Can you really repair a crashed hypercar?

The recent sale of a damaged Ferrari Enzo by RM Sotheby’s in their Paris 2016 sale for £1.2 million casts the spotlight on the vehicle itself but also on the manufacturer. Is it really possible to properly repair such a vehicle and arrange for the issue of a manufacturer certificate of approval? Would the car ever be as good as new?

We spoke with Graham Schultz of Modena Group who is authorised by Ferrari to carry out composite repairs to Enzo – to find out.

“There’s no reason why a vehicle like this couldn’t or shouldn’t be repaired” says Schultz, a seasoned veteran of the industry. ”It would require a full sized autoclave but it is certainly possible.”

But what other hurdles would the owner of such a vehicle have to overcome in order to restore the car to its former glory?

“There are a number of challenges. Firstly there is a two year waiting list to have a repair at Modena and there are very few other organisations who could make the specialist repair on a vehicle like this correctly. Additionally when this vehicle was damaged in 2006 there were no Enzo tubs available and if it was replaced they were £100,000 alone. It is also likely to have required a new engine frame and rear suspension not to mention a new engine.”

There may also be challenges in store for the next owner as Graham explains.

“Quality of repair is crucial and it would be impossible to assess the repair correctly without a full photographic library of the car before and after repair as well as a technical history file from Ferrari. Typically we would take around 2000 images of a repair of this nature for the repair archive – if there aren’t any available there is almost certainly a reason.”

For any potential buyer of a car that has suffered such extensive damage and repair, Graham advised checking the electronic systems carefully as these can be replaced or recommissioned incorrectly – even more modern additions such as the satellite navigation on the car in question need to be checked thoroughly. It is also important to alert your insurer to the previous history of the vehicle – even if they are willing to insure it, in the event of a claim withholding any information that they might deem relevant may give them reason not to settle a claim.

“A detailed inspection would be imperative but sellers can sometimes refuse to allow them which probably tells you all you need to know”.

Modern techniques can certainly restore the chassis of a modern hypercar to its full structural integrity (Rowan Atkinson’s McLaren F1 being a good example), but that is just the start of a long journey on the road to recovery for a “wrecked exotic”

The Ferrari Classiche certificate certainly seems to have done the trick though….

Images courtesy of Wrecked Exotics and RM Sothebys