Nice find today in Malibu. Definitely caught me by surprise. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
And would be even cooler & more impressive, not mention rarer, to see them "in the wild", i.e. (preferably) in motion on some remote back roads. At least this one is sitting in public view, althought appearing to be awaiting for or having just been unloaded from a transporter of some sort, perhaps to or from some local C & C event ?
Here it was as a derelict, after having had its original engine, a 750Monza, and an American V8. I found a Monza engine in a Tijuana wrecking yard, and sold it off as a do-it-yourself kit. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That was in August 1971. Here's a pic showing the car under the cover as well. Marcel Massini Image Unavailable, Please Login
For what it was, these cars are surprisingly drivable. 0434 MD could be started from outside the car. Just push the key in and press the starter button. I only experienced one problem. When I lived up under the Hollywood sign, I had two routes, the short way and the long way. One day I was out in the Mondial, and took the long way, as that route gave me a straight shot up my driveway. The problem arose when I came upon a little old lady, chugging peacefully along at 5 or 10 MPH. Well, the Mondial simply wouldn't run at that speed, up-hill. I coasted back to the nearest flat spot, and waited 10 minutes to give granny a chance to get to her destination before finally making it home.
Starter button if I am correct is a lever that has to be pushed down to engage the starter engine. I drove this car in Germany in 2006 when it was still red , and with the 750 engine the car was lively but with a huge level of vibrations . Same day I also test drove 424(564)MD and chose to buy this one. To drive them at low speed is very painful. But this is unfortunately that you experience a lot during the MIlle Miglia ...
Bira, those direct contact levers were used in later cars. Here's a pic of 0434MD. Starter button is to the right of the "one size fits all race cars" key. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ed you might be right,at my age memory might be fading . I will check with pictures I took of this very car 15 years ago when I tested it, I should have inside pictures too. Either I cannot remember and got confused as I have owned both a MD Scaglietti spider and one of the two MD berlinettas, or 0434MD was modified at some point,,,
0425GT 250GT PF Speciale Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting to note that when I tested 438MD pre FC restoration, I had different dials and no starter button. Starting the engine was by engaging the electric engine via a lever as I also had on 564MD! Inaccurate but happy to see that my memory did not fail me,,yet! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login