Classiche Application Stories

Is yours the black car Chassis No. 14415 that is listed on the RM site?

 

Thanks, Doug Nye, for being brave enough to put it out there the way you did. I have a question: When the program was first getting off the ground, I understood that Jess Pourret was involved. To my mind, Jess is THE expert in this field: Ex-Pozzi and it's predecessor Franco-Britannic Motors Mgr., author, and maybe the first to be allowed unlimited access to the factory records. So the question is, is there anyone like Jess (i.e., an old-timer) involved with the program now?

 

After the program was announced it received the criticisim that no one at Ferrari today was around when the older cars were built. Their answer was they would consult a panel of outside experts when needed. This apparently has not happened as none of the experts that I know or know of (including, apparently, Ed Niles who knows this stuff as well as anybody out there) has been consulted.

 

Marvelous hearing from Mr. Nye and Mr. Niles. Thank you, gentlemen.

All of your contributions to this discussion are very much appreciated, far beyond the respondents to the original post.

 

Yes Thankyou to Doug for posting, as the most important automobile historian of our times, your posts are always avidly read.

And to Randy, which owner ??
Beacuse as I said there are now 2 cars, so.................................

Tim

 

+1

This is an immotive issue "either side of the fence" - whichever, it requires a radical rethink as the global apathy amongst Classiche eligible owners, isn't going to change anytime soon.

 

Considering my social status, I'd have to pull for the underdog (the oldest car and its owner in Austria).

 

0818: One is owned by Egon Hofer of Austria. The other is owned by Fabrizio Violati of Rome who keeps his cars in the San Marino museum.

The court is Modena.
The judge's expert is the same one who was the expert in the case of the two Maseratis which a judge ordered destroyed (not sure if it is the same judge).

I agree with Doug's view of the Classiche program. It is a cow milking operation.

 

+1

And if I had the money, I would get someone like Mr. Massini or Doug or another expert and get them to check it over and certify its history, I would suggest very few of the most important cars have not been checked to death at some point over the past 18 years..................................

 

In my case, don't you dare...

I have been asked constantly to 'verify' cars, re BRMs, Lotuses, Coopers, Jaguars, Ferraris, McLarens (that's the trouble with being keen on more than just one marque). Quite apart from the question "Well who the hell am I to do such a thing?" - I simply do NOT have the time to accept, because there are so many more interesting things to do.

Three years ago I was asked by the purchaser of a huge collection of cars how long it would take to confirm their individual histories. The only accurate response was along the lines of "How long is a piece of string?". Some cars we knew stacks about already, others were a muddle, a few complete obscurities. To unravel a history might take 10 minutes, or ten years...

And if one spent months hunting, and drew an absolute blank - which has happened - what's the client's reaction going to be when one says "Here's my bill - oh, and by the way, I found you nothing".

That's right, they're going to smell another scam, suspect we are conning them, and again it all ends in tears.

Therefore, as far as I am concerned, other than in exceptional circumstances - or for established friends - I steer clear of that kind of commission. And financially I guess it has cost me dear. But each of us can only eat one steak at a time, and generally I'm comfortable in believing I can, at least, sleep straight at night...

DCN

 

Mr. Nye

All very good points, and again I bow in the presence of your greatness.

"WE'RE NOT WORTHY, WE'RE NOT WORTHY"

Tim

 

Yeah, right...v. nice thank you, and if you're a sarcastic bastard, like so many of we Brits, I would also approve.

DCN

 

LOL! It's the Internet after all...

Your point is well made though, someone going around "confirming" a cars provenance had better have deep pockets for the results..the Ferrari Dealership here won't even do a PPI on a Ferrari, due to this..

I can't agree with this mania about crushing up 'split' cars though, that seems a little over the top, but reflects the big egos involved in the game, these days......

Maybe just make them add a "R" (Replacement) to the number on the roundrel, or a "T" (Test) like we do when we test the back up car....

 

That is not the story with my car, they first had to verify everything with Ferrari before entering my car in the Auction and the car would only be sold if everything was matching. So they can deliver the car with a certification from classiche.
The lusso is the car I entered.
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The assumption that all sellers in an auction are treated equally is not true, and I think that may be the source of confusion. RM probably figured that they can afford to pay for the certification of the GTS/4. They undoubtedly have received a number of requests for such a car from willing buyers, which is why they sought 410SA out.

Just a guess.

 

Beautiful car. Good luck with the sale

 

I'd like to add that the colour is beautiful. I've seen this Lusso and it's not 'just' silver but has a green hue to it. Pictures don't do it justice.

 

No good comes when you try to serve two masters.
BTW I really like your column in Motorsport. As a long time reader its good to see the magazine back on form. Congrats to Mr Roebuck etal and thanks particularly to Bill Boddy.

 

+1

 

Whatever Bill Boddy's magic pill is I want to know: talk about incredible longevity and clear mind: I wouldn't be surprised to hear he was a cub reporter at the inaugural Paris Bordeaux race

 

MotorSport has indeed made a nice improvement, not the least of which is Doug Nye's byline there. His participation in this forum is most welcome and a big benefit for all of us.

Jack.

 

"Proper Ferrari people"


Fascinating.

 

While I understand why you said what you said, doesn't it strike you as a little bit silly? I'm assuming that we all like to believe that we are adults here. In a more rational world, Ferrari should be more concerned about what WE think, instead of WE being concerned about what Ferrari might think about what we think. After all, we are the customer, yes?

Let's play a little game and assume that you are a PR person for GM. Wouldn't you love to have this opportunity? Here you have a built-in fan base of enthusiasts and experts that you can use to leverage yourself even higher. But, Ferrari instead insists on being arrogant and controlling.

Think about it. I'm guessing that a Ferrari will eventually become the most expensive car in the world. Wow, what a marketing coup. Your company made the most expensive car in the world. You would think, thus, that Ferrari would want to be collaborative and supportive of its old cars. Hell, I bet the top experts in world are so obsessed that they would be willing to do this for free!

Given all this, here is my question: Is this insecurity an Italian or Ferrari thing?

Dale

 

While I never met the Old Man himself, I have been regaled (as we all have, I'm sure) of his sometimes prickly demeanor. Many customers were treated poorly, ignored or even stood up by him. So, just maybe, a piece of il Commendatore lives on in SpA even today in the Classiche programme!

CW

 

So, if I meet an Italian girl with a great body, and later find out she is not the person I thought she was, and find out she has been "surgically enhanced", will the Italian courts crush her too???