William Favre

tongascrew · May 12, 2012

If you can, get a copy of Car and Driver of Dec. 1989. The story of this guy could be the inspiration for a "can't put it down" novel or a RRR rated film. It has sex, divorse. embezlementing hugh $$$, forgery,screw your best buddy to the wall,suicide, attempted murder, you name it in such places as Paris and Monte Carlo and all around the building and selling fake 250GTOs to the "more money than brains" types in other exotic locations. This guy really out did the Dubbini brothers. It's hard to make jup somethin better than this. tongascrew

Vincent Vangool · May 12, 2012

I've always wanted to know more about Favre.

tx246 · May 12, 2012

I would love to hear more about the real story and what we have come to know.

Are the quality of his replicas as good as talked about? If so, did he do them himself, or have them done?

tongascrew · May 13, 2012

tx246 said: ↑

I would love to hear more about the real story and what we have come to know.

Are the quality of his replicas as good as talked about? If so, did he do them himself, or have them done?
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So would I. I am hoping that by posting this someone will come up with more.If anyone would like a copy of the C&D article e-mail me at tongascrew@ aol.com with your address and I will send it out to you. tongascrew

JeremyJon · May 13, 2012

http://autosmobilis.com/controfr.htm

Myths and Mysteries have always fascinated the human mind. The mind loves anything mystic , hidden or half exposed. Mysteries and controversies have dodged the automobile world for a long time. A world extremely complex and huge. From design tables to assembly lines and from board rooms to bed rooms there is a story, a controversy , a hoax hidden somewhere waiting to be told. Be it the mysterious death of William Favre or the story of the round door Rolls. It is the controversies and mysteries that make the automobile world all that more lovely and beautiful.
He was young, charming and an attractive Frenchman. A Grand Prix International magazine had just printed an advertisement saying, "It was still possible to buy a GTO250 at a reasonable price." A reasonably priced GTO was quite surprising at that time when a genuine would sell at 2 million dollars. What William Phillipe Favre did was to recreate the charismatic 1962 Ferrari GTO 250. He was adventurous and daring and loved risk. He was called the "thorn in the Fiat's flesh", and the very mention of his name was enough to drive Enzo Ferrari mad. Favre had money and guts. With these he set out to realize his dream. He could never afford a genuine Ferrari GTO 250 even when Ferrari would sell them. He started building his own GTO 250 with a donor car. Things were perfect till then and if Favre had satisfied himself with his creation and paid attention to his real business, he probably might have been alive today. He had a very complex personality. He could change himself from a charming individual to a viscous devil.
One of America's Ferrari-only weekly publishers had dedicated almost an entire issue casting doubts and deriding Favre's integrity. Enzo's reaction to Favre's idea of replicating the GTO 250 initially came as disinterest. As far as the cars of the past were concerned Enzo's interest was highly lacking.
There was a time when collision met Ferraris could be bought at prices as low as 3 to 5 thousand dollars .In 1980's, the price of the Ferrari classics shot up to astronomical figures. By this time a lot of Favre replicas were out in the market. The situation was difficult for Enzo to neglect. America has always been a happy hunting ground for Ferrai, the country which holds a vast number of loyalists. The increasing popularity of The Favre replicas took Enzo by worry. In 1985 Favre had quite a range of Ferrari replicas in different stages of construction. At one time his unit his unit boasted eight GTOs, Three GTO 250 Californian Spyders, a few 1959 Testa Rossa and a 330 LMB. Perhaps the biggest concentration of replica Ferraris in one place at the same time.
