Due to regulations about safety and not providing enough protection for some women and children when not strapped in a correct position on the racing seats. They had to modify it to meet safety issues.

I think that was the reason I read somewhere. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

Close. It's not really about women, the way someone is strapped in or protection. But you're right about the "safety issues" part.

It has to do w/ the air-bag sensor that is mounted in the bottom of all passenger seats now. The one that tells the airbag (in the dash) if there is a small child (I think it's for approx. 30-40lbs) in the seat not to inflate the air-bag.

The seats werent really banned. Ferrari could have kept the seats but they said they had no way of installing the air-bag sensor in the racing seats & doing the DOT air-bag tests without costing them a huge amount of money so they just stopped making them. Makes sense $ wise anyway considering they've already designed seats for the 430's replacement, why go back and re-design something that is just being replaced anyway.

Kinda silly considering it only mattered if you were dumb enough to put a 2 or 3 yr old child in the front passenger seat. It's already illegal to do so in NY w/ a child under 7 yrs old. Think other states have the same/similar laws.

 

Friends call me Gregg. "Tom"'s okay too though.

THANKS MAN!

I think it may be one of a kind too.

 

breathtaking 430, Gregg! Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks! the kids come along in the cab whenever we can. It was one of the reasons for buying a Turbo Cab vs. say another 2 seater like the F430. We're trying to take it all in now before they get a little older, can take care of themselves & only want to be around their friends instead of being around mom & dad.

Happy Fathers day to you too!!

 

Very nice great looking car. Awesome pics.