Sebring Version (?) 246GTS on eBay | FerrariChat

Sebring Version (?) 246GTS on eBay

Discussion in '206/246' started by dinogts, Feb 28, 2010.

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  1. dinogts

    dinogts Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    There's a 246GTS on eBay that is advertised as a "very rare Sebring Version" -

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-246gts-GTS-Very-rare-Sebring-version-Dino-246gts-US-So-Cal-car_W0QQitemZ220563339182QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item335a9977ae

    Anyone know what a "Sebring Version" is? I have a factory temporary vinyl top for my GTS that I have seen described as a "Sebring" top, but I have no idea what a "Sebring Version" 246GTS is. The serial number is 04254. I looked the car up on dinoregister.com and found that the car was apparently originally blue. Also, the engine looks, at a minimum, cosmetically modified - red valve covers, cut away airbox over the carbs, etc.

    Anybody here familiar with this Dino?

    Mark
     
  2. Ira Schwartz

    Ira Schwartz Formula 3
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    May 20, 2003
    1,961
    Brooklandville, MD
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    Ira Schwartz
    Back in the old days some people erroneously referred to Dinos with the fender flares & wide Campy wheels as "Sebring Spyders". This ignores the fact that some (albeit very few) coupes had the flares/wheels too, and that the Daytona seats were never part of a flares/wheels "package", but rather separate options.
    Maybe this seller has allowed himself to believe that this car, which probably didn't have Campy wheels originally (and may not have had Daytone seats either) is somehow special, but that's not the case, unless it's an original flared fender/wide wheel car- that IS rare.
    I never understood the "Sebring" appellation- maybe attributable to the rumor that the flares/wheels (but not the seats) were part of a plan to homologate the 246 for racing?
     
  3. GermanDino

    GermanDino F1 Rookie

    Aug 14, 2007
    3,413
    Germany
    Full Name:
    Matthias
    #04254 seems to have been delivered original with Daytona seats and no flares
    but "Sebring" sounds cool
    ;-)
     
  4. DinoLasse

    DinoLasse Formula Junior
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    May 26, 2009
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    Lars
    #4 DinoLasse, Feb 28, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2010

    It is not a cut-away air box, just the stock air box with missing top cover (and missing knurled nuts). But I agree, the engine compartment does not look impressive. The red valve covers look strange. (Mini Testa Rossa?)
    Other peculiarities with this car: The European yellow tail lights on a US Dino.

    Interesting to see the bids, now already at $91,600 (reserve not met). It seems that any Dino will bring $100,000 now, as long as it is running - no matter how much work it needs.

    Lars
     
  5. Pantdino

    Pantdino Formula 3

    Jan 13, 2004
    2,069
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Hopefully he has not been driving around with no top on the air box.
     
  6. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Dec 11, 2006
    12,536
    Left Coast
    Looks like it had a new interior put in, the trim looks a little fatter than normal, with the heads repainted one would presume engine work too.
     
  7. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,218
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    Well, I like the fact that it's "west coast rust" and not that nasty "east coast rust"....

    In my mind, that makes ALL the difference!!

    WTF?? LOL!
     
  8. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
    5,018
    Call me a snob, but I don't think there's anything that can compare to European rust.
     
  9. nerodino

    nerodino Formula 3
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    May 19, 2005
    1,161
    Suffolk UK
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    Graham
    And just imagine if it had been over here in rainy old England lying on some old dirt driveway!
     
  10. 2GT

    2GT Formula 3

    Aug 25, 2008
    1,830
    Western NY
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    Fred
    Still, for originality, you need that old-fashioned "a funny thing happened on the way to the paint booth" Maranello rust! Fred
     
  11. UroTrash

    UroTrash Three Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 20, 2004
    38,971
    Purgatory
    Full Name:
    Clifford Gunboat
    Dang! I've been looking for a Sebring Dino with a little of the ol' West Coast patina.

    Not to mention the very rare testarossa option.

    How'd they get those Michelins to fit those rims, BTW?
     
  12. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Dec 11, 2006
    12,536
    Left Coast
    Yes, the British rust is the worst because it never stops. 24/7

    Its sort of like painting a bridge. You start on one end and by the time your done you have to start over again. It pains me to see all those car show pictures of beautiful cars over there sitting in the rain. Then there is the cold weather and small garages and dirt driveways...........

