Interesting. I don’t recall noticing/seeing any car manufacturer utilizing two different style cable ends before, but since were talking Ferrari, I’m not surprised.
BTW, those are original battery cables and ends. Wasn't doing much today so something "NEW" to look for (or match up)..I guess thanks
Kilimanjaro Designs in Wisconsin sells these battery terminals. john Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Correction: I took a closer/close up look at the photos and saw both cables having same style/type ends. My earlier quick glance suggested otherwise.
One of the 400MM had Dunlop. The rest of the 400mm had Pirelli. Note, I only have 22 PF coupe build sheets and 4 did not have the page with tires and wheels. So not a large sample.
Radial Pirelli Cinturato do not generally appear on 250GT Ferrari until around 1960 in my observation of period photos and some build sheets. Prior to that the PF Coupes for the most part had bias-ply tires - some early ones Englebert, others Continental, Dunlop and a different bias-ply Pirelli than the radial Cinturato. See also the data sheet comparisons in George Carrick's 250 California book which, in his sampling where stated, shows 1699GT (1960) and after with Cinturato - before that Continental. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The 400mm wheels would foul the brake drums of the Series I car, so it makes sense that they appear around 1960. john
This is the detail i came up with last time i looked into this car. Ferrari fitted the RW3264 Borrani Wheel 5.5"x16" for 250 Pininfarina Coupe models with drum brakes. Ferrari fitted the RW3526 Borrani Wheel 5.5"x16" for 250 Pininfarina Coupe models (from 1959) with disc brakes. The spoke pattern is different in this wheel to allow clearance of the disc brake components. Some Ferrari 250 Pininfarina Coupe models fitted RW3598 Borrani wheel 5.5"x400mm for use with 175 R400 Tires. https://www.borrani.com/ferrari-wheels/250-pininfarina-coupe.html However at the time, i didn't clarify that the 400mm wheel was post disc brake. My assumption would be that the 400mm wheel was for early cars to fit the easiest to get radial tyres, which were 400mm tyres made for the Citroens that were the first cars to fit radials as standard? Did Ferrari definitely not fit 400mm wheels on the series 1? There would only be a 3mm radius difference between 400mm and 16", and i beleive it was the spoke pattern that had to be changed to fit the disc brakes. In 1960 a lot of Ferrari were moving onto 15" wheels and were fitting 185VR15 tyres, predominently Cinturato i beleive. I must say i was suprised to see a 400mm wheel fitted with a Dunlop? Did it specify 175R400 or 165R400. In fact as it was Dunlop, did it actually specify that it was radial? or did it call it a 165 - 400 instead of 165 R 400? Image Unavailable, Please Login Hopefully in the next few months we will have the Stella Bianca back again. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/600-16/600-16-pirelli-stella-bianca.html I realise it doesn't look like the Pirelli in the pictures above, but the Stella Bianca was a popular tyre of the time. They also made a Stelvio and a Aeroflex that all look very similar, so you have to take a punt and plum for one and the Stella Bianca won. However you are always going to stumble accros stuff like this. My guess is this tyre might be something like this. Image Unavailable, Please Login The Stella Bianca is good, because it is a tyre that ranged over quite a long period, as a result we have made an 18" Stella Bianca for pre war Alfa that Ferrari would have been running. there is also a 550-16 Stella Bianca, which is important size for the front of some racing cars. Hopefully in the near future we will have a 650-16 Stella Bianca too. lots of '50s racing cars mixed up 16" tyres of these sizes. Englebert haven't been made for years. If i were to guess i would say 20 or so years since Michelin last made a batch of Englebert. However they were good, and certainly looked cool. Michelin do however make this Pilote Sport in 600WR16 which is an extremely high performance radial tyre that does look quite a bit like the old Englebert. it has a crossply description on a radial tyre to make it look good. It is a really good tyre, but a bit of an oddity, it is like a mixture of several things. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/600-16/600r16-michelin-pilot-x.html
John is correct – there is barely a screwdriver blade clearance between a 16” Borrani RW3264 and the drum brake, I can see where the 400 mm wheel could interfere with the drum. Given the tire availability today, my Ferrari tire protocol logic (just my view) for anyone seeking a period correct appearance approach to tires, given today’s availability, would be: Pirelli Stella Bianca Corsa for 1950’s drum brake Ferraris through 1959 (if the applicable size is available). Ferrari appears to have used the Pirelli Stelvio throughout the 1950s, and the same tread pattern and general appearance of the current Stella Bianca is as close as one can get to the Stelvio. Unfortunately, the reproduction Englebert tire was not made for very long and yes has not been available for many years. Shame it is not made again, reportedly the reproduction was a good tire. If you have reproduction Engleberts for show on cars that were of that mid-to later 50’s period of Ferrari, by all means, good fortune. Agree the Michelin Pilote is a good alternative of similar tread appearance to Englebert. 1960 and after - Pirelli Cinturato radial seems to be a good bet for 250GT. Current reproduction Dunlop SP Sport radial for say Lusso or GTE an option, especially if data sheets for those cars show Dunlop. And of course if driving your 250 is your priority above appearance, the choice widens as you like – Avons, Dunlop RS5, Dunlop racing, Blockley, Vredestein. Can’t complain too much for options, some tires better than others,varied opinions – luckily a limited market is at least supported. 275’s and on are another tale. Shame Dunlop does not reproduce the original type 205-14 dog-bone tread SP Sport for 275s.
