He spent 20,000€ and then waited months before Ferrari agreed to help him: the problem was right in front of him

When Mat Armstrong bought this Ferrari 296 GTB, he knew he was taking on one of the most complicated projects of his career. But even he probably didn’t imagine that it would take several months, a brand-new hybrid battery costing nearly €20,000, dozens of hours of work, and ultimately Ferrari’s direct intervention to hear the hybrid V6 start up again.

A Ferrari that stubbornly refuses to start

Ever since its arrival in the United Kingdom, this Ferrari 296 GTB—which had been rebuilt piece by piece—seemed doomed to remain silent. Despite the car being gradually reassembled, the replacement of numerous components, and even the installation of a new hybrid battery, it was impossible to get it to start.

The situation was all the more frustrating because everything seemed to point to electronic problems. In fact, Ferrari had explained from the outset, when he bought the car, that all components connected to the car’s network had to be reinstalled before a complete diagnosis could be performed. Airbags, control modules, sensors—everything had to be in place.

Faced with this impasse, Mat Armstrong eventually contacted Ferrari directly. After initially refusing, the Italian automaker finally agreed to inspect the vehicle, but on one condition: the car had to be completely rebuilt before entering the official service network.

Ferrari Discovers a Surprising Initial Error

Once the Ferrari arrived at the dealership, the technicians began by tackling the hybrid battery. For months, it had refused to charge properly. Mat had even gone so far as to buy a new battery in an attempt to fix the problem. The cause, however, was much simpler.

Technicians discovered that the electronic parking brake was no longer engaged. After the accident, it had been disengaged to move the car, and then could never be reengaged due to a lack of power. However, on the 296 GTB, the system requires that this brake be engaged to allow the hybrid battery to recharge. This safety feature is designed to prevent a plugged-in vehicle from moving accidentally.

A discovery that was as simple… as it was frustrating for Mat Armstrong, who then realized he might have spent thousands of euros on a new battery without really needing it.

The real culprit was hiding right under his nose

Unfortunately, even after restoring the hybrid battery’s charge, the Ferrari still refuses to start. The Ferrari technicians then continued their investigation. They examined the hybrid system, the control modules, the wiring harnesses, and the various electronic modules. For several days, they, too, found themselves scratching their heads over this unusual malfunction.

Then came the breakthrough. The team decided to try a new steering wheel. On the Ferrari 296, the touch-sensitive Start/Stop button is built right into the steering wheel. Mat had already tried this approach before by installing a steering wheel from another wrecked car, but without success.

This time, with a new steering wheel provided by Ferrari, everything worked right away. The technicians discovered that the airbag deployment during the accident had damaged some electronic components around the start button. The replacement steering wheel Mat was using also came from a crashed car and had the exact same defect. As a result, for months, no one had realized that the problem was simply the Start/Stop button.

Finally, the sound of the Ferrari V6

Once the problem has been identified, Ferrari makes the final necessary adjustments: bleeding the cooling system, bleeding the clutch, and fixing several electronic glitches. Then, at last, the long-awaited moment arrives.

After months of waiting, the Ferrari 296 GTB starts up for the first time since its accident. The twin-turbo V6 hybrid roars back to life with a particularly impressive roar, thanks to the modified exhaust system installed by Mat Armstrong.

The story is all the more incredible because the problem that kept this supercar off the road for months was neither the engine, nor the hybrid battery, nor a complex control module, but simply a faulty start button built into the steering wheel.

The project isn't finished yet

However, the adventure is far from over. This Ferrari 296 GTB, modified with a body kit inspired by the 296 Challenge, remains a one-of-a-kind prototype. Several adjustments are still needed to ensure optimal cooling of the hybrid system and to finalize certain electronic details.

But the bottom line is this: after months of research, doubts, and expenses, Ferrari finally agreed to help him. And thanks to their intervention, the supercar that many considered beyond repair has finally found its voice again.