Ferrari Pouch Sets. Rarer than Ever!

Mar/Apr 2019 edition
Issue #4 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
Cody Smith

Ferrari, say it out loud in a room full of people, and everyone from age 10 to 100 instantly knows what you’re talking about. Ferrari is certainly one of the most recognizable automotive brands in history. Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last decade, you have seen the stratospheric rise of vintage Ferrari values. For me, and every other Ferrari Literature collector, we have also seen literature greatly increase in value. 

One of the core areas of our business is the sale of pouch and manual sets for Ferraris from 1958-1976. Pouches have steadily increased in value for decades. For those who don’t know what a pouch set is, open the glovebox of your daily driver, and find the owner’s manual. That manual and other important documents will be in a folio of sorts.

That is the pouch set for your car. Same goes for Ferrari. A pouch set is generally a leather or pigskin pouch, containing the owner’s manual, sales and service directory, and a warranty card. The difference between the pouch set for your daily car and the pouch set for your Ferrari is, like everything else “Ferrari,” it costs more… a lot more. There are several reasons for this. 
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The first reason is scarcity. At one time, it was easy to find any Ferrari pouch you desired by simply calling someone like myself or other reputable sellers; we could provide everything you needed; a one-stop shop if you will. 

This is no longer the case. Here’s a real-world example; the Amelia Island Concours is coming up; in years past we would have three to four full 250 pouch sets on hand for the expo.  This year we have two sets only. One set very nice, and one in lesser condition. I would rate them an “8” and a “5” respectively.

The same applies to our 275 pouch sets. These items are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Why the increase in scarcity of these two sets? It is not due to the rising prices of the 250 GT or 275 GTB/GTS cars. It’s because the pouches for these cars are also used by other Ferraris.  
​In recent years the value of these other Ferraris has increased enough to encourage owners to now buy a pouch set for them. 

As the old saying goes “a rising tide lifts all boats,” logically you can apply this to pouch sales. The 250 PF Cabriolet and Coupe, 330 GT and 365 GTC are cars that were “lifted” by the market tide. Example; the 250 PF Cabriolet owner who paid $50,000 for his car, now has a car worth $1,000,000.

​This car has reached a level where it now needs a pouch set ($10,000 - $25,000). At this new level of value and importance a buyer spending $1,000,000 on a Ferrari expects it to include the proper pouch set equal to the finish of the car, be it a driver or a Concours restoration.
And it goes deeper than this, which I will discuss in future articles.

Cody Smith

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