Skeets Dunn has owned more than 125 Ferraris and had about 40 restored, and his daily driver is a 550 Maranello, so you could say he knows an authentic collectible Ferrari when he sees one. Since 2007, however, Dunn and many other Ferrari owners and collectors have turned to the factory’s Classiche Program, which is available through authorized Ferrari dealers, to authenticate and certify their treasured machines.
Dunn described the ongoing problem of individuals trying to replicate rare and highly valued Ferraris using parts from more widely produced models, and pointed out that Classiche certification can help identify and filter out the fakes. Dunn owns an original 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider and said that some sellers continue to try passing off Spiders converted from coupes as originals.
“Classiche certification is like an additional insurance policy,” Dunn said. “If someone comes up with a car with the same serial number, it’s not going to have the correct engine number, transmission number or the right internal number in the motor,” he said. “Classiche is a good process. It adds to the authenticity of what you own, and to the car’s value, I feel.” Dunn has encouraged friends to put their Ferraris through the program, as well.
Ferrari collector Mike Alessandro also believes the Classiche Program can help support a collectible Ferrari’s value. “It settles issues that might otherwise have people arguing about forever,” he said, explaining that some very rare Ferrari models, including a few he has owned, can stir debate. As an example, his 275 GTB/4, which was Ferrari’s Paris Auto Show Car in 1967, has an external fuel filler, like the very rare competition model, but it is purely a road model. Alessandro said the original build sheets showed this to be a correct feature for this particular car, and the car was certified through Classiche. The special 275 GTB/4 also has the original green-tinted headlights installed to conform to French regulations.
Likewise, Alessandro’s 250 GT California SWB, which he’s since sold, was the first one built and had several differences from those that followed, including a metal dashboard. Here again, the Ferrari Classiche Program authenticated and certified the car, settling any debate. “Every serious collector knew I owned that car,” said Alessandro. “But when I sold it, it was important to the buyer that it had Classiche certification.” Alessandro has also had a Daytona Spider and a 246 Dino “Chairs and Flares” model certified, among others.
Classiche Program