Thank you, Napolis Your disparaging remark has been duly noted and filed and considered for what it is worth. Should 99999 ever come up for sale again we are sure your bid will reflect your expert views of its unworthiness. But you forgot to include the tired fairy story about there being two - or is it four - 99999s. An 'expert' declared that to be so, remember. An expert who published the disparaging article despite being shown that all his premises were false. An expert whose article and the accompanying photo displayed blatant contradictions. An expert who relies on blogs - like this one - to prove his 'facts'. Is the definition of 'expert' one who blows smoke better than others? One who won't admit that they were simply wrong? Yet no other 99999 has ever appeared - not as an entire car, nor as any piece of another car which could be a 99999. Why don't you all put your energy into finding these other 99999s. What part of post 293 part 3 didn't you understand? boorrriinnnggg
Once again you're showing a reckless disregard for the truth. What part of: "There's also the issue that this car as Classiched is a Euro car. The work done to federalize it is not in compliance with that and while it could be restored if it was it would no longer be US legal. Euro converted cars usually sell for less than US spec. cars in the US." is untrue or in any way implies the JS 99999 is unworthy? Still waiting for your answer as to whether or not you're calling Marcell Massini a liar. As for bidding on the JS 99999 I never never have nor ever will. In light of the 375MM debacle I have no interest in owning anything connected to JS. The new owners bid with eyes wide open, bought a car they are happy with, and have written me that all they desire is to get to the bottom of it and to the truth. They don't deny (In Writing To Me) that there was a "test mule" preproduction F50 with a 99999 vin but believe according to their sources that, that other F50 was either dismantled when testing finished or rebuilt as a production car and issued a new vin. I find the new owners to be forthright and simply interested in the truth. What's not to like? As for Victor's 293 Part 3 you're the one who once again seems to be unable to understand: "There are still a couple of things to investigate : the MM sighting and the Galleria car." As soon as I received credible information that the car at Watkins Glen was the JS car I posted it. As an aside as someone who owns a "used Ford" I find your denigration of used Fords silly especially as the "used Ford" I own handed Ferrari it's ass in 1967 in the race that JS ran a car with swapped chassis plates if Ferrari is to be believed...
To identify it for tax and other legal reasons including shipping it across boarders etc. This is simply a footnote to the owners car which is unquestionably the JS 99999 and the Auto Show, first customer F50 as stated in it's history. Frankly to me whether or not there is or was at one time a test mule/styling model/prototype F50 that Ferrari once labeled 99999 wouldn't surprise me and based on Marcel's siting I believe there was but as it clearly has nothing to do with the JS 99999 who cares beyond yet again another Ferrari chassis plate, VIN# semi mystery? I don't think it detracts from the value of the JS 99999 at all. I think the 0856/0858 Le Mans chassis plate swapping is a much bigger deal as it changes the race history of two very significant cars.
Hey Napolis . . . isn't that "used Ford" a kit car of some sort?!? And, didn't you have a couple of "no name" drivers . . . some guy named Gordon (no that's not it) or was it Goodin (um, not sure that is it either). Gurney, that was it, wasn't it. Yeah, I think that's the ticket, and the other guy . . . I forget his name. (For those that don't know, or think I am a cad--and because the written word is difficult--absolute sarcasm is intended in the above paragraphs.)
Dan and AJ were in one of them and some guys named Bruce and Mark were driving mine. A former chicken farmer was in charge of the Team...
Hey, that used Ford is sweet! Even as a desk top item! http://www.exoto.com/s/1/ProductDetails.aspx?Language=en&CategoryId=164&ProductId=1324 http://www.exoto.com/s/1/ProductDetails.aspx?Language=en&CategoryId=164&ProductId=1709
Jim, If I may humbly weigh in with a few thoughts: You raise a very obvious but pertinent issue with car's Eu-converted-to-USA status. It is what it is. You are indeed correct that USA cars have a significantly higher sales price relative to Eu cars. It is what it is. Regarding the issue of 99999 being seen on more than one F50, it is becoming clearer that for whatever reason, Ferrari was rather generous with the allocation of that chassis number, and even though the open-minded amongst us could envisage the fact that perhaps just one car has 99999 today, once-upon-a-time, that number has appeared on more than one car.
Think about it like this: perhaps this is all a matter of understanding what Ferrari did in the period when several cars were spotted with the 99999 number. Its quite possible that only one car (the JS car under discussion) remains with that number. But its still quite likely that some bright spark in the production department thought of allocating the 99999 number for both/all their F50 prototipos so as to facilitate re-numbering after the prototype period etc. Lots of creative things go on with Italian car factories and this may simply be a matter of understanding what happened.
I've been asked not to say too much more about the JS F50 for now. They are in the process of gathering additional documentation and compiling the information with some definitive facts. The owners obviously appreciate the car and have already brought it to a number of events for others to see and appreciate in multiple states throughout the country. If other 99999 F50's currently exist, then it is my hope that the owners come forward and show it as well, until then it will remain an enigma.
As the received wisdom unfolds, this is more a matter of if other 99999 F50s existed. Holding our collective breath for other F50 owner's to come forth and say "I have one too" is a lost cause I think. But so is the notion that there wasn't more than one 99999 F50 once-upon-a-time. Again, this is all a result of the factory's own doings, and not the fault of anyone commenting on this subject.
Ferrari made much of the point that only 349 of the F50 model would be sold. As some prototypes were necessary was it not merely a convenience to built two or five or what ever number of prototypes were necessary and call them all 99999 but give them different internal assembly numbers? The best completed evolution example would become the 'picture' - 'showcar' intorduction model. After it's introduction and some point after production began it would be delivered to it's first owner as 'one of 349' sold. The rest of the prototypes could be used for crash testing or what engineering/marketing required of them including a press car or two. With only 349 built would Ferrari give an owner's brand new Ferrari to journalists so they could flog it around Fiorano and then sell it later? CH
This is a nice thought, but Ferrari have made it a practice of producing many more models than advertised. Some say that the number of Enzos is above 500, and NNO on this thread concedes that the number is well above 400. Nothing wrong with making a profit and nothing wrong with the factor changing its mind about production numbers. But, one would like to see a little transparency. When I was in California a salesman told me, in his opinion, there would be at least 100 SA Aperta (I think that is plural) produced, but he said this was only his opinion. Nothing official.
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99999 The very last 5 digit thread number of ferrarichat! You would think Rob promised it to a very special person or one of the megaposters, but no, it´s about an Audi. Thread #100000 is about Porsche.
Euro car converted to US specs (side markers + 3rd brake light)? I like how it's a 1995 that was delivered in January 1998. Kept by dealer for that long til it was titled/sold or was it manufactured in 1998 as a 1995?
It was manufactured in '94 and then shown at various shows in '95. It's one of the prototypes. Pay special attention to the conversion.
