Autocar UK – 21 August 2019

HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE

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You’ll struggle to find a good right-hand-drive

456 or 456M for less than £40,000

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USED CARS

2 1 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 77

An expert’s view

MARTIN ROWLES, DIRECTOR,

RARDLEY MOTORS

“The 456 is a usable everyday

supercar. We have some through our

workshop with over 100,000 miles on

them. Increasingly, though, it’s seen

as an investment and quite a few sit in

garages never turning a wheel. Often

it’s these that give trouble. Saying

that, I reckon 30% are ‘Friday cars’

• it doesn’t matter how well they’ve

been serviced, they’ll always have a

problem. When checking one, establish

what was done and when. The air-con

service, valve clearances and brake

fluid change are vital jobs but often

ignored. My favourite is the manual.

This, together with a low mileage, can

mean a price difference of around £10k

over an auto with a higher mileage.”

Buyer beware

QENGINE

Valve clearances need checking

every 32,000 miles. The hoses in the

engine’s V may need replacing. Check

for cracks in the aluminium around

the exhaust manifold. The fuel pump

mount in the fuel tank can break up,

blocking the pump.

QGEARBOX

On manuals, check the oil cooler and

pipes in the rear bumper for corrosion.

On automatics, listen for drivetrain

noise caused by worn spider gears.

QSUSPENSION

Check the switchable suspension’s

actuators. Test the diaphragms in

the self-levelling rear suspension

hydraulic accumulators by inserting a

screwdriver where the hose enters.

If it goes in too far, there’s a problem

(a split diaphragm causes the shock to

become locked and burst). Check for

cracked bushes and rusty wishbones.

QBRAKES

A fa u l t y b ra ke p r e s su r e sw i tc h th a t

puts the suspension in anti-dive mode

can cause the suspension to go hard.

Check brake fluid has been changed –

it can crystallise, blocking the pipes.

QBODY

Look for rusty sills behind the rear

wheels. A new bonnet is £10,000.

Check window gaps – failing glass

Dash leather can

shrink, rubberised

bits become sticky

All versions of the

456 used a 436bhp

front-mounted V12

One we found

FERRARI 456M GTA, 1999,

48K MILES, £49,995

Finished in dark grey with red leather,

this GTA’s standout features are its 17

service stamps, complete set of books

and tools and its 456 fitted luggage set.

mounts are a problem. Replacement

front fogs for early cars are no longer

available. Check delamination of rear

screen and that the headlights pop up.

QINTERIOR

The leather trim on the dash and parcel

shelf shrinks, and the rubberised

coating on the ashtray, dash vents

and switchgear goes tacky. Check the

air-con has been regassed and that all

electrics work. Smell for petrol fumes.

Also worth knowing

Replacement Ferrari suspension

accumulators cost £580 each but

BMW ones will also fit and cost just

£90 each. You can also have the shock

absorbers rebuilt by Bilstein for £96

each. Contact bilstein-shocks.co.uk.

How much to spend

£40,000-£44,999

High-mile 456 and 456M (up to 100k)

including a ’98 456M with 91k miles for

£39,995. Lower-mileage cars include a

2000 456M with 26k for £42,995.

£45,000-£54,999

Mid-mileage cars including a 1998 456

with 55k miles and FSH for £47,995.

£55,000-£65,999

From a 1994 456 with 46k miles and

FSH for £55,000 to a 2001 456M GTA

with 17k miles for £67,990.

£66,000-£84,999

Immaculate, low-mile 456 and 456Ms.

£85,000 AND ABOVE

‘POA’ cars start here.

Breaking news

Stuck for that elusive part

for your 456? Eurospares

(eurospares.co.uk) is

currently breaking three

456s for parts.