0302 found in Venezuela

To me what is really interesting here is to participate in what is called a "barn find" . There are very few Ferrari based oportunities left to do this. The 1C/10S car is one. This is another. I only got into this Ferrari thing a few years ago and have been fascinated with the Ferrari barn find stories of the past. This is what could be described as Ferrari archiology and I hope as more details come up, more opinions and discussion will follow. I feel lucky to have been able to contribute a little something to the cause. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

With the dates on the build sheets, I'm still thinking that :

- 0302TF is the early Scaglietti spyder raced in Bogota (the one raced by factory in late 1953, also raced by Marzotto at 1954 Mille Miglia with #523 etc etc). This car was probably originally a 1953 Vignale coupe. No connection with your Ferrari Mercedes. Today lost.

- the Quintano's Vignale spyder should be the ex-Luis Milan's one s/n 0304, restamped 0306.

- Your Ferrari Mercedes should be the ex-Roberto Bonomi's Vignale spyder, raced in South America, brought back in Italy and rebodied in 1955 with a new Scaglietti spyder body and later with the spyder body by local coachbuilder it still has today, s/n 0306 restamped 0304.

Another possibility is that your spyder is made with parts of both 0302 and 0306/0304, who knows...

 

The problem here is that we don't know the original serial - at least I don't - or which of the three cars became what in later life. I, however, tend to think that the serial number stamped on the chassis rail is more original than the one stamped on the cross member. Number 0304TF is no magic number, it is just another chassis number that gor swapped from car to car. Even if it may appear on all three cars, one must have been the original one caryying that serial number. Best wishes, Kare

 

Yes, I agree the story behind this car is one of the most complicated I ever saw !!

 

And I also thank "anonymously" VERY MUCH. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

I assume you are refering to M.M.'s post #3 of 12/16/09. He seems to be confident that the 300SL engine went into 0562. I hope he is following this thread as a lot of new info seems to be forthcoming. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

As mentioned before Ferrari stampings don't use periods between the letters. Nor do they use dashes and the #2 seems to be made from a different type stamping than the others. Personally, the stampimgs on the oval tube look more like the real thing. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

Hi Cyril:

You are correct, the Marzotto's Scaglietti Mondial 500 and the Trans-Oliver's Ferrari-Mercedes are two different cars, whatever their serial numbers they had:

Marzotto's Mondial went to Cornacchias hands and took part in the 1955 GP of Venezuela, No 50 and then again in the 1957 GP, driven by I. Dominguez/C. Barbato No 44 (dnq) where the Ferrari-Mercedes also took part, driven by Fayen/González No 32 and placed 20th. Both cars took part in some other races in Venezuela.

It is hard to tell wether the chassis located in Maracaibo and inspected by Branko is made from both cars; in my opinion, to solve this quest, this frame deserves a deeper inspection, if possible, with its actual body removed.

Just for the record, the image below, taken from the Gilco Desing web page, shows the chassis frame from a proposed 1952 Ferrari 500 S, which could be the forerunner for the 625 TF and similar to the one found in Maracaibo

Cheers

Jorge Salgado
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At some point the body needs to be removed in order to get a really good look at this frame. What are your plans? just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

This is getting better and more interesting. Who are you getting to come down and look it over? It might be worth it to fly someone like M.M. or Tom or the Admiral down. What can you tell us about the owner? I am sure there is a story here about when and how they acquired the car. I am on the road right now but will be home soon and will see what I have on the 625 frame. Keep us posted. Thanks much just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

Bump. Any news regarding this car?

 

Isn't the Quintano originally 0306TF restamped 0304TF. It would appear that Brako found the original 0304TF.

 

Branko, as I have stated before, I think you are right about this. Any thoughts about the reasons why all three would share the 0304 stamping?

 

Hi, don't give up so quickly. Have a look at 3C/10S.It took a long time for the experts to get interested in this car. Nothing is finalized and the case is wide open. Remember the car currently referred to as 302TF is only a replica. Someone needs to get this car up on a lift and have a good look ar the frame. My guess is it will not resemble in any way the frame in the cutaway drawing or what appears to be under the body of what you are looking at. My feeling is that, as I said before. until the body is removed and detailed measurements and pictures are made it will be difficult to proceed.If the owner remains reluctant to remove the body, see if there is some way to raise the car up high enough to get good pictures and measurements. This will get things started and should be enough to have an artist do a sketch[drawing] of the chassis. Also have another look at the GILCO drawings and compare the rear part of the frame with what is visible under the back end of the bodywork of your car.....see what I mean.. The more details you can get posted the more attention this project will get. Good luck and keep us posted. just one man's opinion ntongascrew

 

To avoid import taxes. Pretending taxes had already been paid. That's also probably why some stampings look funky.

 

I am sure the renumbering started when Ascari crashed one of these three cars very early on in Monza. At that time these three cars were the only 4-cylinder sports cars in existence and they most certainly received a lot of updating and modifying.

 

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