PROJECT MONDIAL: Chris Harris buys a £21K Ferrari from Collecting Cars
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มิ.ย. 2021
- Chris Harris buys a convertible Ferrari for the price of a new Ford Focus, and finds out what it needs after 30 years on the road.
If you’re seeking a Ferrari with wind-in-the-hair excitement, then Maranello will happily charge you a seven-figure sum to acquire a Monza SP1 and enjoy a staggering engine with little more than an aeroscreen for protection. Or of course, you could even spend eight figures on a 250 GT California.
But what if your budget would likely only stretch to a five-year-old BMW 4 Series Convertible? Well, there’s an answer for that, too. Enter, the 1988 Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet, chassis number 75981. Purchased in May 2021 on Collecting Cars, the buyer was none other than a Mr Chris Harris, with a winning bid just over £21,000.
In a series of videos, Chris will report back on life with this mid-engined V8 Ferrari, starting here with an introduction, and then covering off some of the maintenance and refurbishment over the coming months.
Offered with low mileage, the Mondial was listed as having good bodywork, paint, and interior trim; though with a few known faults. Picking up the car shortly after the auction, there was an obvious fuel leak to sort in the future, but it fired up and got out on the road without any other issues.
Seeing the Pininfarina-styled bodywork and hearing the naturally aspirated, flat-plane crank V8 weaving through English B-roads should make anyone look at the Mondial twice. Its mid-engined four-seater Cabriolet layout is a true automotive oddity, but in this later 3.2 ‘Quattrovalvole’ guise, the Mondial romps along with a surprising turn of pace - not to mention with a typically evocative exhaust note.
While the bodywork, Rosso Corsa paint, and cream Connolly leather upholstery is as well-presented as expected, the underside does need some attention after no doubt being used through the full range of British weather. Another video may go into the details; suffice to say it will need some welding underneath, though it passed the last MOT test without any major issues being flagged.
Having stretched the legs of this convertible on a typical British spring day, rain was of course inevitable. While the mechanism on this car is sound, and the original soft top has just one small repaired tear, a loose securing pin on a front catch meant the process was far trickier than it should be. Nevertheless, this should be a straightforward fix, and once the roof can be opened and closed with relative ease, it should prove a boon through the summer months.
So far, ‘Project Mondial’ is shaping up to be a cheap and cheerful route into Ferrari ownership, with whatever it lacks in style being admirably counterbalanced with bags of character. It remains to be seen whether the cost and complexity of any refurbishment will put a dent in Chris’ smile, so check back on Collecting Cars for updates this summer.
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I remember when this car came out. I was astonished that Ferrari had finally built a car that my father couldn’t say no to. A FOUR SEAT, convertible, mid-engined sports car! It was perfect for our family of four and I was over the moon with excitement, imagining myself being dropped off at school in a black Ferrari (the color I wanted), drawing the envy of all the other students who would witness. Anyway, the Ford Granada station wagon he ended up buying instead was beige, at least.
Haha love it!
Lol!! You had me there
we had the 2.8 v6 it threw a rod after 2 months
He should had bought a ford taunus coupe
Unlucky mate, my dad fortunately did not leave me that predicament getting a black Mondale during my formative years.
Mr. Harris is correct in his sympathetic and fun assessment of the Mondial. I happen to own one and nodded in agreement when Chris expressed joy in how the Mondial handles. I own a coupe model, so dealing with that famous Ferrari soft top is something I had never had to do, fortunately. The Mondial is magic, pure and simple. Every model around the Mondial has risen in cost, except for it. Every owner of a Mondial loves their cars, and we all just shrug our shoulders when a 'purist' talks our cars down as being 'ugly,' 'not powerful enough,' or 'weird.' Chris drove the 3.2 version, which is a proper motor. Yes, life is short and the Mondial offers just as much fun and bang for buck as anything out there. Of the five Ferraris I have owned, the Mondial is by far my favorite. Pardon me now while I go and take my Mondial out for a proper drive....and SMILE every mile!
Bit by bit, in some of his videos, Chris harris reveals the truth about modern cars, which can't be said when driving the latest SF90 for instance. Every time Chris gets in a car and talks about it, I feel exactly on the same page
I'm all in for progress etc and some modern cars can be interesting like the GT86 etc but recently I tried to do reviews of new cars. Had to do a lot of networking to be able to get brands to lend me cars and boy, was I dissapointed when I realized that two completely different cars, diferent brands and price ranges... Drive almost the same. I'm back to older cars.
