Car on "El Wayne"'s avatar

s/n 0488 AM...

 

I judged 0488 at the FCA Nationals when the restoration had just been completed ack in about 1983. A beautiful car. Since most photos I have seen in the books are in black and white they do not indicate what the interior color is: avacado green. It makes for an interesting combination with the black exterior.

At the FCA National a couple of years ago at Elkhart Lake, WI found out that the car was with Wayne Obry/Motion Products get an updating on the restoration.

0488 is a very special one off done for a favored royal client. Of note is that it is an even serial number, usually reserved for the pure racers, instead of an odd number. The motor is special as befits the even serial number.

Jeff

 

I believe all six 342's (four cabrio+two coupe) were even chassis number.

To make this thread more interesting... does anyone know if the 340 engine and the 342 engine share the same block and crankshaft? If so, why did the road car have to end up just 2cc bigger?

john

 

Jeff, it sounds like you know a lot about this car. I'm interested in any additional information you could provide (engine type and number, the Royalty for whom this car was built, etc.). I only know of it the three Waynes: Wayne Golomb who owns, Wayne Obry who works on it, and Wayne Ausbrooks who has it in his avatar.

 

King Leopold of Belgium.
0234 was also built for him.
And there were also the 'Princess Liliana de Rethy' specials built upon 330 GTC chassis.
de Rethy was the husband of Leopold.

Paul

 

John,

barchetta is listing it as 3 coupe and 3 cabriolet 342 America's, FWIW.
I suspect that one Edwin K. Niles or T Shaughnessy can answer your question from first-hand, owner, experience.

To muddy the waters even further, King Leopold's 342 America Cabriolet 0234AL along with the NY Auto Show 342 America Cabriolet 0248AL are listed in barchetta as having a 4.5 (or "375") motor...
as has the subject car of this thread/L Wayne's avatar, 0488AM, the King Leopold 375 Plus Cabriolet.

Best,
Dave

 

Carbon,

As Paul Harris indicates, the 375 Plus Cabriolet was built for King Leopold of Belgium (as was one of the Bugatti Type 59's- which carries running gear, lights, etc.).

A search may yield it, but there's discussion on Fchat where L Wayne talks about having tried to contact/speak with Wayne Golomb about 0488AM and 0456AM for a book project and running into a complete wall.
Perhaps someone else has the link or if L Wayne stops by he may merge the threads or offer more info.

Best,
Dave

 

Geez Wayne... is that ALL you have to offer in pix???



Jedi

 

Incredible. Thanks!

 

Wayne, can you place a year on the second and 18th pictures in your post (the two pictures with IL plates)?

 

I think those were taken at the J.M. home during the summer of 1982-83?(Ferrari club /Marchetti event). The car is still owned by Golomb, along with 0456AM. He is a Chicago lawyer and has owned this car since 1969. I guess he is not of the look at me crowd and likes to keep a very low profile, like most of the Chicago area collectors it seems.

Tom Tanner/Ferrari Expo 2012-Chicago March 2012

 

I think that the FCA National at Road America and Kohler, Wisconsin (American Club hotel as headquarters) was probably 1983. As I remember it, that was the public unveiling of 0488 in its freshly restored state.

Not sure if any of El Wayne's photos are of it at that National's concours. That year the organizers arranged the cars in its class together based upon open top. I do remember that an over restored Daytona spyder out of Michigan was in its class.

Also unveiled at the same meet was Bob Bodin's just restored 250 TR "Lucybelle II".

Jeff

 

He's living in Michigan on the other side of the lake with the cars most of the time as far as I know. Did not know he retired.

 

I did take the second picture in Wayne's post earlier. It was taken at the annual Marchetti picnic in Lemont, IL. It was 1983 according to my records. I think those picnics took place in June. I believe that the car had just come out of restoration at the time. Also included here is the same car at the same location in 1985 and 1986.
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The Leopold "342" must be a different platform than the others as well. The others (like these pictured here) have made room for the passengers at the expense of moving the engine forward, which moves the radiator forward and gives the car an awkward grill position. That's why most 342's have that "guppy" face. Leopold's does not have that issue.

john
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