Back in April I decided to restore 06866 back to her original colour of Rosso Bordeaux 20R351. I had always wondered why the colour was different on the inner panel but thought it was merely colour differences due to the Sun etc. My suspicion was confirmed when I had a chance to get the original documents and found that she was imported into the UK by Maranello UK as a demonstrator and therefore had the Chairs and flares options together with other accessories such as nudge bar, headlamp covers, Campagnolo wheels and was painted RB 20R351. that was it, I had to change her back to what she was liked when ordered from the UK. But would I like the colour? I did ponder for a while about the car not being Rosso Chiaro but after some examples shown by fellow F-chatters I was hooked. Since April 2013 the car has been in the Workshop undergoing some extensive work, fortunately very little actual bodywork was required and all the guys commented that they have never seen an original 40 year old car in that good a condition. during the past few months I have watched the car being transformed and she has now come back home to be lovingly put back together. It's a little grubby at the moment but as soon as I get going I will post up some more pics Ist photo is her back in April stripped ready, second of her in primer, third photo just come out of the oven and lastly eventually home. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
At last all Summer I have been cleaning bits to go back so this part was easy. Colour looks great & classy, it does suit the dino very well. Unfortunately my lack of photography skills doesn't do the paint job or colour justice. Sorry guys I am in the "Ferrari badge Camp" Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'd be damned happy to be in the Dino camp, Ferrari badge or not! Fabulous car, well done with the color.
Finally got around to refitting the interior and lots of hard work is starting to reap rewards...and satisfaction. Carpets took some time to do but turned out good. Slight problems in refitting old parts ie door card to drivers side. Had to strip off the old leather covers and adjust shape because of the new seals which were hitting the door card. Mega PITA but this is the time to get things right. I apply a foil faced tape over the door panel as a protection against moisture penetrating the hardboard, this had to be stripped back but will definitely re-apply once I have re-configured the door panel. I lost count at the times the panel went on and off the door, after a few hours I got it spot on, only problem I have run out of staples and everywhere is shut on our bank holiday.!! Refitted passenger side and got everything working properly, shut the door and couldn't open it. When I stripped the door furniture off I found I hadn't tightened the door cable, left it to go and watch the Grand prix and forgot when I came back!!! The trick about putting the lever cables on at the dash end first before installing the pod saved me hours of heartache. I will leave the steering wheel off for now as it makes fitting the gauge binnacle so much easier. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
progress coming along nicely, colour is awesome imo Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting that you have kept the headlight covers. I have them on mine, and while they are a PITA taking them on and off every time you wash the car, and having thought I would ditch them at some point, they are back in favour with me. I think they look great, and they were standard (almost) on UK cars. As for the badge though...............
Tony's car started out it's life as Maranello Concessionaires demonstrator and they fitted the badges to it (along with the headlight covers and nose bar) so it's a part of the history of this particular car.
I don't find them a pain, one screw holding them on isn't a PITA in the grand scheme of things. They do cut down the light when driving at night though. Yep I know about the badges, I am in the "its a Ferrari Dino 246GT" camp, anyway it came that way when the 1st owner bought the car so I am leaving it that way.
thanks for all your kind comments 98% done, just some final polishing, interior light switch and radio Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks really amazing. You can only wonder how anyone chose to take it away from this colour in the first place. Looking forward to seeing the car at some point. On a side note, where the mirrors on from new, I ask because I need mirrors for a 73GT and don't know if I should fit one or two (and what style), although I will look in my compendium.
Thanks Matthias. I have a small mirror clipped onto the quarterlight frame on my GTS, which works ok and looks quite period, but the quarterlight frame on the GT seems different, and I cant seem to get one to mount. I am loathed to start drilling doors. but the rear vision without any side mirrors is poor.
Beautiful car! I am impressed by how great it looks even in the photo without the hood. Few cars can claim that. Regards, Alberto
thanks mathias, and thank you again for all the info regarding how to detail the bodywork etc and taking time to send me illustrations as well. The end product is very pleasing, in fact I am over the moon with the outcome. thanks to ISUK as well for spending hours answering my pesky emails. Thanks to Volkmar as well for persuading me to go with rosso bordeaux