The "infamous" Mel Spillman Ferrari GTO | FerrariChat

The "infamous" Mel Spillman Ferrari GTO

Discussion in '308/328' started by dave80gtsi, Oct 27, 2019.

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  1. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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  2. energy88

    energy88 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Nice looking car. I wonder how much they are trying to get out of it?
     
  3. 4right

    4right F1 Rookie
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    Is that a track car only? Street legal?
     
  4. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
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    Listing says “another $100,000 spent to restore it back to roadworthy standards.”
    Wonder what reserve is on it. Quite the machine. Gorgeous in black.
     
  5. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    The chassis number startled me for a moment. My first ride in a Ferrari was #35455 back in 83 when I was 15.

    I thought someone had chopped it up (again)
     
  6. chris1866

    chris1866 Formula Junior
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    I am typically not a fan of the "standard" 308 -> 288 conversions, but this is a very cool car. Wonder what he thinks it's worth...
     
  7. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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    Actually, the main point of the thread was to hope that one of you here would explain the 'infamous Mel' part of the ad!

    Seems like the seller is assuming that his audience will recognize the name, and thus will know of the car's history?

    DM
     
  8. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    I never heard of it before but when I looked it up in Mathis' (sp) book to see if it was the one I mentioned earlier, it was in there as this conversion.
     
  9. ferrariowner

    ferrariowner Formula 3

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    For all the money spent on this car you could have purchased a real GTO.
     
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  10. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    Look him up. Spillman was the little county clerk who stole dead people's money and estates and built a nice car collection (among other things) with the spoils. Scumbag of the highest order. I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, bad...bad karma. I don't know if he's stll around but Carpenter was on here at one time. He did a lot of the body work for these conversions. I bought a used spare tire surround from him once. Nice enough guy.
     
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  11. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

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    #11 308 milano, Oct 29, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2019
    That’s some crazy stuff! Would think a county clerk sporting a black 288 GTO would raise some red flags. Also started his own race team.
     
  12. 19633500GT

    19633500GT F1 World Champ
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    I spoke to Jim last month. He was helpful and nice. I think he has Wash State phone number though, but splits time in AZ/WA (if I understood him correctly). He knows a lot about FCars for sure.
     
  13. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Sorry, yes ...Texas, outside of San Antonio somewhere.

    Yes considering a NEW 288GTO was a hard sell, in the $80Ks, when a 308 was $27 to $30K, this car was kind of pointless.
    They hauled him off to Jail he's dead or out by now certainly??
     
  14. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Sorry, well known Texas scammer..
     
  15. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    He does. If I remember right, and I may not, I think I met him at an antique shop in Olympia when I picked up the part. I think he said his wife ran it.
     
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  16. bert308

    bert308 Formula 3
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    Here is a recent video with Carpenter:
     
  17. 83911SCDrew

    83911SCDrew Karting

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    One thing that really jumps out at me about this customization is the Porsche
    -sourced G50 transmission. Is this a common modification, and I wonder how difficult it is to accomplish? Even though the Ferrari gearbox is kind of iconic in its design and function, there is no doubt that the G50 is a much smoother and usable transmission. Of course, these transmissions are not an expensive either so it would not be anything like a cost savings.
     
  18. bert308

    bert308 Formula 3
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    It's because the engine here is mounted longitudinally like a GTO, better layout for twinturbo.
     
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  19. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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  20. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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    Oh, wow. Interesting Wiki link per Rob's thread note above - I had no idea.

    So, does the 'fame' of the former owner of the car add to, or detract from, the car's mystique and perceived value?
     
  21. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    I don't think it takes away or adds any value. I don't think any expense was spared, but any mod car will just get pennies on the dollar.
     
  22. topcarbon

    topcarbon F1 Rookie
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    Past owners aside
    The 288 is (to me) one of the prettiest car designs ever.
    In black it looks brutal even though it sits on a 308.
     
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  23. Fort Worth 360

    Fort Worth 360 Formula Junior

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    #23 Fort Worth 360, Oct 31, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2019
    I will contribute to this thread knowing some will and are certainly respected for their opinions.

    I knew Mel pretty well having spent time over several years at Ferrari Club events, race weekends and even turning wrenches for him in his shop.

    I always found him to be a nice kind man who enjoyed the brand and the people associated with it. He had a passion for Ferrari’s and was a great steward in their care.

    That being said no one had any thoughts about his financial position Like most of us were raised not to ask about people’s finances we just assumed he had a nice trust or inheritance to draw from.

    Was he guilty for what he had done. Yes certainly so. My opinion is that what started as a bad one off decision grew into something larger. It was justification. If a family was not to be located when probating a “John or Jane Doe’s” estate why give the money to the government.

    I am not condoning what he did but I don’t believe he was a bad person in every other part of his life.

    He paid his debt, did the time. I am sure given 20/20 hindsight he would have not chosen the path he did.

    My two cents.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
  24. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    that's not truthful! you are spreading lies here that you either believed from Mel or for some other twisted justification. there were victims! Mel hid estates from families and spent the money on his Ferraris that should have gone to them or charities. this was not a victimless crime, take that ******** elsewhere.





    I've heard this reasoning before, people that think you should get a clean slate "once you do your time". I'm not black and white about that perspective, but I certainly lean towards never forget, you always have a record, and bad people are bad people. Sure some are rehabilitated, find Jesus, or get sober etc and truly become good people the rest of their lives. How about people that were never bad in the first place? How about the high probability of repeat offenders, statistically speaking it factually supports my point bad people are bad people. Just look at yesterday with Josh Hamilton, after his troubles he became a model Christian and so perfect. ********, Josh getting booked for endangerment to a child isn't the last time we'll hear Josh doing wrong over his life.

    Most people that make the argument to forgive and forget or doing your time cancels everything out, usually are empathetic because they have gone off the straight and narrow path themselves.
     
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  25. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

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    Not saying it was Ok by any means, but The story is intriguing to me. If Mel were to write a book on the subject, how this came about from beginning to end, I would probably buy it.
     

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