TOM MEADE SPINNERS(ROAD & TRACK 12-1970 COVER CAR) | FerrariChat

TOM MEADE SPINNERS(ROAD & TRACK 12-1970 COVER CAR)

Discussion in 'Collectables, Literature, & Models' started by 308GTSi34047, Mar 16, 2017.

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  1. 308GTSi34047

    308GTSi34047 Rookie

    May 16, 2008
    16
    #1 308GTSi34047, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have come into possession a set of brand new, never used Tom Meade spinners. These spinners were mentioned in a Road & Track cover story dated 12-1970 where a gull wing, Ferrari-powered 3-liter V-12 one-off coupe was pictured.

    I have no idea of the value of these spinners and would like to enlist the help of the members of Ferrari Chat to determine their value. I am considering putting them on eBay, but hesitate to do so until I have some idea as to their value.

    Can anyone help and venture a guess as to what they are worth?

    I've attached photos of all four spinners, a photo of the front side showing "TOM MEADE MODENA" cast into the center and the threading inside the spinner as well as all five pages of the Road & Track story from 12-1970.

    If you would like a PDF of the story, click on this link.

    https://app.box.com/s/svk7piqzu5616j04cqkosfbtdr78b74e

    On a related note, does anyone know what became of this car, if it even still exists?
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  2. JG333SP

    JG333SP Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2010
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    Jim G
    I'd like to know what happened to that Pinto they road tested. Funny enough, this is the year/month I was born-never seen this cover but I'm a huge R&T fan.

    No idea on the knockoff spinners but man they are shiny. Cool item if you end up holding onto them
     
  3. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
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    Apr 29, 2004
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    Peter den Biggelaar
    Cool. The car itself is still around. The last time I saw it was last year at the Casa Enzo Ferrari museum in Modena.
     
  4. vrooom

    vrooom Formula Junior

    Jan 29, 2007
    448
    #4 vrooom, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. Lussolover

    Lussolover Karting

    Sep 22, 2014
    206
    I have to be the one to say thing is hideous! Cool history though.
     
  6. stevenwk

    stevenwk F1 Veteran

    Apr 12, 2007
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    Steve
    are the rims that the spinners fit to bespoke too?

    Cragers, perhaps?
     
  7. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
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    #7 bigodino, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Small correction: that's the Ferrari museum in Maranello, not Modena.

    In the flesh it looks better IMHO. Still an acquired taste!
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  8. 308GTSi34047

    308GTSi34047 Rookie

    May 16, 2008
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    #8 308GTSi34047, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
    Bigodino, I would agree, from the photo you posted, it looks better in the flesh.

    On YouTube I found this 60 Minutes video on Tom Meade, original broadcast date unknown.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jazEBNIV7K8

    And this video taken at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello,

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU8Zwa7556k

    Here's what seems to be a pretty comprehensive story on the car that appeared in Top Gear in 2013, written by Jason Barlow, ex-editor of Car Magazine in the UK.

    https://www.topgear.com/car-news/concept/close-one-worlds-rarest-coach-built-ferraris#1

    A good detail shot of the spinners appears in slide #5, with the center painted.

    I'm glad I posted here and received the feedback I already have in just a matter of hours.

    IMHO I think that it's the P4/P5 of its day.

    Thanks so much.

    Richard Truesdell
    (Former owner of 1980 308GTSi from 1985 to 1991, #34047, would love to know where it is today)
     
    Jack-the-lad likes this.
  9. vrooom

    vrooom Formula Junior

    Jan 29, 2007
    448
    you are right it was maranello ! enjoyed seeing it after reading the R&T story way back when. kind of a surprise to see it on display. neat design although it looked a little bit like a kit car as i recall.
     
  10. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    The current owner will be your highest value.

    It looks like he was forced to fabricate, due to the extreme wheel depth.

    An amazing find you have as "spares", if I were the current owner, it would be a no brainer to add them to the garage.

    Maybe the museum would act as intermediary, to send them a message for you!
    Euro collectors tend to be pretty private people.

    Marcel comes to mind too, he would know who owns it.
     
  11. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
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    Dec 28, 2005
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    TM cast these k/o's and mounted them on many of the cars that he sold. I saw them on an alloy 4cam at Bob Wallace's shop years ago and I thought that they looked clunky. The sole purpose was to attach the Tom Meade name to a great car, as if this would establish some sort of brand.
     
  12. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Better explanation!

    It does look like the ears are far longer than normal???
     
  13. JJNino

    JJNino Rookie

    Dec 11, 2011
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    JOHN NINO
    Hi, did you ever sell these Tom Meade Knock-Offs?
    I'm looking for a set. Thanks, John
     
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  14. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Knowing what has been posted here, I would say "Break the set" and shadow box frame one, each with the picture of the car in the Museum, and sell off individually.....
     

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