Favre was very much concerned about passing his cars as a genuine Ferrari, hence he planned enough precautions to see that a Favre car wasn't passed as a genuine Ferrari, and was of course his greatest surety was, anybody would double check a Ferrari before buying it. Dishing out seven digits was not easy for anybody and would double check for a fake. Favre's GTOs weren't perfect, From a distance they looked very much identical to the original but within a short distance, the deficiencies were clear. A few months later Favre was arrested by Swiss authorities on the charge of building and selling counterfeit Ferraris. He was imprisoned for 5 days. After his release his wife divorced him. The result was disastrous. His commercial integrity was in shambles. To add to the woes his partner, a lotus importer in France reneged on their contract. Angry and frustrated, Favre pulled him to the court. Over the next few months Favre fought him in courts. He finally was awarded damages worth one million pounds sterling. By September 1985, with the new found money, work was started on a new Favre GTO and over the next three years, Favre saw 5 GTOs built. William Favre was a restless man, little things would irk him. Enzo was still stalking him in Swiss courts. The projected production of GTOs were put at 40 and extensive jigs were constructed to build 40 GTOs. The first GTO was built in 1986 and sold for 75000 dollars. In 1989 it was allegedly offered for sale in Florida for 1 million dollars. He considered the first car as prototype number 1. Many changes were made to the second car both aesthetically and mechanically. The second car was much better then the first, but more refined and more original. The second car was bought by a Californian. As the car was tested at Snetterton, Favre said, "If I had to die tomorrow, I will die a happy man. I have seen the best GTO ever built." During the rest of the day Favre showered praise for the car's builder. Favre had a quality that few had, he always gave people their due credit. He often mentioned the GTO constructor had golden hands.
Now suddenly things started to change, it was getting difficult to get donor cars. Dullness was creeping in Favre's unit. In spite this, Favre lived extravagantly. Now he was flying twice to England every month and stayed in expensive places. Winter holidays were in the Caribbean and summers in California and many more exotic locales. A customer was found for the third car. The new customer and his wife were taken to the factory to have a look at the way the Favre were built. During this time a Lebanese came into the picture who seemingly was helping Favre with money and other businesses. He was in Geneva representing a group of Businessmen. As of this friend hardly any details were known. This new friend hardly improved the financial position of Favre. Favre was busy paying back debts. The London bank where Favre was controlling a large overdraft insisted that he settle with them and transfer his business elsewhere. Sometime late, he broke off connections with his Lebanese friend. Another disturbing bit of information for him was that his bodyguard had been arrested while holidaying in Italy. He was charged on the attempt to bomb a light house.
Things were becoming more and more difficult for William Favre. He was late paying money to his constructors. Debt had inflated to astronomical levels. He was slowly losing interest in the GTO project. He was forced to sell his house and close down his British operations. He decided to go back to France and rebuild his fortunes and concentrate on property business.
On the night of October 26th 1988, the Frenchman had taken his life with a .357 Magnum Pistol. Some weeks later the police opened a murder enquiry.
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from an Ed Niles article

