GTV for sale -- more info?

Ah....ok, so it IS the original engine? I think that's all that really matters.

Did the factory verify this? Is there buildsheet verification?

Thing is, I don't care that much 'cuz I'm not going to buy it. But I've gotten several calls/emails about just this question, and I have no answer.

As you say Joe, anybody that's serious can go through the correct channels and contact you. That's the way to go.

But there's still the rest of the "unwashed public" out there interested to know more about the car, and whether it's the factory-verified correct engine is the main question I'm getting.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what happens, of course.

Cheers,

Fred

 

Exactly, that's what makes the car so interesting (at least to me). From the little I've read, the first engine was put together in a corner of one of his other factories, I wonder if it was dynoed there too.

If it was my project, I'd keep that first engine as an engineering prototype and quickly throw together another engine for the showcar. But, things were moving so fast at the time, I know the feeling! Ferruccio wanted to simply get the car to the show for a reaction. He got what he was after...

If I was buying the car I'd be happy to hear that it's the original engine. BUT, I'd still want some solid documentation. If there is none, the you'd be taking a gamble buying it because -- what if documentation shows up after the car is sold?

That's my only real question.

Other than that, I just think it's "the bomb." A very cool and important car.

Cheers,

Fred

 

The thing to remember about Ferruccio is that he was a very sharp and experienced guy, especially when it came to his own products. He had very detailed sheets made up for the machines he made -- not just the obvious blue prints, but also dyno and part sheets. I would frankly be surprised if there was no contemporary documentation on both that specific engine as well as that specific car.

Whether there was actually any for the GTV, what it was, whether it still exists or not, etc -- I have no idea.

Cheers,

Fred

 

I think with Pebble it's more about the overall presence of the car. As Leno says "the millionaires against the billionaires" so by the time you're in Pebble, there's a pretty good reason for the car to be there. (even if it's because you made a huge sponsor contribution! which happens all the time btw)

You can almost always pick the "best of show" cars when they drive in at 5am to set up (which is why we get there early) -- typically you can tell from the early morning applause who the winner is.

The Mormon Meteor had been at the show before, every time it creates a sensation. Visually, it's a monster -- sort of a glorious monster. This time was its time, and I have no problem with the car finally being recognized, especially considering its history.

I'm not sure that the GTV has enough "flow in its lines" to ever pull off best of show at pebble. It's great and it created a sensation, etc., but it's just not as dialed in as some of the lambos that followed it. To me, being a 400 owner, it's very interesting how some of the lines actually made it over to the 350/400 cars. I'm honored to have some of the lines that were saved, and glad they didn't carry forward some of the other GTV lines!

The GTV is a very interesting car, that's for sure. But almost more of a 50's image of what the 70's might be like, rather than an actual 60's design...at least to me. The 350/400 and Miura were solid 60s designs.

Cheers,

Fred

PS: Not bad for a crummy cellphone shot, eh?
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Ok, I see you say "current group of organizers" cuz if I recall correctly, didn't a 1967 Maserati Ghibli win best of show in 1968? Something like that.

Interesting point, I don't really follow it too closely, but honestly the event is called "Concours d'Elegance" and I'm afraid there aren't too many postwar cars that are actually elegant, at least not like some of the magnificent (and large) cars that have won best of show.

I don't think there's a single Lamborghini that should win Pebble, based on the definition of elegance (and believe me, I'm a huge lamborghini fan, of course), yet there are definitely some Ferraris that could. But when you look at these amazing designs from the 20s, 30s, 40s.... The Packards, Duzzys, Bugattis, Delehays, etc., I think they deserve the term "elegance." Maybe that's one reason they win, tho of course there are others... ($$$$$)

Anyway, the GTV sure could be shown at Pebble, but would never win best of show. It just wasn't the masterpiece of an experienced car company. Still, it was an amazing first effort, that's for sure.

Cheers,

Fred

PS: Pebble will really decline the day a Hot Rod wins best of show! Sadly, that's the direction they're going....

PPS: The thing to remember about the Mormon Meteor is that it was the fastest car in the world and set a number of other records. It has a heck of a history... ok, it's weird looking but it's pretty amazing to stand next to, especially when it starts up!

 

The other thing I'm curious about with the GTV is the chassis. I don't think it's very good, is it? I know the 350 had a basically redesigned square-tube frame by Dallara, but didn't the GTV have the round-tube bizzarrini frame? As Joe correctly notes, Dallara is a great frame designer. But I'm not sure he had anything to do with the GTV's frame, except to use the basic layout and improve from there.

I'd have to dig through my notes on all this...but isn't this fairly accurate?

Cheers,

Fred

 

Forgot to comment on this....

I love Paul's "First 400GT 2+2" -- but why was it allowed in the Custom Coachwork catagory?

That was a major boo-boo. (At least the Duzzy is unique.)

Fred