Dougal, you can see how tight things are here. john Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here is the information from the build sheets that I have. The wheel size columns are from the RW number. The other columns are from the build sheets.
I understand that the 400mm size became unobtainable some years after introduction, which meant that owners had no choice but to replace 400mm RW3598 with sizes that would fit and were available. For this reason, whilst my colleague's;1733GT build sheet were fitted with RW3598, they were later replaced with 15x6.0 RW3690 and 15x5.5 RW3591, but with restoration is now back to RW3598. I note that this "owner RW3598 replacement" trend appears to in some of Kerry's spreadsheet, but I stand corrected if this information is directly from build sheets.
Every time we visit the bodyshop there’s hope that much progress has been made and realize it’s a slow and tedious process. The panels all appear to be in very good condition with little rust. The soda blasting machine is standing watch, if we could get a break in this weather things we get back on track. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
A 400mm wheel is obviously 400mm a 16" wheel is 406.4mm so in effect we are only lookin for 3.2mm, and the measurement is for the inside of the wheel the thicknes at that point could vary, so although the picture does look really close i wouldn't complaetely rule out that a 400mm wheel would fit. However, would i go out and buy a 400mm wheel to go on that car without trying one on it first? no i wouldn't. It looks very Ferrari tight, which is cool. Also i cannot see there being a problem getting a 185VR16 tyre in the future. 175HR400 tyre however is more spurious. it is great that Pirelli made this tyre. if I'm honest; i told them not to make it, becuase there is only a few of youi guys and the Lancia Flaminia Coupe, not the other models, just the coupe that fit the 175, so it is a difficult tyre to justify making. i hope to have stock again in maybe March. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/175-400/175hr400-pirelli-cinturato-ca67.html You can place and order without giving payment details or addresses etc, and we will contact you when they are back in stock. we dont sell your detail or hassle you, we just contact you when they are back on the shelf and you can buy them if you want to. Dunlop RS5 no longer made. Dunlop SP Sport - no 16" tyre - No longer made by Dunlop, made else where under lisence - Wrong tyre any way. that tyre came out in 1968. Pre 1968 Dunlop radial SP41 - wasn't very good anyway. Image Unavailable, Please Login Avon also a later tyre. Infact the current 185VR16 Avont Turbosteel wasn't made untill the late 1980s, and it is completely the wrong size and shape. Blockley - don't get me going on the Blockley. Vredestein - Msk! not a bad tyre, but they look dreadful. For the 275 the good news is we have a CN72 on the way in 14" https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/pirelli-collezione/cinturato-cn72.html
When are we going see the STB radials in 6.5? Thanks. john Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
When the owner of #1871 purchased the car in 1982 it was partially dismantled, many parts missing, a few I believe are incorrect. I'd appreciate input regarding the radiator. I firmly believe that it is not original to this car. My reasoning is that the front hood frame has been cut and removed to provide clearance for the filler neck/cap. The series I PF Coupes I have experience with had an offset filler neck which went rearward a few inches then vertical with the cap. This arrangement clears the hood frame. I have pictured below two radiators provided to me with car. "A" was in the car and "B" was discovered near the car. I believe they are Ferrari radiators but not the correct ones for this car. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Dave, the wider radiator appeared around 1960 along with the outside-plug 3.0L motor. In the earlier days, the overflow drain was a brass tube, then later it became a nylon hose. john
I have one of each but neither filler neck appears to clear the hood frame. I was hoping that some of the regulars here might have photos to share of radiators and where they are positioned
In the past , someone cut the end of my driveshaft and welded u-joints. Any help on locating a replacement appreciated. Pictures and drawing define approx. length.
GTO Engineering in the UK offers reproduction 250 SWB propshaft; they may be able to provide one to length specification desired, for a suitable ransom, but expensive already as is.