http://www.fca-sw.org/article.aspx?article_id=286

As a matter of fact, the Favre GTOs were built in the Giordanengo shop, in Cuneo, Italy, South of Milano. While these cars were being built, someone sent me a photo taken inside the shop of Giordanengo, and I was interested to see a 250 GT California Spyder in the photo. It seems that a California Spyder on our East Coast had burned to the ground, and after the owner collected on his insurance, the burned-out chassis was sent to Giordanengos shop. Eventually, a 250 GT California Spyder emerged, bearing that same serial number. But oddly enough, the original burned-out chassis remained in the shop. So the question becomes that of whether any of the original parts ended up in the rebuilt car.
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tx246 · May 13, 2012

garnet said: ↑

from an Ed Niles article

http://www.fca-sw.org/article.aspx?article_id=286
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What an interesting article.

I wish Ed would chime in with added commentary.

VIZSLA · May 29, 2012

Bombing a light house?

kvisser · Jul 23, 2012

VIZSLA said: ↑

Bombing a light house?
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Who among us hasn't contemplated doing that?

WilyB · Aug 19, 2012

A Fchat member posted the complete story here: http://www.gatsbyonline.com/main.aspx?page=text&id=621&cat=auto

There are five chapters, in French, explaining in details William Favre's story.

Some big names are involved, truly fascinating. At one point they had the idea to make believe their "GTO" were manufactured in Saudi Arabia and took pictures of mechanics wearing Arabian headgear.

penelope pitstop · Aug 26, 2012

JeremyJon said: ↑

http://autosmobilis.com/controfr.htm

from an Ed Niles article

http://www.fca-sw.org/article.aspx?article_id=286
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So if the cars' were built by the Giordanengo shop, in Cuneo, Italy, South of Milano what were they doing being tested at Snetterton race track in Norfolk UK, is there a UK connection ??? Penny.

WilyB · Sep 7, 2017

penelope pitstop said: ↑

So if the cars' were built by the Giordanengo shop, in Cuneo, Italy, South of Milano ...
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It is my understanding that the Favre's GTO were made by Alain Garnier in St Paul de Vence (Provence) and the engines were modified to GTO specs by P3 Automobiles in Cannes.

Alain Garnier was a TV repairman who could not afford 80,000 Francs for a real GTO and decided to manufacture one for himself from a GTE back in '74.

See "AUTO PASSION n°3, January 1987".
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nerofer · Sep 7, 2017

Bump...just for those interested in the story, I found amusing to post the original add for the Favre GTO, as published in the french edition of Autocourse 1984 (= end 1984).
Very open and naïve, before trouble began...

Rgds
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Bryanp · Jun 13, 2013

Isn't Favre the guy who comitted suicide by shooting himself in the head . . . twice?

NürScud · Jun 13, 2013

Twice?? WTF..!!

kare · Jun 14, 2013

NürScud;142375608 said:

Twice?? WTF..!!
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Very typical for shotgun. Takes skill and determination to get it done.

NürScud · Jun 14, 2013

I see....

330 4HL · Jun 14, 2013

by rights his name should be spelled William Faux....

nerofer · Jun 16, 2013

330 4HL said: ↑

by rights his name should be spelled William Faux....
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Well, I see the play on words, but actually it is debatable, as he never pretended that the cars were anything other than recreations. Except in the title of the add, which is a bit provocative, but he always described the cars as "re-creations of a 250 GTO on a 250 chassis". I always thought of him as having been a bit naïve...and he paid a heavy price for this.

Rgds

246tasman · Jun 22, 2013

kare said: ↑

Very typical for shotgun. Takes skill and determination to get it done.
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Skill acquired through much practice...

4re308 · Jun 26, 2013

I actually have a complete press kit on the Favre GTOs along with his business card and some color photos of the cars.

tx246 · Jun 26, 2013

4re308 said: ↑

I actually have a complete press kit on the Favre GTOs along with his business card and some color photos of the cars.
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Please post details, it would be interesting to see how he marketed this

wilde · Jun 26, 2016

330 GTO Favre ??? Seen today in France.

Here -> https://www.facebook.com/GrandPrixDeTours/?fref=ts

giade · Apr 28, 2017

Are there any links for Documentation, Information, Pictures, Production figures, etcetera, of his 250 GTOs onLine Anywhere at this point? I am wondering what to look for in order to distinguish a 'Genuine' WFavre GTO. Devotamente, gF NM/FL USA

miurasv · Sep 7, 2017

giade said: ↑

Are there any links for Documentation, Information, Pictures, Production figures, etcetera, of his 250 GTOs onLine Anywhere at this point? I am wondering what to look for in order to distinguish a 'Genuine' WFavre GTO. Devotamente, gF NM/FL USA
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A genuine fake!!!

This one is said to be made by Favre: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Recreation
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Marcel Massini · Apr 29, 2017

miurasv said: ↑

A genuine fake!!!

This one is said to be made by Favre: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Recreation
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3343 GT is yet another poor 250 GTE 2+2 that sadly was destroyed to make a "GTO".

Originally painted Azzurro 16240 MM with Beige VM 3218 interior, while it was still a proper GTE. Sold new thru Renato Nocentini's Garage La Rotonda in Prato near Florence, Italy.

And NO, this poor "GTO" was NOT built by Favre. It was made by Alain Garnier in France.

Marcel Massini

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