Testarossa Convertible. Straman? Help!

Hello,
Does anyone know who converted this yellow Testarossa with a blue top and yellow/blue interior?

http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/vehicle.aspx?carID=2340&optionID=0

 

Do you know anything more about the nature of the conversion? I see it has a 355 style top. Does this mean this is a later Straman convertible? Any info on the car or the quality of the conversion would be very helpful. Thank you.

 

About 15 or so years ago I was at an exotic car show in Miami. There was a truly spectacular silver Testarossa convertible with a blue interior and blue top. It had the same top design as the yellow car. (I've found three photos [May of 88?] of this silver TR convertible.) Is it your belief that the once beautiful silver TR may be the one and the same car that is that awful blue/yellow?

I must say, the flying buttress design of that silver TR cab top, apparently the same design as the yellow car, was clearly copied to good effect on the 355 spider.

 

With respect to the silver TR conv, I've included some photos.

With respect to the TR convertible in St. Louis, I went and saw the car. You should also know the BBB of St. Louis has issued a "news report" about this dealer as they've had so many reports of false advertising and defective vehicles. The Testarossa is in need of much restorative work and very much misprepresented on Ebay. THat's why prior high bidders have refused the car and why they're now running a private auction. Below is a list of some of what's wrong and a few photos. I've also included the BBB report on Schmitt.

I flew to St. Louis on the representation that this was an "incredible motorcar" with a "beautifully kept interior" and a "360 spyder convertible top" and that the car was in overall excellent condition.

I relied on Schmitt's Ebay ad, both the textual description and the 2 dozen large photographs. No where in the listing is anything mentioned about any possible flaws in the car. Rather, its simply described as "incredible" and "beautifully kept".

Of course, when I arrived it was immediately apparent that the car was in need of a restoration! The paint was terrible with cracks, ripples, waves and lots of overspray.

The top was not only not from a 360 but in need of replacement and frankly, in need of a complete overhaul, including the installment of hardware for the targa top. Which a 360 doesn't have. Its top stows away neatly behind the seats. (This car has a targa top that, unlike all other Targa top Ferraris, has no room behind the seats to stow the top.)

The interior was anything but "beautifully kept". The entire interior features dried out leather in need of replacement. The leather speaker panel itself is destroyed and when I went to close the door I discovered the armrest is broken as well. Plastic inside the interior was broken. Even the carpet is tattered.

The Air conditioning doesn't work.

The windows barely go up. The window rubber looks literally glued on, is falling off and deteriorated, and in need of replacement.

Sections of the body are literally cracked. (Note the photos)

The engine looks like the car was stored outside with obvious water stains and peeling red paint.

The brakes don't work properly and the calipers themselves are rusty.

Of course, Schmitt fails to disclose in the Ebay listing any of the above flaws or that the car needs its major service, which typically runs $12k-$14k, or that the car has no books and no records and no tools.
BBB Reliability Report
Schmitt Daniel Classic Car Gallery
3455 N. Lindbergh
Saint Ann, MO 63074
General Information
Principal: Daniel Schmitt, Owner
Phone Number: (314) 291-4441
Fax Number: (314) 291-0957
Membership Status: No
Type-of-Business Classification: Auto Dealers-New Cars
Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau, due to two or more unresolved complaints. This company sells used vehicles and classic cars. On August 15, 2001, the BBB issued a news warning on this company regarding complaints received by this bureau. Complainants contacting the BBB have primarily alleged improper sales tactics and selling defective vehicles. These allegations are reflected in the complaint statistics below.

The company's size, volume of business, and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed.
The following data concerns complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's file was opened or over the last 36 months, whichever is less.
The Bureau processed 22 complaints about this company in the last 36 months. 9 of those were processed in the last 12 months. Complaints are concerning Advertising Issues, Selling Practices, Delivery, Product Quality, and Service Issues. Of all the complaints filed 6 were closed as Resolved, 13 were closed as Disputed, and 3 were closed as Unresolved.
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Too bad. The silver over navy TR conv was a very pretty car. I remember thinking the workmanship was pretty nice for a chopped car back in the late 80s, particularly in Miami where standards for such mods ranged wildly. I think the conv really accents the sweeping lines. I would want to stabilize the car with some structural reinforcements. Perhaps a small rollbar in the rear with extensions running down low towards the front rails.