Mat Armstrong, a YouTuber well known for resurrecting dented supercars (his latest two Italians: Lamborghini Revuelto and Aventador SVJ), is back at it again with a Ferrari 458 Spider. What's special is that he's found the "cheapest car in the world", which has been fatally damaged, and has set himself a spectacular challenge: to get it back on the road in 7 days. So, what does a "cheap" 458 really cost?
7 days of hardship
On arrival at the workshop, the Ferrari 458 Spider sets the tone: musty interior, jammed door, destroyed bumper, hammered front end. The car is sold non-running, but the 4.5L V8 atmo is untouched. Mat tries to restart the Italian beauty: dead battery, clamps, booster, nothing... until, after several attempts, the V8 finally starts, smoking but alive. However, there's no question of letting it warm up because of the broken radiators at the front.
Then it's time for a methodical dismantling: front bumpers, fairings, fenders - everything falls off, revealing a seriously deformed aluminum front end. As for the overall impression, one detail makes you cringe: the original Ferrari welds are frankly... sparing. Enzo used to say: "You pay for the engine and gearbox, the rest is free".
Diagnosis of the right-hand side of the car: broken upper wishbone, out-of-order inner connecting rod, and above all a twisted rack... like a banana. Left rear: upper arms bent, carbon disc cracked. Brakes: two cracked carbon discs (one front, one rear). Even second-hand, the bill will be high.
For the front structure (aluminum cradle, fender and intercooler supports), Mat calls on Bob, an expert in TIG welding. At the rear, the crossmember carrying the coolers and parking brake cables is removed, straightened/painted and bolted in the original manner. At the same time, Mat removes the Ferrari's damaged rear quarter. It takes a long time to fit, and rivets and plug welds follow one another until the invisible joint is reached, which the bodywork finishes with a fine putty.
To visually transform the 458 Spider, Mat receives a DMC kit: hood and carbon fenders fit... but the fiber bumper is unmountable without many adjustments. He tries a 458 Challenge bumper, which has to be cut to add the hood lock (Challenge models have quick-release fasteners). This time, it fits.
In the cabin, the door panels have been blown off by the side airbags: direction upholstery. The belts are going for reconditioning. Mat wants to fit a second-hand door, but the hinges have probably taken the shock. Despite adjustments, door/wing alignment remains imperfect.
Good news: the car is finally on all four wheels, with Speciale wheels and Michelin PS4S. Bad news: on presenting the headlights, Mat discovers that there's still a gap of a few precious millimeters... Mat opts to take his time: no painting until the adjustments are perfect.
The provisional bill
- Ferrari purchase: £58,000 (approx. €65,000)
- Parts & work involved (J6): £24,078 (approx. €27,000)
- Total at this stage: €92,000
- Market entry price for a 458 Spider on wheels: around €144,000 (Mat reference)
On paper, the margin is there. In real life, it melts quickly: upholstery, belts, paint, harnesses, geometry adjustments, bumpers, headlights potentially to be codified... and time spent (which is worth money, even on YouTube).
Bargain... or money pit?
The story isn't over yet, but there's no such thing as a "cheap" Ferrari 458. It has to be paid for outright, or in parts, hours and sweat. Mat hasn't won his 7-day bet. On the other hand, he has given us the instructions for restoring a supercar.
So, good deal or money pit? For the moment, the equation remains open. From an accounting point of view, the calculation remains positive. But the 458 Spider, even "the cheapest in the world", can't be repaired in a week. To be continued...
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