The interior of a Ferrari F355 stripped to the floor during a manual gearbox conversion, with the new gated shifter fitted and wiring exposed

Engineering

Manual conversions

Factory-faithful gated manual conversions for Ferrari and Lamborghini

Manual transmission conversion01

What we do

For decades, true sports and performance cars were defined by their manual transmissions. Early automatic gearboxes were slow, unresponsive and lacked the involvement that passionate drivers craved. Without a clutch there was no opportunity to heel-and-toe, no satisfaction in rev-matching and no sense of being fully connected to the car.

Everything began to change in the early 1990s when Ferrari introduced a semi-automatic transmission in Formula 1. By the mid-90s the whole grid had adopted similar systems, and in 1997 Ferrari brought the technology to the road with the F355 F1. These early semi-automatic gearboxes, later seen in Ferraris and Lamborghinis, were quicker than the torque-converter automatics before them, but the technology was still in its infancy. Ferrari's F1 and Lamborghini's E-Gear were exciting but far from perfect, and many drivers still preferred the purity of a traditional manual gearbox.

At a glance

Authentic gated manual experience
Bespoke ECU coding
CNC machined parts
Manual conversion experts
Factory-faithful conversion process

In detail02

How it is done

Why consider a manual conversion today?

A conversion can restore the analogue engagement that many drivers miss. Early semi-automatic systems often lacked the tactile control and rev-matching satisfaction of a true manual. It is also worth noting that factory-manual examples of many supercars frequently command higher market values than their automatic counterparts, reflecting ongoing demand for the manual experience.

For anyone who has heard the metallic click of a Ferrari gated shifter, or felt the mechanical pause of a Lamborghini manual before its engine releases a visceral bark, the appeal is clear. A manual conversion is not just a modification, it is a return to the raw, analogue experience that made these cars legendary.

Ferrari manual conversions

We have a wealth of experience converting Ferrari F1 cars to six-speed gated manuals. Our conversions use a blend of factory genuine parts and remanufactured CNC-machined parts, depending on availability and application. Where genuine parts are no longer available we stay as close to the original manufacturer's design as possible. Our Ferrari 599 manual conversion, for instance, does not use a cable shift mechanism like other kits we have seen; that cheaper alternative does not give the same reliability or shift experience. Ferrari produced a very limited run of manual 599s, and our conversion kit is so faithful to their design that parts are interchangeable.

In addition to the mechanical parts, a manual conversion Ferrari requires ECU work to adjust parameters relating to rev blipping and torque requests. SBR Engineering has the software and experience to tune your Ferrari precisely for the manual gearbox, often making it an even better experience than a factory manual car.

We do not supply kits to DIY users or other workshops. Each conversion is bespoke, installed and set up in our workshops, because we often find Ferrari changed components on the assembly line. Each car and each conversion is unique.

Ferrari 355
Ferrari 360
Ferrari 430
Ferrari 575
Ferrari 599
Ferrari 612

Lamborghini manual conversions

We have converted Lamborghinis from around the world from E-Gear to six-speed manual, with cars shipped in from the USA, Bahrain and South Africa, to name a few. We are especially known for our Lamborghini Murcielago manual conversion, which some experts previously claimed was not possible.

Our approach is unique. We have compiled a comprehensive parts list of over 130 individual parts needed to complete the conversion. 95% of the parts are genuine Lamborghini; the 5% no longer available from the factory are mainly brackets and fixings, which we have had manufactured to the exact OEM specification. We also supply and fit a new genuine clutch assembly as part of the conversion.

We go further than any other company we know of, changing the internals and exterior casing of the gearbox to factory manual specification rather than leaving them as E-Gear variants. Our converted cars drive and perform with the precision and reliability of a factory manual car. SB Race Engineering are positioned as the global leaders in Lamborghini Murcielago gated manual conversions.

We have full IPR authorisation in place, so cars arriving from overseas can go through customs without import tax implications. We are also equipped with the latest Lamborghini software, which lets us tune the car's ECUs to accept and work correctly with the manual conversion, a very important part of getting the car driving as a factory car would, and often better.

We do not offer this in kit form for end users or other specialists; the conversion must be carried out in our workshops. Each car is unique, with parts often fitted on the production line from different years and variants, so each Lamborghini manual conversion is bespoke for that car.