With visions of Santa’s red sleigh roaring through the night sky, it’s hard not to imagine him piloting something with a little more speed to get the long night of work done as soon as possible. Perhaps a Ferrari, but definitely a convertible to put that big sack on the rear seats with a little extra room above. Perhaps this 1985 Ferrari Mondial cabriolet listed here on eBay would do the trick? This example is listed for $50,000 and has almost the same number of miles on the clock at 51,000. It has the desirable gated manual shifter and updated wheels, but otherwise appears stock.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip. I can remember when the Mondial – especially in convertible form – was widely available for $30,000 or less. Nobody wanted one, especially in an era when the 308 and 328 were both wildly popular. The feeling you were buying – ugh – an entry level Ferrari was palpable. Of course, even at this price, it still is the entry level Ferrari, but people aren’t exactly sneering at it; they’re lining up to buy one. The seller’s car presents well with classic Ferrari red paint and a beige interior, and the black plastic trim that covers the bumpers retains must of its luster. The updated OEM wheels fill the arches nicely.

The interior is in surprisingly nice condition, with the leather seats showing only modest wear and tear. As a four-seater, manual convertible, the Mondial almost occupies the class all by itself, save for a few other convertibles with usable back seats. The fact that it can accommodate four passengers was always another ding against the Mondial, but one that seems to matter less and less. If anything, the ability to row through a gated Ferrari shifter with your buddies along for the ride and the disappearing roof makes the 2+2 arrangement more compelling. What really matters, however, is how much better the Mondial became after 1982.

At first, the Mondial was underpowered like so many other sports cars from the era. But beginning in ’82, Ferrari introduced the Quattrovalvole head, which increased power at first to 240 b.h.p. and then eventually to 270 b.h.p., as it is in our subject car. With a healthy amount of horsepower on tap, the Mondial was suddenly a player. Later models would increase that power to 300 b.h.p. and integrate body-colored bumpers that blended into the exterior better than the black assemblies shown here, but those final generation cars are trading hands for $65,000 or better these days. Do you think the “cheap” Ferrari model is a good investment?