Forgeries not copies

Maranello, 1 August – While it’s true that even a Ferrari can be seen as a work of art, that might be stretching the point somewhat in the case of the eight people recently arrested in Spain for having set up an organisation to make fake upmarket cars including Ferraris and then selling them on the Internet at knock down prices when compared to the originals. No less than 17 fake Prancing Horse 458 Italias and F430s were discovered in two workshops in Algamese and Albalat dels Sorells and they were immediately dismantled by the authorities. In this instance it’s not a case of copies but just forgeries pure and simple, on a par with those fake Hermes bags sold in the streets.

Is there a market for these cars? Apparently so, which goes to show that the urge to own a Ferrari is very strong and widespread. This incident, not the first of its kind, confirms the importance of the role of the official Prancing Horse sales network and its relationship with potential customers. If you really want a Ferrari, knock on the door of a Maranello dealership, to be found in 62 countries around the world with over 200 dealers: there you are bound to find the real car of your dreams.

*In the history of painting there are many stories about forgeries, which have now become valuable because they reproduce the original paintings, that became masterpieces. Those artists who, without any original artistic ideas of their own are known as copyists and specialise in repeatedly painting various subjects, or more simply specific themes.