This is part eight of the Ferrari restoration series on this 1960 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet. Part One of Ferrari restoration describes the creation of a ‘measuring box’ to check the car body symmetry. Part Two of Ferrari restoration  explains the creation of a new tail light housing. Part Three of Ferrari restoration illustrates patterning up the rocker panels. Part Four of Ferrari restoration  looks at how the original rocker panels were dismantled. Part Five of Ferrari restoration  covers the rocker panel build. Part Six of Ferrari restoration  describes the rocker panel graft in and some of the damaged floor rebuild.  Part Seven of Ferrari restoration  covers the extensive rebuild and restoration of the Ferrari floor.

 

This post looks at the restoration of the front of the Ferrari 250GT and its engine bay.  Like the rest of the Ferrari there was a fair amount of decayed and weakened panels that required making from scratch if we were to guarantee a lasting restoration job.

Not only shape work was required on these panels, but traditional sheet metal techniques that I learned as an apprentice like the ‘wired edge’.

The judges eyes won’t be overlooking the power plan for the poor panel work, now that we have re-crafted these panels to factory specifications.

Overview of the 250GT before we tear into the engine bay.

 

Decayed panel divided into segments for patterning purposes.

 

Patterns being made and numbered.

 

First shaping done using the wooden mallet and sand bag.

 

Second step is using a pneumatic planishing hammer to continue shaping.

 

Third step: tighten up the edges.

 

Always refer to your patterns during shaping.

 

Here’s the final outcome ready to fit to the 250GT body.

 

Decayed original panel versus newly made panel in progress, with wired edge in the making.

 Ferrari Restoration: Rebuilding Engine Bay Final Photos

New panel showing replicated factory wired edge.

 

Panels offered up to the Ferrari for final fit.

 

Weld primer applied and prepped for installation.

 

Front inner engine panel weld in.

 

Everything in its right place.

 

Often missing on older Ferraris, we created a fresh pair of inner fender splash guards, patterned off an original pair.

 

Freshly made 250GT belly pan patterned off an original.

 

Close up detail of new Ferrari belly pan.

 

This is part eight of the Ferrari restoration series on this 1960 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet. Part One of Ferrari restoration  describes the creation of a ‘measuring box’ to check the car body symmetry. Part Two of Ferrari restoration explains the creation of a new tail light housing. Part Three of Ferrari restoration  illustrates patterning up the rocker panels. Part Four of Ferrari restoration looks at how the original rocker panels were dismantled. Part Five of Ferrari restoration  covers the rocker panel build. Part Six of Ferrari restoration describes the rocker panel graft in and some of the damaged floor rebuild.  Part Seven of Ferrari restoration  covers the extensive rebuild and restoration of the Ferrari floor.