I don't understand why cars are still restored in non-original colours and specs nowadays (and why restorers accept to do that) but I know : hard debate !
Restorers have to accept what the client wants. It is the owner who pays the bill. Even if top restorers such as Paul Russell etc do their very best to educate and convince owners/clients and try to steer them into the right direction. Some of the wealthiest people on the planet have their own super firm will and strong personal ideas and nobody is able to educate them, some just don't want to listen or learn. It is (used to be until a few weeks ago) a free world. Marcel Massini
At the same time, original color at the end of the day, for a road car at least, is just the will of another wealthy customer. Restorers actually profit from this as it means the car will have to be repainted at least once more to go back to original..if next owner wants that. As long as the paint is period correct, I'm ok with it.
Some original colours just look 's*&t' on some cars. While desired colour for the car is hard to find. I believe it more than justifies buying a car in less preferred colour and then restore it in colour combo's of preference of the owner. To add to that...lots of people who have judgement about restoring cars in original colours are brochure collectors...and not the ones really putting the money down on such a car. My few cents...
While I personally don’t care what color someone else’s car is, as a “restorer” (if I dare to consider myself as such) I believe there should be different definition for cars not reconditioned to exact OEM specifications since a “restoration” seem to imply it being as it was when it “left the factory”. Anything else, including a car getting repainted differently prior to its initial sale as a new car should be considered having been altered or modified from OEM spec. No different than cars with non-OEM exhaust, wheels/tires or sound system. Just my 2 pennies.
Car looks fantastic. Marcel do you know why restoration took 9 years? Technical challenges/state of vehicle upon delivery to PR Owner purposely 'paying as you go'/telling shop to do it in phases as $ came along Other Not judging and all are valid reasons, just curious. TIA, Dave
There is a search function on top rigth of fchat (old version) and plenty of threads about Classiche. This has been discussed a dozen times already. Marcel Massini
While I don’t have knowledge of this particular case, I’ve personally encountered and been impacted by extended delays due to all the above with various projects, including “Other”, which vary from cars changing ownerships during the project (one even twice) to clients, mine or subcontractors unexpected (severe) health issues or even deaths, etc (again, I could probably fill a book or at least few chapters in one with these experiences alone)... ... and I wouldn’t be surprised if many or most long time “professionals” have gone through same or similar array of experiences.
One of the things that was great about Ferrari owners and cars back 40 years ago when I got into this was that while mechanical components number matching was important as a general rule color etc was not. We just painted them and then used them - I used to feel bad for my friends that were into Corvettes with all the nonsense they had to put up with. I am not a historian and I am sure that there are people on this forum who have owned way more "classic era" Ferraris than I did but unless I am going senile the majority had at least one if not more than one color change.
First pic was taken during the Ferrari Cavalcade Classic in and around Rome in September 2019. #38 is 275 GTB/6C #08051 (German owner), while car #47 is a 275 GTB/4 #10721 (Swiss owner). Second pic shows 315 S Spider Scaglietti chassis #0656 during the meeting "80 Anni di Sport con la Ferrari" in Modena, September 1985. Driver is Swiss owner Albert Obrist with Fiorenzo Fantuzzi (son of legendary coachbuilder Medardo Fantuzzi) as co-driver. 0656 was fully restored by Fantuzzi (coachwork) and Diena & Silingardi (mechanicals) in 1987-1989 and resides since 30 years in a very discreet collection in Switzerland. Marcel Massini
Sure it does. Back to original configuration. As said it was fully restored by Fantuzzi from 1987 to 1989. The below pic shows it post restoration at the Esposauto (Clay Regazzoni's Motor Show) in Lugano, Switzerland 1989. There's also a full book about this car, published 1994 by Cavalleria Series, #7, authored by Antoine Prunet and Pietro Carrieri. Marcel Massini Image Unavailable, Please Login
Good to see that 07603 is now finally back to normal Berlinetta configuration. It had been cut into a "NART Spider", painted resale red and looked horrible for years. An outside fuel filler cap and air outlets in the rear fenders were also added. And yes, 07603 is the only 275 GTB originally painted Oro Longchamps. The below photo is NOT my photo. Marcel Massini Image Unavailable, Please Login