Man crush.???? Oh dear.
@@FlappyPaddle Isn't that just the result of car companies trying to achieve the same goal? Not making fun of your opinion btw, I think it's a perfectly good reason to love old cars! But I think modern cars feel the same because they're all achieving the same goal for building their cars, which in turn means similar solutions to achieve it. It would be like saying "back in my day for medication we had leeches, devices purpose-built to make you bleed and get infections, and a myriad of unknown plants to try! Now it's all just penicillin, penicillin, and more penicillin". It's all the same now yes, but it's because we've reached a point where we know what works. It's the same reason why modern pop songs follow the same flow of Verse Chorus Verse Chorus Break and slightly different chorus. It's what works to get into people's heads. Take any modern car, song, or medical miracle and put it in the past, it'll be a massive hit and it'll be special! These days almost every car is good, but when every one of them is good, nothing stands out. As the saying goes: If everyone's special, then no one is
@@techpassion4126 agree agree but it's not about for example, all hot hatches being the same because you kind of expect that. But crossovers and hot hatches feeling the same, etc.
I love Chris Harris’s personality, he’s is often cruelly cynical, always argumentative, and highly combative. He also knows what he’s talking about and is a superb driver to boot. Good on you Chris, your one of our finest 👍🇬🇧
Agreed
Ha, must be why I like him. You described me perfectly with your first sentence… for better, or for worse.
*you're. Not very proper of you Phil.
Sounds ghayyyy
Well marry him then tucker smh😂
The price of any Mondial just doubled…..
I was thinking the same.
No, it really didn’t
So true 😂
Trust me, by the time his roof shut, it was halved again xD
hahahah
“There’s a finite amount of time we’ve got left to enjoy and use them before they ban all our fun.”
Jeez, now that’s a depressing thought.
Every time a car journo/industry commentator says something like this it fills me with genuine dread. Must plan a few road trips...
The thought of driving round in soulless electric cars is shite. I had a electric battery powered ride on car as a kid, i dont want one as an adult.
Yup. We all die. Can't escape it.
Much easier to ban ICE cars than to ban gas central heating
That's certainly depressing. But even more depressing is the idea that we have a finite time left to keep this planet habitable for humans and many other creatures. The next IPCC Report details irreversible climate tipping points if we don't take serious action. Even though it pains me just as much as you, it really does, let's not see it as a ban on fun... but let's try to make fun in a different way. Electric motors are powerful enough for a lot of fun. They can be controlled very precisely and we can compensate a lot with speakers when it comes to the sound. I'm sure with some loving attention, you can simulate an ICE drive-train with all it's gaps, delays and peculiarities very closely.
Blasphemy? likely.. but having a car on a planet that is not habitable is not working either. :-(
“Arguably the shittest Ferrari convertible ever made” that line sent me😂
Where did it send you, pray tell?
@@kencur9690 to the moon
@@fraserdb and beyo... no scratch that: there’s a leak!
NOT TRUE.....they're shitty BECAUSE cheap azzholes buy them, and don't maintain them.
My Ferrari mechanic, who has a long history of Italian V-12 ownership, drove a customer's Mondial after completing his service-work - after the drive, he said he 'got it' why people love the car.
LOL
Chris and Neil together is gold. Best car enthusiasts and journalists, hands down.
Can’t help but love Chris Harris. Such a cool bloke.
hes a Matrix asset, from patch 4.8 hes overdue for a rework soon. Glad you like this version.
I think he looks like a homeless person.
He has excellent knowledge
@@quinningtons he's a bloody good driver who claims to like Italian cars, but has yet to join all the dots.
There are better Fiats for the money.
He tries to imitate Clarkson while looking more professional then him but he fails to deliver
Absolutely adore this car. I wish people still hated them so I could afford one lol
Me too
hahah
If you want a car that's a joy to drive, easy on the pocketbook, and you can put up the top in 10 seconds - you get a Miata. (or an Alfa, or RX7, or MR2).
Thanks Chris!
My dad had one, a coupe. I’ll never forget the smell of the leather interior, or how cool the bucket seats in the back were for a 10 year old... I’ll never forget him getting it sideways on the North Circular either, he sold it soon afterwards.
