Hello Ramin, Walter chose over a year ago not to take part here anymore, if you look at the date of his last posts they are at least a year old. Regarding the Shah's 500GT which I enjoyed seeing at the Maserati exhibition at the casa Enzo Ferrari museum last December 1 for the very first time, a very knowledgeable Frenchman whose word I trust said to me 3 or 4 years ago that it was owned by the Peugeot family. It could well be true, they are extremely private about their collection due to social pressure from unions etc. Best regards, Marc
Here some shots I took that day of the Shah's 5000GT, not the best quality, did not have a good camera with me. As some of you may remember the first design offered to the Shah did not pass muster so this second one actually drew inspiration from Persian design. Best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Marc, "002" was purchased in the early ninetees in the US from MCG (whom you know well). I had it under my custody for almost 2 years. Most of its time in the Netherlands she was on display at the entrance hall of a big car lease company here. I must have been the last person who took the car out and did a dougnut (by accident) on a damp street... She had massive torque and power, difficult to bring to the street via these 16" Cinturato's! A good friend if mine brokered her to one of the Peugeot brothers in the early nineties. I once visited the private collection in east Paris where she was on display. I never heard that she changed hands since. While running she made a lot of mechanical but not unplessant noise from her slightly detuned 450S engine! For me not a beautiful design but certainly a very special car and with ditto history! Ciao, Bart
Hi Bart, Yes Ed Waterman from Motorcar Gallery had it briefly. Good to ascertain who owns it. I once interviewed the Shah's now deceased youngest son for someone else's book project (please don't ask) and while he was extremely young in the days before his father lost power and went into exile, he confirmed the Shah would take one of his many sports cars for a ride with security guards following as best they could in a big Mercedes sedan! I had the opportunity to speak with a couple of the historians who know the collection best and who occasionally post here such as Ramin. Many of the cars are still in a museum controlled by the government. Regarding the 5000GT yes apparently very little differentiates the engine from a 450S version which they more or less shoehorned into the car, the priority being to deliver the Shah what he had required "a 3500GT with a big engine". Best regards, Marc
The car was for sale in 1987 by Motorcar Gallery for 77,500 $ . In 1989 the car was in france and featured by the magazine auto passion and later the car was sold by the italian sports car auction in paris in 1989.
Thanx for the update. Time flies! Than it must have been '87. It was a package deal 002, a Vignale Spider with hardtop, a 330GT 2+2 single headlights and a Miura S. I do not want to repeat here what we paid for the lot then! Ciao, Bart
Come on Bart, you're not shy you're Dutch: please tell us It will be a nice perspective 10 days before the Paris auctions Marc
Bart, I looked in my register and found some nice photos about the 002 when it was owned by Mr. Wetsel in the 80teens who lived in Advance North Carolina. But my register has some little gaps ? perhaps you can close them Kind regards Nico
I also found a later from Wessel in 1982. In this letter he wrote that he owned 002 for one time, but he sold the car to europe ? I think there is something wrong
Thank you Ralph, very good to know. Apparently, this is the 4th 3500 Built per W.Baeumer. Ciao and best!
Your welcome 3500 GT. Back on topic 103:026 at the Classic Motor Show last year. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Marc, Thank you for the update. What's important is that this car seems to be in good hands and well taken care of as it is a big part of our motoring history here. Best Regards, Ramin
