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Henry Ford's '59 Testa Rossa

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by 308GTB, Aug 3, 2006.

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  1. 308GTB

    308GTB Rookie

    Mar 22, 2006
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    Rob
    #1 308GTB, Aug 3, 2006
    Does anyone have info-s/n-current pics of the 1959 TR at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn Mich. I saw the car on a school trip in the early 80's! At that time the car looked to be in "as raced" condition, checked paint, cracked leather, dents and scratches...AWESOME! Does this car stil reside in the museum or...? Has it been "freshened" or is it still in the same cond? Was it A personal car of Henry's or was it acquired for/by the museum? It would be really cool to hear the story on that car over twenty years after seeing it ! Any info is appreiciated

    thanks Rob


    P.S this is my first post!!
     
  2. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 23, 2002
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    Jim Glickenhaus
    #2 Napolis, Aug 3, 2006
    Hi

    That was a cool car but I think the museum decided to sell/trade it for a Locomobile that had won the Vanderbuilt Cup.

    Others?
     
  3. Bill Sawyer

    Bill Sawyer Formula 3

    Feb 26, 2002
    2,108
    Georgia
    #3 Bill Sawyer, Aug 3, 2006
    Yeah, the car was sold, but I don't know the details.
     
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    Bubba
    #4 BigTex, Aug 3, 2006
    Welcome, brudda!

    A Locomobile would be good, if you didn't already have one......;)
     
  5. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 2, 2005
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    #5 Marcel Massini, Aug 4, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This is actually a 1957 and not a 1959 car. Factory completion date was June 1957. Car is ex-John von Neumann, ex-Josie von Neumann, then went to Nethercutt and on to Dick Hahn and then to Art True. Following True's death in 1967 it was donated to the Ford museum in Dearborn/MI. In March 1997 Peter Helck's son Jerry Helck traded the rare Locomobile Old #16 (Vanderbilt Cup Winner) to Manny Dragone, who has a sports car sales business in Bridgeport/CT. Dragone then traded the Locomobile for the 250 Testa Rossa and cash to the Ford Museum in Dearborn/MI, and sold the 250 TR to Abraham “Abba” Kogan, Monte Carlo. Car now in England. Unrestored with lovely patina.
    Here are some photos taken at the Retromobile in Paris 7 February 2003.
    COPYRIGHT MARCEL MASSINI
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  6. 410SA

    410SA F1 Veteran

    Nov 2, 2003
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    #6 410SA, Aug 4, 2006
    Marcel you never fail to astound with your encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Ferrari - Thanks for sharing with us!
     
  7. Bill Sawyer

    Bill Sawyer Formula 3

    Feb 26, 2002
    2,108
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    #7 Bill Sawyer, Aug 4, 2006
    Those pictures bring back memories. I spent many an hour staring at that car when it was in the Ford museum...
     
  8. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 23, 2002
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    Jim Glickenhaus
    #8 Napolis, Aug 4, 2006
    Thanks for the great post Marcel!
     
  9. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    Nov 20, 2003
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    #9 Smiles, Aug 4, 2006
    Me too.

    Thank you, Marcel. Wonderful, as always.
     
  10. Turner

    Turner Karting

    Sep 6, 2004
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    #10 Turner, Aug 4, 2006
    very cool, i love unrestored race cars
     
  11. macca

    macca Formula Junior

    Dec 3, 2003
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    #11 macca, Aug 4, 2006
  12. T308

    T308 Formula 3

    May 12, 2004
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    #12 T308, Aug 4, 2006
    Or his Chris Amon replica!

    T308
     
  13. Horsefly

    Horsefly F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2002
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    #13 Horsefly, Aug 4, 2006
    While we're at it, why not roll the Spirit of St. Louis out of the Smithsonian and take it out for a spin at the next air show?
     
  14. 308GTB

    308GTB Rookie

    Mar 22, 2006
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    #14 308GTB, Aug 5, 2006
    Marcel;
    Thanks for the speedy and thorough reply! The pictures brought many memories! It's great to see the car "sorted" for at least occasional track time while maintaining it's "lovely patina"! It appears that the car is in good hands !

    Cheers Napolis, Big Tex, Macca !!

    Rob

    P.S. What is on the headlights? Could that be good ol' masking tape?? Naww..
     
  15. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 Marcel Massini, Aug 5, 2006
    Yes, 49 year old masking tape. Original and authentic, not replicated.
    Marcel Massini
     
  16. macca

    macca Formula Junior

    Dec 3, 2003
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    #16 macca, Aug 5, 2006
    Chris Amon's was blue-white-red; Aron's was reversed, red-white-blue.

    Paul M
     
  17. Davato

    Davato Guest

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    Florent
    #17 Davato, Aug 5, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  18. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

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    #18 CMY, Aug 5, 2006
    Bar none, that is the coolest thing I have seen all year.
     
  19. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 2, 2005
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    #19 Marcel Massini, Aug 5, 2006
    The mud flap behind the rear wheel and the license plate is not original and was added later.
    Marcel Massini
     
  20. ClassicFerrari

    ClassicFerrari F1 World Champ
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    #20 ClassicFerrari, Aug 5, 2006
    You can say that again. This is a great story!
     
  21. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
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    Thibaut A.
    #21 thibaut, Aug 6, 2006
    Funny... I saw the car last year on Marylebone road next to my office. A guy in suit at the wheel (car was parked and he was on his mobile).
    I remembered the special fonts used for numbering the car.
     
  22. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

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    #22 synchro, Aug 28, 2006
    I saw it in 1991 and it was sitting in the back caorner of the museum. Great to see it escaped and is back around!
     
  23. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #23 BigTex, Aug 28, 2006
    I would think you'd HAVE to park that one, and turn it off, to use a mobile phone....LOL!
     
  24. eurperules

    eurperules Formula Junior

    Jan 25, 2005
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    stijn quintyn
    #24 eurperules, Aug 29, 2006
    am i the only one who has the impression that there is a huge movement in preference from overrestored (pebble beach *ahum*) to original patina in the classic car world?
     
  25. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    Dec 21, 2000
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    #25 Peter, Aug 29, 2006
    I've noticed that, but, eventually some of these cars do get to be restored. The Agnelli 375 comes to mind... I remember seeing it at Concorso in '99 when it was in blue (or what was left of it! Paint flaked off before your eyes). I don't like the colours they chose for it's recent restoration. I wish they would have left it alone...
     
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