The "infamous" Mel Spillman Ferrari GTO

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Ferrari-GTO/303337601188?hash=item46a05478a4:g:jJoAAOSwOeBdtY4f

The description makes for an interesting read ...

 

Nice looking car. I wonder how much they are trying to get out of it?

 

Is that a track car only? Street legal?

 

Listing says “another $100,000 spent to restore it back to roadworthy standards.”
Wonder what reserve is on it. Quite the machine. Gorgeous in black.

 

The chassis number startled me for a moment. My first ride in a Ferrari was #35455 back in 83 when I was 15.

I thought someone had chopped it up (again)

 

I am typically not a fan of the "standard" 308 -> 288 conversions, but this is a very cool car. Wonder what he thinks it's worth...

 

Actually, the main point of the thread was to hope that one of you here would explain the 'infamous Mel' part of the ad!

Seems like the seller is assuming that his audience will recognize the name, and thus will know of the car's history?

DM

 

I never heard of it before but when I looked it up in Mathis' (sp) book to see if it was the one I mentioned earlier, it was in there as this conversion.

 

For all the money spent on this car you could have purchased a real GTO.

 

Look him up. Spillman was the little county clerk who stole dead people's money and estates and built a nice car collection (among other things) with the spoils. Scumbag of the highest order. I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, bad...bad karma. I don't know if he's stll around but Carpenter was on here at one time. He did a lot of the body work for these conversions. I bought a used spare tire surround from him once. Nice enough guy.

 

That’s some crazy stuff! Would think a county clerk sporting a black 288 GTO would raise some red flags. Also started his own race team.

 

I spoke to Jim last month. He was helpful and nice. I think he has Wash State phone number though, but splits time in AZ/WA (if I understood him correctly). He knows a lot about FCars for sure.

 

Sorry, yes ...Texas, outside of San Antonio somewhere.

Yes considering a NEW 288GTO was a hard sell, in the $80Ks, when a 308 was $27 to $30K, this car was kind of pointless.
They hauled him off to Jail he's dead or out by now certainly??

 

Sorry, well known Texas scammer..

 

He does. If I remember right, and I may not, I think I met him at an antique shop in Olympia when I picked up the part. I think he said his wife ran it.

 

Here is a recent video with Carpenter:

 

One thing that really jumps out at me about this customization is the Porsche
-sourced G50 transmission. Is this a common modification, and I wonder how difficult it is to accomplish? Even though the Ferrari gearbox is kind of iconic in its design and function, there is no doubt that the G50 is a much smoother and usable transmission. Of course, these transmissions are not an expensive either so it would not be anything like a cost savings.

 

It's because the engine here is mounted longitudinally like a GTO, better layout for twinturbo.

 

Oh, wow. Interesting Wiki link per Rob's thread note above - I had no idea.

So, does the 'fame' of the former owner of the car add to, or detract from, the car's mystique and perceived value?

 

Past owners aside
The 288 is (to me) one of the prettiest car designs ever.
In black it looks brutal even though it sits on a 308.

 

I will contribute to this thread knowing some will and are certainly respected for their opinions.

I knew Mel pretty well having spent time over several years at Ferrari Club events, race weekends and even turning wrenches for him in his shop.

I always found him to be a nice kind man who enjoyed the brand and the people associated with it. He had a passion for Ferrari’s and was a great steward in their care.

That being said no one had any thoughts about his financial position Like most of us were raised not to ask about people’s finances we just assumed he had a nice trust or inheritance to draw from.

Was he guilty for what he had done. Yes certainly so. My opinion is that what started as a bad one off decision grew into something larger. It was justification. If a family was not to be located when probating a “John or Jane Doe’s” estate why give the money to the government.

I am not condoning what he did but I don’t believe he was a bad person in every other part of his life.

He paid his debt, did the time. I am sure given 20/20 hindsight he would have not chosen the path he did.

My two cents.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

Not saying it was Ok by any means, but The story is intriguing to me. If Mel were to write a book on the subject, how this came about from beginning to end, I would probably buy it.