All pictures good for desktop wallpaper!
In September 1987 #58329 was sold through Niki Lauda's attorney Dr. Thomas Huber of Vienna, Austria, to Franz Wieth, born 1949 and resident in Starnberg near Munich, Germany. Mileage then close to 10'000 kms (according to Wieth). Wieth paid German Marks 509'000 to Huber plus a commission to a broker. 23 September 1987 imported by Wieth to Germany at the main customs station of Bad Reichenhall. Wieth paid German Marks 71'330.60 German Marks for importation and customs fees. Marcel Massini
As I mentioned earlier, Webb Bland, he does great work for Ferrari an a couple of other car manufacturers. Webb Bland | Automotive Photography - Showcase [email protected] 504.400.7948
To add to that, is was Wieth who was friends with the attorney and it was the attorney that offered it to Wieth. The reason give by Wieth for the offering is that Lauda Air could not afford engine maintaince on some of the fleet and the car was sold to pay for it.
Well, that's the most interesting reason I have ever heard of for the sale of a 288 GTO! Lauda is notoriously unsentimental, so, if true, I would not be surprised.
I like the head on picture of the front at a high angle. That view really shows off the red seat trim and that volumptuous body perfectly, from that set of pictures taken at Dusk. Very nice of you to share those extra images here, Joe!
I had hoped Octane's editor would use this image of Niki flying in the Ferrari 312T2 @ the German Grand Prix @ the Nordschleife (instead they went for the portrait image). So many lessons to be learned from this man's life, the story was a compelling no-brainer. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Speaking of F1 World Drivers Champions, here is the ex-Keke Rosberg GTO in good health , also in the USA. Looks good Shiv. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Keke owned 56653 only for a few minutes before he sold it on to Harley Cluxton's Grand Touring Cars Inc. in Scottsdale/AZ........... Marcel Massini
As far as I'm concerned there can't be enough publications on these fabulous cars! I can't find it anywhere, is this publication only in French?
Aw stop it Marcel, it takes more than a few minutes to drive a GTO from Maranello to Monaco on EE plates, I think he owned it for a lot longer than a few minutes! What's the difference between the delivery date and the date GTC purchased the car? Point is, the car was built for Keke Rosberg, its his name on the warranty book, and he took delivery, that's indisputable. What a man does with his property after he gets it doesn't negate his ownership, so to refer to the car forever as the ex-Rosberg GTO is entirely appropriate. It even still has the EE plate assigned to the car for him to drive it away. Alboreto, Rosberg, Lauda, they all received GTOs, and whilst there is a tendency by some to minimize this link, it means a lot to some people. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Relax, Joe. Keke and Harley did the deal before Keke even took delivery of the car. Sure, he may have driven it from Maranello to Monaco, but on paper, it was no longer his. Yeah, it's always kool if you have a famous name in the warranty book, no doubt. (btw, I knew you would react like you did!). Marcel Massini
More F1 people who own/owned 288 GTO's: Adrian Newey, Eddie Irvine, Jean Todt, Jean Sage, Dieter Mateschitz, Walter Wolf. Marcel Massini
Point of view can be a funny thing. What I see is the ex-Wieth 288 GTO and the ex-Galdi 288 GTO - having known each personally.