Keys and Locks

When you purchase an older Ferrari, usually there will only be one set of keys and none of them are original.  I got a couple of sets of keys with mine, but neither set had a key to the gas cap release or the glove box.  The only good part was that one of the ignition keys and two of the door keys were originals.

Of course, Ferrari didn't worry about trying to have just one or two keys for the whole car.  On mine, there are 6 locks with 5 different types using 4 different blanks.  So potentially you could have 6 keys.  But since I was missing 2 keys, I started with 4 keys.

The gas cap release key was missing.  Its key is similar to the door blank, but just enough different that you need a different blank.  So I ended up just cutting a key to fit the existing lock.  Click here for that story.  Now I was up to 5 keys.

One of the door locks on my car had been replaced, so there were driver and passenger door keys.  The old lock was in the parts bin so I was able to move the wafers into the replacement lock.  This allowed both doors use the same key.  Now I was down to 4 keys.

I took apart the glove box lock and was able to replace the pins so that the trunk key worked it too.

Making duplicates of the ignition key, door and trunk keys was the easy part.  So I ended up with 4 sets of 4 keys each.  A little overkill, but when my Dad ordered the blanks from the wholesale house, they came 10 to a package.

I've supplied blanks to several 330 owners over the years and made a key to fit the trunk on a friend's 275 GTB.  Here are the key blank numbers that fit the various locks.

* There are at least two different keyways used for the Gas Cap Release.  My car (8755) takes the ILCO F91C2 blank.  8855 takes the F91C.  So be sure and check that the blank fits into your lock before having it cut.

I haven't found a source for original blanks.  Dennis McCann has some, but none for my car.  I suppose if I'm ever in Italy I could walk into a old locksmith shop and find them hanging on their pegs.  I'll have to remember to take my keys.  They might even have a code book and machine where they could cut a new key using the number stamped on the original key or on the lock.  Here's a couple of pictures of originals (note, I've edited the pictures to remove the key cuts).

Ignition and Door                           Door w/PF cover

Mike Dunn can mold the Pininfarina plastic head onto your original key.

If you are lucky enough to have original keys, you should have duplicates made and use those for daily use (well, maybe monthly use). 
 
Put the originals on a nice Ferrari key ring from your local dealer and use it for the shows.  Keys do wear out and when you cut keys from worn ones, the duplicates start out worn.  Keys can also break.  The most common place is just below the tang where a crack will develop on the thin side (one with the cuts).  You should look at your keys and replace any with a crack.  If you don't, you run the risk of having the key break off in the lock.  An extra key doesn't do you any good at that point as you need a locksmith with a key puller to remove the broken off piece.

Copyright © 2001-2010, Kerry Chesbro