Rich bloke
Was it a hard car to handle in the corners or something Simon? Would love to hear how that happened?
@@jameswillard1 “spirited driving”
Bro my dad also had a black mondial when I was roughly 10 or 11 years old. And I live in NW london so also drove on the north circular.
Finally some love for the Mondial! -- the 3.2 is a glorious machine. The convertibles can have all sorts of issues, though, esp. with the rear windows, and esp. for one as dirt cheap as this. If you get the coupe you can focus your attention on the corrosion and the dodgy fusebox!
Always loved the Mondial, ever since Weird Science 😊
weird science was cool
Lisa was her name, not Mondial.. 🤣
Great movie
“Wyatt, take the Porsche. Gary, you take the Ferrari.” 😎
Chris Harris. Ferrari. You just can't dislike this man.
LOL true!
Yes you can. He hates miatas. I will never feel anything in common with him due to this bizarre opinion.
The first Ferrari I ever drove was a 3.2 Mondial, found memories, can’t believe the price.!
A good watch this. There is a great point as well about enjoying old cars with mates, whether it's a 20k ferarri or a 2 grand BMW. Something to enjoy and wrench on
Agreed!
I'm enjoying a 2 grand bmw so much!
Absolutely loving this episode, the filming, the host, the car, the message, this is why we love our cars, because they make us feel, they are emotional mechanical items. We do have a short time in this earth to enjoy driving, so go out there and drive.
I had a QV for five years. Whilst I never had it on the back of a breakdown truck it did very much not like starting with a warm engine. I knew when I filled it with fuel it was going to attract people laughing at the broken ferrari 😄
Loved it though and it drove really well.
One of my all time favourite cars to this day.
This is an awesome purchase. I love Chris's take on how cars are supposed to be enjoyable.
I saw David Carradine's black convertible sell at Monterey two years ago for $21,000. Thought it was an incredible deal (although it might be cursed)
Not sure if it's Neil that does these videos, but man, they have got the exhaust noise recording absolutely dialed. Sounds amazing
Tires absolutely lethal in the rain...this guy is brilliant. Love his vids.
Sounds like you’d hear Chris arrive at the pub… with his dog and kids.
hahahah
The Mondial is so underrated and people like to talk shit
Oh this is glorious. Proper classic Chris Harris on Drive stuff.
Miss those videos.
I had a t Cabrio for several years. There was a technique to the hood but it wasn't that difficult, although mine never actually fell apart. Apart from being able to stick a small child in the back it actually proved a very fun car to drive, particularly on track. And you could actually see out of it in all directions, unlike say a Portofino.
Yes Tim...viability is brilliant.
I love the Mondial. I don't care what some people say, it's a beautiful car and it sounds great. And the fact that Al Pacino drove it in one of the best movies of all time "Scent of a woman" makes it even better.
He’s spot on with that… all those cars sitting in collections not being used and gas going the way of the cuckoo
real car, real fun...proper interesting, cheers Chris, looking forward to this story...
Car adventures are the best adventures.
Nice one Chris, keep us updated.
2:34 I love it how the gated shifter moves when shifting☺
I had a couple of Mondials. Loved them. Practical, stylish and classy. Got a California T now which is not as practical space wise but a lovely car
Truly enjoyed driving the Valeo 3.4 Mondial when I was kid. Shifting gears through the gate without a clutch pedal was exciting. Always afraid the electronics would crap out. Not many Valeo Mondials.
Anyone with a series one Elise will sympathise with the soft top struggles.
Love the Mondial - aged beautifully especially in black
Emotion, Beauty, Heritage
*_RUST_*
Love the ending, the charade breaks down and he’s just laughing at himself. :)
Everything that matters, works: gearbox shifts, engine revs, paint shines.
What could possibly go wrong?
everything xD
Luv to see the work done, to improve PROJECT MONDIAL !!
You'll remember every trip in that.... probably can't say the same for most modern cars and certainly not those at this price!! Can't wait to see the updates 👍🏻
Brilliant film. Loved that car since 1988. Always wanted one for the same reasons.
Brave and you should be applauded. I hope you keep us updated with the work you have done as it will be interesting to see how “bad” what lurks underneath really is. You might be lucky or you might wish you had deeper pockets. Rosso Corsa looks stunning
These videos genuinely bring me so much joy!
