automatic ferraris?

I have a very specific question. I am paralyzed from the waist down and I cannot use my legs. Are there any of the older ferraris (ie.Mondial, Test.) that were ever produced with automatic transmissions? I am eager to get my first Ferrari, but I must begin with the older models. Is there any advice that anyone can provide when buying an older model Ferrari?

Thanks

i dont mean for this to be offensive in anyway..but

if u cant use ur legs what is the use of an automatic going to do???

no offense taken...I have to have an automatic transmission because I obviosuly cannot drive with one hand, operate hand controls for throttle and brake with another and shift a manual transmission. Thats why I need the automatic transmission. I have driven automatic transmission cars without the use of my legs for 11 years. A device called a hand control is installed in the car. I press a lever down for throttle and forward for braking. The automatic trans. controls the shifting.

Any advice on the automatic transmission ferraris??

Thanks

ok i think all or at least some of the ferrari's with the sequential paddle shifters have an automatic mode.....

Certain Mondials came with the "Valeo" transmission which is an automatic.

along with mondials the 400i came with an auto trans.

The 456 has an auto trans.

Originally posted by TexasF355F1
The 456 has an auto trans. True but he's looking at older Ferraris

yes..I would really like a testarossa but I am unaware of any produced with auto trans.

thanks

I would think that if a device as complex as the hand controller could be installed, then an automatic transmission would be a walk int he park. Have you tried looking into this method at all? I know autmoatic to manual or vice versa conversions for some cars are only a few thousand, which is roughly the same amount as a Ferrari Rim set.

Actually its not nearly as complicated as one might think. The hand controls are about $500.00 and take about 1 hour to install. Very simple really.

thanks for the reply...

The "Valeo" was a semiautomatic transmission. There was not a clutch pedal, but the driver still had to move the gearshift lever.

The four-seat Ferraris (400 / 412) are the only older ones I can think of that had automatics.

Clay Reggazoni (Ferrari F1 driver who had a severe crash) had a Daytona converted for him to drive after he lost the use of his legs. I believe the factory did it for him.

I wonder if Alex Zanardi had anytihng similar done? Obviously not with a Ferrari, but their may be a specialty company that would be able to do these sort of things.

Clay Reggazoni (Ferrari F1 driver who had a severe crash) had a Daytona converted for him to drive after he lost the use of his legs. I believe the factory did it for him.

There is a company in Europe called Guidosimplex that can retrofit hand controls for a manual transmission. They are the ones that Clay works with. He came to our shop in 1994 with 3 technicians and installed controls on my '85 Mondial QV Cab. We had a lot of problems with them, but I understand that they are much improved. Or you could hold off on buying a Ferrari until you can afford a 355 F1. Then you would only need to worry about brake/throttle controls.

Whatever you do, don't listen to that Porch driver who suggested that you swap the tranny out for an automatic. He knows not what he speaks of. ;)

C.