    California rust is on vacation:)
     
  13. DinoLasse

    DinoLasse Formula Junior
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    May 26, 2009
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    Lars
    I, too, can attest to the superiority of European rust, but having lived many years in Chicago, I have also been very impressed by Midwestern rust. Only in the road salt saturated Midwest can you see cars running around with the entire bottom 1/3 of the body missing… Midwestern rust just has more depth to it, and seems more genuine, somehow. California rust, on the other hand, appears lacking in depth and seems so… how shall I put it…superficial.

    More seriously though, I think anybody on this forum will react to the statement “just a little surface rust”. It usually means “completely rusted through from the inside – now starting to show on the surface”. That may or may not be true for this car, but to me it has all the warning signs of a Dino “looking for a fresh wallet”, as somebody phrased it.
    It would make a good starting point for a new restoration thread, though.
     
  14. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,542
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    Dirty Harry
    I'm particularly fond of Dutch, Belgian, and especially Luxembourgian oxidation, as it has that certain rustic je ne sais quoi Cathodic Catholic quality about it.
     
  15. michael bayer

    michael bayer Formula 3

    Aug 4, 2004
    1,292
    Way off point, and likely previously discussed, were Dinos ever GP campaigned? I know the Fiat Dinos were, any 246s?
     
  16. swift53

    swift53 F1 Veteran
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    Nov 17, 2007
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    Alberto
    Sorry guys, my rust, believed to be Canadian mixed with original Sicilian, is by a zillion miles better than anybody's. I will take bets.
    So there.
    Regards, Alberto
     
  17. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Dec 11, 2006
    12,536
    Left Coast
    The brighter the red the higher the score!
     
  18. dinogts

    dinogts Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    The bidding ended at US $118,100.00, reserve not met.
     
  19. tx246

    tx246 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    6,475
    Texas
    Full Name:
    Shawn
    Re-listed with a Buy-It-No at $145k.

    The $118k price is dumb, but the $145k price seems to be a bit high but not too far off.
     
  20. vrooom

    vrooom Formula Junior

    Jan 29, 2007
    448
    #20 vrooom, Mar 16, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  21. dinogts

    dinogts Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    I thought I stole that off your wall the last time I was visiting. You must have had another copy floating around somewhere . . . .
     
  22. f275man

    f275man Rookie

    Dec 25, 2010
    1
    Canoga Park
    Full Name:
    Par Alikhan
    I owned and restored this 246 gts I bought this car from MDR enterprises in 1986 it was a black GTS U.S spec car always wanted a chairs and flairs car and could not buy one so I had it repainted black in the process I had all the paint stripped I found that it was originally a blue car no major rust but had been hit in the left rear and had a lot of bondo on that side I had it all repaired properly and painted black had the interior done in Daytona type seats they were originally black and I had the engine rebuilt by Cosimo of Costa Mesa in California the car had 43,000 miles apprx then 1990 and I really liked a testa rosa engine I had seen at Pebble so I painted the valve covers in the red wrinkle finish and baked them in my kitchen oven my personal preference , I also added the campagnola wheels with xwx tires I still have the original Graku wheels that came with the car with a set of Michelin tires that have just a trip to pebble and back I had the car at the Italiana concours in Carmel in between 93 and 95 not sure exactly what year and also added the plexiglass headlight covers and then sold the car around that time, a lot of fun and a lot of good memories and that is the scoop on 246 GTS 04254 the pics look like nothing was done to the car since then besides someone losing the aircleaner cover if I remember correctly it was chrome and the euro lights were also another one of my preferences I did contact the owner a couple years back but he hadjustsold it hope whoever has it is still enjoying it
     
  23. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
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    Scott
  24. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
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    Aug 22, 2002
    18,875
    no look in ny section under bradan
    that's the car we are restoring back to original
     
  25. tx246

    tx246 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    6,475
    Texas
    Full Name:
    Shawn
    For future search content....

    "Sebring" package is NOT a real package!

    Chairs and Flares is also the same "Said" package.

    The seats could be upgraded.

    The wheel arches and rims could upgraded.

    Both were separate options. They were not a COMBO option.

    Shawn
     

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