That gated shifter shot......chef's kiss...
Very kind and the magnificent camera work makes this bucked look great
I think one of the big things cars like this have, the sound and just enough horsepower to run the gears without being to powerful, so you really have the feeling of joy when you shit, floor it and see the revs slowly go up while the awesome exhaust screams his melody.
Also anything is raw and unassisted (more or less) and you get a unfiltered mechanical driving experience while you really make the car work. Modern day cars with plenty of more horsepower aren´t able to reproduce this experience even remotely. Not saying they can´t be fun on their own, but cars like this will always hit the sweetspot in many car nuts hearts that modern cars can´t reach anymore.
Joining the queue of people who have a soft spot for this car. And for the Mondial coupe as well, while we're at it.
Even those Mondials have that superbly simplistic but hugely elegant styling that defined Ferrari models up until ... well..... the mid-1990s, I would say, or up until the F355 / 512M / 456 GT. The 360 and the 550 Maranello looked still tolerable, but after that, the perfect proportions of Ferrari models were a thing of the past.
Love it! You are doing Enzo’s work! Look forward to the adventures!
My dad had one for a short time in like 1990 then an nsx. These mondials are awesome
Mate! Love this well done back to some good old CH content. You do look like a Lego man driving that though but love it.
1:34 One of the greatest shots ever
I love how the shift gate is squirming about when you're shifting .. lol. Classic.
1:36 ... that shoot .. king !! 📸😀
Great video! Shows all the joy and horror of Italian engineering. You simply have to love their cars! And bikes. And boats...
Funny cause last time chris was on the smoking tire, him and farah was thinking about mondials LOL
As featured in the classic 80’s films ‘Weird Science’ and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’.
'80s.
And the American TV show manimal
I had one of these (but LHD) and I loved every second. Cheap way to get that wonderful engine and transmission, it does feel fast enough to be fun and I could take the kids on trips to get ice cream or whatever. I even think it looks good from some angles :) ... They're even easy to work on. I fixed some injection problems, rebuilt the CV joints, fixed fuel leaks. You know, bonding.
After a year and a half I sold it for $5k more so effectively I owned it for free.
The unloved Ferrari is the best deal!
It's got pop up headlights, so it's cool.
Headlights, you mean. Also, no, they aren't cool.
Never had a car with pop-ups. Something so retro about them, in a good way.
@@sparky4878 they're a failure of design. The 70s and 80s were a bad time for car design generally. Headlights should be an integral part of the styling and aerodynamics.
@@alistermccallum the best-looking Esprit was the Peter Stevens face-lift, but it would have been better with flush headlights. Countach is utterly hideous. The best Testarossa was the last one, the F512M I think it was called, with flush headlights. Also, MX-5s, NB > NA.
@@richardharrold9736 Says who apart you ? Pop up headlights were needed for aerodynamics and also regulations in many places, as in USA and Canada, requiring a cerain height over the road.
Great buy. Great noise. Change the fuel lines, ethanol rots them if they've not been done already. I love 80/90s Ferrari's, been running my F355 for nearly 14 years now. Just wonderful.
I really really love the mondial... or at least the concept. In Japan they sell for a huge premium it seems. After looking and thinking I decided it wasn't the way to go ... went with the GR Yaris - many of the pluses and hopefully reliable! But every time I see the Mondial it makes me smile wistfully.
Cross shopping a mondial with a GRY..🤔😅
How can you not like this guy. Such a fun loving personality.
Yeah great couple of summers, enjoy yourself Chris, Rj in Oz
What a fun video. I love the music Chris plays
in the background.
Jeff
Mondial is a vastly underrated practical Ferrari classic.
I owned a mint condition 1993 Ferrari Mondial T convertible, Rosso Corso, in Marbella, Spain in the summer of 1997. I added a Kenwood high-end stereo with remote control and will never forget bombing down the recently completed motorway on a delightful August night (top down, of course) listening to Maria Callas "Mama Morte" at high-volume, working my way through the gated shifter with the V-8 Ferrari motor "singing" at high-revs and the smell of the Jasmine flowers in the air. Have fun, Chris.
Looking forward to this
0:34 seconds in and he’s already eyeing the clouds suspiciously. 😎
I wish this video was much, much longer. Even with a TR in my garage I totally get the appeal of this. There are no bad Ferraris.
