Dominic Ragalie’s 1981 Ferrari Mondial 8
STORY | STEIN BROEDER
PHOTOGRAPHY | STEPHEN MITCHELL
Barely running when he purchased it on Bring a Trailer in 2019, Ragalie has managed to breath new life into this Italian machine. The Mondial is unique to begin with—it has a slightly higher roofline than most Ferraris and it can accommodate up to four passengers—but Ragalie saw an opportunity to build something truly special, and he had enough experience to make it a reality.
Having worked on a wide variety of engines from a young age, Ragalie had the confidence he needed to get started. Since the car had been sitting for years, the first order of business was to replace several things, including the radiator, water pump, timing belts, thermostat, and more. The Mondial also came with a bonus: a supercharger. Like most mechanical things on the car, it needed some help, but the exciting thing was that it was there.
These were the types of engineering challenges Ragalie was born to tackle. You see, he’s been working on things with engines since he was nine years old. He’s worked on everything from dirt bikes to heavy equipment, diesels to exotics. And all the while, he’s been teaching himself. A real learn-it-all and modern do-it-yourselfer, Ragalie utilizes the wealth of automotive insights YouTube and car forums have to offer.
At age 15 Ragalie got his first car, or rather truck. It was a 2000 Ford F350 7.3 Diesel that needed some love after being rescued from a field, covered in blackberry bushes. While his high school classmates drove around in a hand-me-down Land Rovers or Lexus luxury whips, his modified big rig stood out, and that’s just how Ragalie liked it.
A few years later, Ragalie’s dad purchased a Ferrari F430 and while a Ferrari wasn’t in the cards for Ragalie quite yet, the enthusiast appetite had been whet. Ragalie’s fi rst foray into the world of slightly less practical cars was a 1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo. Though it needed extensive work, the car succumbed to his willingness to wrench everything and he still has the Z to this day.
And then came the Mondial. The high-roofed, four-seat Mondial is unique to begin with, despite being one of Ferrari’s most commercially successful models. Ragalie’s Mondial is one of 703 made from 1980-1982 and one of 147 that were imported in 1981, so it’s pretty rare. Powered by a 3.0 liter fl at-plane V8, it has two valves per cylinder and a classic five-speed dogleg manual transmission.
Modifications include an Electromotive electronic ignition system and a Vortech V9 supercharger. The interior is mostly stock except for the head unit, gauges, and a fire extinguisher. The suspension is a bespoke air spring set up by Airtekk Engineering that replaced the factory coilovers and has a tank and compressor mounted in the trunk. The Ferrari also has new polyurethane bushings and sits on 19” TSWs with Ferrari center caps wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.
And how does it drive?
“It’s not the fastest car, but it’s quick and it corners like it’s on rails,” says Ragalie. “Other than the lack of power steering, it’s pretty comfy. Oh, and you can put your friends in the back. Afterall, it’s a four-seater,” Ragalie adds.
And it’s loud.
People will hear it before they see it thanks to the whistles and blow-off noises coming from the supercharger. “When I pull into a parking spot and I hit the bags, the whole car drops to the ground. That’s when people really lose their minds,” Ragalie says with a wry smile.
It’s not all fun and games for Ragalie. In addition to being an enthusiast, he’s also quite the entrepreneur. At the age of 15 he started a wholesale distribution company to make sure his dad, a hardwood flooring contractor, always had the supplies he needed. And nowadays he’s turned his passion into a career. After working on his own and his friend’s cars for years, he decided it was time to open his own shop. He now owns and runs Ratchet Head Automotive in Tualatin, Oregon, alongside his fiancée. And when he’s not wrenching, you’ll find Ragalie, his dad, and his brothers on the road enjoying their family collection of cars, which now includes five Ferraris, a Lamborghini, a DeLorean and more.
