims to put each piece on display using stands made of perspex or aluminum, depending on the item's size, shape, and weight. In the case of a LaFerrari prototype V-12, for example, the engine is "exploded," expanded into several pieces and suspended through a series of aluminum supports, as if to show the parts floating in the air.
"The use of transparent materials and structural elements gives an effect of suspension and lightness to the object in question," chief design officer Flavio Manzoni said. "This allows it to be contemplated in the essence of its form. This approach is consistent with our way of working in automotive design, where we tend to operate by subtraction rather than adding the superfluous."
More than to capitalize on the value of the parts it has on-hand, Ferrari is pushing its new line of collectibles to "steer brand perception," a spokesperson told Motor1. The company would rather give its customers the peace of mind that they're buying products straight from the source, rather than a third party. The fancy Perspex stands are just the cherry on top.
As with anything with the prancing horse logo, Ferrari Collectibles aren't cheap, and they're tough to come by. Right now, there are just 13 "families" of items available, ranging from front wings and full engines to exhaust headers. Most of the bigger items, like the one-of-three LaFerrari engine mentioned earlier, are sold out. They're priced from $330,000 each. Another engine, sourced from a Schumacher-raced F1 car, sold for $315,000.
Not every item is out of reach, though. Tifosi can get their hands on a race-used brake disc for as little as $3,000, depending on its history. Smaller engine pieces, like valves, can be as cheap as $700. While the big-ticket stuff requires a visit to one of Ferrari's boutiques, you can order more affordable collectibles from Ferrari's website.
Gallery: Ferrari Collectibles Memorabilia