Mate I love this content. Chris never leave us!
Love checking the MOT history on these old girls.... looks pretty good on this one!
“Take the kids to the pub…” lol
There is something very, 'Chris Harris of old', about this video.
Looking forward to your return Chris, welcome back.
Best CH video I’ve ever seen. Very playful and funny.
Just want to be Chris Harris friend, he's just a really great bloke.
Agreed!
...and "rust" got me 😆😆
Can't wait to see the rest of this, cool car!!!
Looking forward to watching more about this
Enjoyed this. With classic car prices being what they are now this seems like a bit of a bargain. It might not be the fastest thing ever, but in terms of driving a experience a retro V8 manual 'box Ferrari convertible seems like a lot of summer fun.
Brilliant, just brilliant! More please!
Admit I’ve looked at the Mondial a few times when browsing the ads, convertible or hard top. I like how different it is.
glad to see you making your own content again Chris. cheers, best!
edit: dont mean thats all that it is that matters. thanks for the fun video, i guess we missed you. thanks again for doing what you do.
"Rust......."....that got me lol
Owned a 3.2 Coupe for a while. Great machine, very reliable. Get one if you can find one.
Definitely better thought of as a 2-seater with extra luggage capacity, make a great little tourer.
Is the suspension shot or has it always had this front slanted stance?
Lovely views from the Monmouthshire countryside!
I've been waiting for two months for the next episode! COME ON!!!!
Precioso Chris, fantástico Ferrari, su alma, sus años 1988 wow, muy bien siempre. Forza Ferrari siempre. Gracias por tus fantásticos videos.-
Absolutely love these
Very cab-forward before the term was invented. About as good looking as something of this awkward configuration might get. The best way to invest in an old Ferrari is to buy one (as you did) that is so cheap to buy you'll have plenty of cash to toss at repairs and maintenance. Good strategy and, if you have fun, why the heck not?!
Nicely done Chris. Looking forward to see future videos on this cool piece of Ferrari cheese.
Love the honesty Chris, maybe a bit crap but hey you’re going to have a great laugh (didn’t think you’re a welder)
Chris at this best. Great video!
Agreed
More more please more! Glorious, classic Harris magic.
Thank you for sharing
Came close to picking up a yellow one in CA in 2004 for $11K US. I (stupidly) bought a 91 300E instead.
love it, great vid chris hope to see you and it soon in the flesh.
I'd have one, not the hard top but would the convertible
I was actually thinking of all them posers runnin to the dealers to get their 992GT3’s and 992Targas when you mentioned the Targe and what’s the fun in pressing a button in one of those. The most fun car I’ve owned is a rusty 964 C2 Cabriolet with a 300hp kit and a cup exhaust. My god that car was just pure and utter joy to join around in. Parking it everywhere in public, shaming all the Tesla’s with it’s obnoxiously loud exhaust. This Mondial Must be a riot to live with compared to a Portofino or an 812 GTS.
The Mondial is really coming of age and the design is getting cooler and cooler!! I just wish people would stop commenting on how little they are worth and just respect it for what it is. I think that very soon mint examples are going to be more valuable that you think.
I think its because they stuck a Ferrari badge on the slowest thing they have made lol a fiesta is faster than it but it does look nice
@@yeahme8367 The thing most people dont get is that performance isnt everything. Sure, a random Fiesta is probably faster, but do you enjoy it really? I feel kind of disconnected in modern cars. The Mondial is not the best car - for sure! But the sensation of driving is within this car. And what you are experiencing in a car like this is a thousand times more worth it then what you get from a fast modern hatch back. ;)
The Mondial T is gorgeous looking from every angle and the 3.4 has wicked power and capable of keeping up with anything from its era. It's great to see people with taste starting to appreciate these rare and important cars.
@DeadlyButSilent2 you obviously don't own one and obviously couldn't afford a wheelchair with an electric motor which is why you are on here spreading hate.. go get a life.. in the meantime I'll be out driving my Ferrari, spreading positivity 👌
@DeadlyButSilent2 the reactions of people when I drive mine prove you’re wrong 🤷♂️
Awesome review Chris!
Reminds me of scent of a woman ❤️ great film
Should have gotten one with the Valeo gearbox. That's a rare gem.