Michael Sheehan’s Articles

Click on the articles below to read them. Michael Sheehan has written for many magazines including Forza, Sports Car Market, Cavallino and Ferrari Market Letter. Currently, he writes a monthly column for Sports Car Market entitled “Sheehan Speaks” and the “Market Report” for Forza.
Ferrari Drives the Exotic Car Market
Simply put, Ferrari tells their dealers: “This is your allocation, and that’s all you will get”
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—February 2012 issue, Sheehan Speaks
A Lifetime of Ferrari Madness
Once a month, I’m allowed to drag out my SCM soapbox and expound on what 35 years of living the Ferrari life has taught me
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—January 2012 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Restorations in Reverse
A well-defined plan avoids the creeping — and ultimately astounding — costs of incremental restoration
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—December 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Monterey 2011: Flocking to Top-Tier Ferraris
The $16.4m Testa Rossa was sold to a pair of college professors in 1972 as a burned-but-rebuildable wreck for about $2,500
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—November 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
No One is Getting Rich from Ferrari Service
Shop owners do not stay up late at night scheming to cheat clients.
They worry about delivering the best work and getting paid for their time
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—October 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Ferrari’s Cycle of Booms and Busts
The best Ferraris have certainly been a better investment than a strip mall in Florida, Nevada or Arizona
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—September 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Too Many Serial Numbers
As a certified anorak, I’m amazed at how often non-matching serial numbers were quietly swept under the table by some sellers
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—August 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Just Used Cars
The 430s may not have cam belts, but a brake job with new carbon-fiber rotors is $30k, which is about 25% of the value of what is now a $125k used car
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—July 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Avoid Conflicts with Pre–Sale Inspections
Going over the car helps bridge the gap between buyers’ expectations and the realities of old and expensive cars
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—June 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
When is Fast too Fast?
If a used 550 bought for $75k could be zapped back to 1972, with nothing but a set of slicks added, it would probably win the GT class at Le Mans
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—May 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Ferraris and Bidding Wars in the Desert
If several well-heeled buyers want the same car on the same day, a very high price can be the result
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—April 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
A Princely Collection of Rotting Cars
The air conditioning was off, but the tropical sun was not, so the Ferraris and McLaren F1s sat and cooked
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—March 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
A Ferrari 328 with Needs is a Friend’s Bad Deed
Your friend was underwater the moment he loaned $33,500 against this borderline parts car
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—February 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Cracking Ferrari’s Enigma Codes
A substandard installation by some car stereo shop can cause hours of diagnosing OBD II codes
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—January 2011 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Finding a Ferrari for $100k or less
Mondial values are abysmally low and their deferred maintenance issues are long. To quote Monty Python: “Run away, run away”
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—December 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
High-End Ferrari Buyers Show up at Monterey
Monterey demonstrated a strong and liquid market for the highest-quality cars. Prices were market-correct for those Ferraris with more modest histories, collectability and condition
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—November 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
The Snowball Effect
The morality tale of one Ferrari 360 Spider’s never-ending, ever-growing problems
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—October 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Greece and the Ferrari Market
I don’t agree with the Wall Street guys who say cars aren’t investments. Cars are as much of an investment as gold, stocks, real estate, art or antiques
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—September 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Ann Landers on Ferraris
Our advice columnist’s best Ferraris for the first-time buyer
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—August 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
An Inexact Science
“I could not help feeling my father was right when he said it’s better to be lucky than smart.” So said the buyer of the alloy 275 GTB/4 at RM
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—June 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Classiche Lite
My Daytona is eligible, but getting the “thumbs up” took about three minutes, not the three to six months needed for the Attestation program
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—May 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
250 GTO Sets Ferrari Record at $26m
GTO, Corvette Grand Sport and Daytona Coupe all change hands
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—April 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Dashing Euro Dreams
Just because collectible cars sell for a lot more money across the pond doesn’t mean you can make a killing with your high-mile driver
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—March 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Chasing the Market Down
If owners want to sell in today’s market, they must follow two steps: Accept what their car is worth, and be prepared to drop the price until it sells
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—February 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks
Death of a Dynasty
At the height of the Kroymans Corporation’s fortunes in 2007–08, the group had 150 companies, 3,900 employees, and annual revenues of $3.09 billion
As appeared in: Sports Car Market—January 2010 issue, Sheehan Speaks