An American woman who is restoring a Ferrari F40 has revealed that she was inspired to get into vehicle restoration after seeing the car from Ghostbusters. Sophie Saint is 24 years old, but she already has a few car restoration projects under her belt. The LA-based entrepreneur is currently getting her hands dirty working on a ‘mythical’ Ferrari F40. But it’s not just about the car for Saint, as she hopes to inspire other women in the automotive world. Working with a Ferrari F40 comes with some challenges Even by the exceedingly high standards of Ferrari, the F40 is a revered car. Whether it’s being driven by Lewis Hamilton or a man in his 80s, there’s no denying that this is a very special set of wheels. So it’s no wonder that Sophie Saint, renowned for her work on vintage car restoration, felt a little intimidated by the prospect of restoring one. Sophie Saint “I would say the biggest difference between [the Ferrari F40] and any other project has been the weight of the emotional responsibility to get it right,” Saint told Supercar Blondie. “So many countless people look up to this car, and I don’t want to let anybody down.” Saint sourced the F40 privately from a showroom in Los Angeles, and has been working on it for a few months now. There have been some challenges along the way. “I think an expected challenge is sourcing correct factory components. Of course, for a car like this, it’s not as easy as simply placing an order,” she admitted. Sophie Saint “You have to find trusted specialists within the Ferrari orbit, and patience becomes part of the process. “But I would say mechanically, a challenge I’ve come across is there are extra steps to getting something to factory standards.” Fortunately, the car came to her in pretty good condition on the whole. And even if it hadn’t, this is still a car that Saint treasures a lot. “Before working on the F40, I viewed it the way most people do, almost like mythologically. And it’s a poster car. It’s a true symbol for intentionality and Ferrari history,” Saint explained. Sophie Saint “I still view it in that way, but I will say, getting your hands into it, it communicates everything to you. There’s nothing there for decoration. It’s a moving, beating, breathing purpose. There’s such a purity to it. “I’m still gob-smacked every time I see it.” Inspired to work on cars by the Ghostbusters As a teenager, Saint worked on converting a school bus into a food truck alongside her dad. But it wasn’t until she moved to Los Angeles that the ‘seed was planted’. “I stumbled across this garage and they worked on old famous Hollywood movie cars. I walked in and lo and behold was a 1959 Cadillac Ecto One that was used in Ghostsbusters,” she recalled. Columbia Pictures “Seeing that car in person made me realize this isn’t just a car – it’s a character. I think watching how I reacted to it, watching how others reacted to it, it just kind of lit something in me. “And how amazing to have a hand in bringing cars back to life for people to get transported back to their childhoods or for a wife to hear the sound of the engine of her late husband’s car or something like that. It just really tugged on my heartstrings.” Future plans for the Ferrari F40 and inspiring women in the automotive world Traditionally, the world of cars was seen as a male space – but women are increasingly making their mark, whether it be female stunt drivers or our very own Alex Hirschi. But she said that while she’s faced little hostility within the car world, she has faced a reaction of another kind – confusion. Sophie Saint “Sometimes someone will come into my shop and it’s like they’re trying to place me. They’re thinking ‘Does she work here? Is there a mechanic around?’,” Saint revealed. “But working in a male dominated space, I haven’t had that many issues with it. I was really lucky to have a mentor who gave me the space to make mistakes and the encouragement to learn from them. “Most of my skills were built just hands-on in the garage, through problem-solving and real repetition. “I studied architecture with a focus on renovation and preservation, so think training like that shaped how I approach car restoration. “I honestly think the main barrier for women isn’t fear or intimidation. Many women simply never consider these industries because there’s so little exposure and recruitment aimed at them. “That’s what I hope to change by posting on social media, showing there is space for women in this field.” Saint is planning to launch a line of womens workwear. “I’m always finding myself in a sea of men’s workwear and they’re ill-fitting and impractical for women’s bodies,” she explained. “As more women are stepping into skilled trades, I just feel like the industry has largely overlooked our needs. There’s a huge gap in the market.” And what plans does she have in store for the F40 once it’s done? “It’s going to go on a bit of a trek. We’re actually discussing maybe potentially showing it at Cavallino Classic, which is like a big Ferrari show,” Saint said. “Other than that, I think it’ll be kind of tucked away under lock and key. We’re talking about shipping it to a few places across the world for some private events. I would love to give as many people as possible the opportunity to see this thing.”
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