Ferrari 348 ts

Starting point

A Ferrari 348 ts, built in 1992, came to Schwaikheim with clear signs of use. After 19 years the paint was dull and covered in surface scratches; the model lettering, Ferrari badges and ventilation grilles were weathered and coated with limescale. The biggest problem lay in the interior. UV radiation had turned the coating of the centre console into a sticky mass in which dust and fibres clung and every touch of a finger left an imprint. The door handles, the Targa roof catches and the mirror caps had softened as well. Replacement parts were not available, and used parts showed the same damage. Added to this was wear on the leather, especially on the side bolsters of the bucket seats.

Work

Since the paint had presumably been polished several times before and had lost coating thickness, we used a process without abrasive components. Scratches in the top coat were not sanded away but fused into a glossy surface; only where scratches were too deep was the method adapted in places. The paint was then sealed with the LZ 730 brilliance sealant, according to the report at the time a five-layer sealant that closes the pores of the paint like glass. Limescale deposits and water spots across the entire rear, especially on the engine cover with its ventilation louvres, were removed; badges, model lettering and ventilation grilles were sourced anew. The interior was thoroughly cleaned, and scratches and scuffs in the leather were pigmented. The centre console was removed, dismantled and prepared step by step so that a new pigmentation would adhere; the switch knobs were intact and were retained. The other affected plastic parts received the same treatment.

Result

The previously dull paint once again shows a rich red with depth of gloss. The plastics are smooth, deep black and no longer sticky; visually they are indistinguishable from the other parts in the car, and dust can be removed easily again. The leather looks high quality once more. The 348 ts has gained in value through the reworking of its original parts, without replacing any parts that could be preserved.

Workshop archive, original report. Product details reflect the state at the time.