The (Partial) Collection Of Swap Shop's Preston Henn

The experience of visiting Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida was one of utter contradiction. Locals know what I'm talking about. Let's just say it's not a part of town I'm likely to visit again. I find it hard to believe that honest Swap Shop goers are likely to truly comprehend and appreciate Mr. Henn's collection beyond just a simple "wow, them's expensive cars" compliment.

I attended to see one thing and one thing only--Mr. Henn's Miami Vice Testarossa. I was a little disappointed to see it spinning in the middle of this space, like a side show almost, with a sign that read, "This is the ACTUAL CAR used on the TV Show MIAMI VICE". There was a random helmet placed atop the roof of the car, plus Mr. Henn seems to have left his black seat covers on the seats. I'm not certain why either would be present with that car. For the record, there were two white Testarossas used in the Miami Vice television production.

We also walked through Swap Shop, guardedly, to the east end of the building to see the remainder of Mr. Henn's collection that was on display. Feel free to have your picture taken in the BB "Spyder", just see the guy in the cell phone booth! It was apparent that an FXX was missing by the FXX toolboxes on display.

No doubt, Mr. Henn has great taste in cars, as well as a real penchant for sports car racing, but the setting leaves a wee bit to be desired. Normally, I shoot decent photos. I'll have to blame the equipment I brought that day for the uninspired images you're about to see. I hope you enjoy the photos.
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Whoa, freakin spooky mannequins there...

 

I like going there and seeing those cars right along side all the flea mkt vendors. Something odd but appealing about it to me. That BB conv is a mess and the dummies in the cars are just weird.

 

Hmm... I remember watching him run 935s at Daytona & Riverside. I think he won the 24 hours of Daytona and maybe Lemans?

 

Weird indeed. More pics of the 275 ?

 

No, sorry. It was a long nose, though.

 

You gotta love someone with a sense of humor.

Me thinks that sometimes we all get a little bit too serious about all this stuff.

Dale

 

That one must not be his first Ferrari Enzo Ferrari, correct?

 

Not my style either but he had the sense, forsight, and passion for Ferrari to purchase 6885 back when not many people knew what it was or cared.

 

+1000!

 

it is not "a long nose" but the most important ferrari 275 ever. the competitione speciale chassis 6885 was 1st IC and 3rd OA at the 24 h of le mans 1965 !
and 6885 was the only 275 ever entered by the factory ! all other 275 comp have been raced by private teams only.
preston henn paid 10 million $ for the car !

a pic from cavallino 2007:
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Are you sure he paid $10M for the car? He's had that car for a very long time, way before the value of Ferraris skyrocketed into the millions.

 

True, it is one of the most important 275's ever. Awesome car, I've seen/heard it on track and it's something.

I know what's on barchetta, but that $10M figure is just Preston's marketing hype at work.

He didn't get as wealthy as he is by paying ahead of the market!

 

Preston has had 6883 since the early 70s

 

Excuse the typo..s/b 5, not 3

 

That "Take Your Picture With This Ferrari!!" sign looks like it belongs in Tennessee, with me...oh, well. I guess he's still in the south... I'm glad he has fun.

And, oh damn, he has an F50. Love it. Awesome collection.

 

does anybody know the s/n of preston henn´s yellow F 50 ?

 

Oh nooooo! Its wayyyyy better than a Testarossa!

Its 275GTB competition speciale 6885! This car has raced Le Mans! There's only 2 of these.

 

I'd heard he bought the 275 in 1967. Don't know for sure. I've seen him walking 'round the market with shorts and two unmatched socks.

Went there to look at the 275 a few months ago and sat there watching some spainish dancing group dance on the stage right next to the car while kids played the dance revolution video game to the other side. Strange..really strange.

 

OK, you uber geeks of Ferraridom, please explain how that 275 is special. It's got a longer nose than any 275 I've seen, yet is apparently one of the eldest 275s. Sure it's got a racing pedigree, but what's the real deal with this car?

 

Read Forza #61 for a history lesson on this car. Basicly, this is the car to own.

 

Thanks for your insight. This is precisely why I'm discouraged from contributing on this forum. Sometimes, I don't know why I bother.

 

I think he was at Cavallino 2007, had a concours of his own in the Breakers parking lot with the Veyron. Interesting guy, I read that he once went to a black tie affair of George Bush's wearing a tuxedo jacket and jeans with black satin stripes taped down the leg!

 

Light alloy body, magnesium castings, special motor internals, and I have seen it parked to a standard GTB and they have virtually no shapes in common.

It was such a blatant rule bender it was entered by Francorchamps at Le Mans(hence the yellow paint) as Ferrari sometimes did with such cars. Ferrari referred to it as a "normale Berlinetta, presumably with a straight face.

It is more of a GTO 65 than a GTB

 

Thanks, John.