Gorgeous L-Series Now On BaT!

This one will be worth watching! Looks gorgeous! Great colors! I expect a big number for this one!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1969-ferrari-dino/

 

perhaps a little bit of questionable interior work, but I agree, quite nice.

 

In case any interested buyers are hoping this car is a concours winner due to the Classiche certification being granted it may be helpful pointing out some of the detail errors in case they visit this forum. It looks to be a very nice restoration but there are a lot of issues clearly visible that may influence the value. Most of these things can be rectified by anyone wanting a perfect car but will add extra expense to do so. L series owners will probably spot more items but things that immediately stand out are -

• The shutline areas under the front hood, engine lid and rear trunk should be body colour and not satin black which only came in with E series production sometime in early 1972.
• The lower body satin black appears to be missing on the front clip and body sides. It certainly was not on the car when JD Classics (the restorer) advertised it for sale a few years ago.
  
• The reversing light housing are missing under the rear corner bumpers (it looks like an incorrect alternative bulb assembly has been fitted from the Classiche photo's).
• A reproduction steeering wheel is fitted with a later repro E series type horn push.
• The wiper arms are from a later E series with black finish. The L series arms had a chrome finish.
• The Pininfarina badge is missing on the right hand rear quarter panel.
• The FISPA marking on the airbox lid looks to be a one piece sticker. AFAIK the original marking was a transfer type label as per Matthias's reproduction.
• The seat piping is set too high on the seats.
• The heel pads on the carpet mats are incorrect.
• The tool kit pouch is from a later model E series in the smooth dark brown vinyl.
• The jack is incorrect.
• The warning triangle is incorrect.
• The mallet for the wheel spinners is a repro and not correct.

 

looks like

Looks like my repro tool kit!
Isnt beige 430 skai material not leather?
Clock looks odd
Washer pipe is unique!

 

Also, looks to have later, thicker bumpers.

 

Nice car, but still some details to adjust if deemed necessary. Studied a few pictures briefly and noticed following non original parts:

Hose clamps should be fabricate Angst
Airbox lid not correct model
Washer bag not correct model
Spare wheel glass fiber panel not correct model

Best, Peter

 

I thought it looked like one of your kits Tony. Beige 430 is skai (vinyl). The Connolly leather beige option was code VM102 or VM3218 depending upon model year. The clock is from a Dino 308 GT4. All of these incomplete details are adding up to a significant list and once again shine a light on the whole Classiche process which consistently appears to ignore key detail inaccuracies and does not follow it's own guidelines as stated in the red book folder. Clearly a significant number of the items we have identified do not meet the definition of "all the elements are those originally installed on the car".

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it makes me wonder what is the real value of the classiche certification. So many incorrect items but still get certified. So this is no more than an number matching certification to some extent...

 

The devil is in the details:

Wrong seat belts.
Wrong ventilator motors.
Wrong rear bumpers.
Missing heat shield over the exhaust.
Missing seals below front directional lights
Netting in front spoiler opening, should be open with no netting.
Wrong securing of handles for small side windows...should be glued.
Rubber seal below door lock receptacle....should be no seal.
Not one single correct tool....and the list goes on.

Still a nice car though. But I think it is fair to conclude that the certification process is fairly coarse and mostly focusing on engine / gearbox / chassis numbers and major components. It's not a guaranty or measure for the overall state of the car.

Best, Peter

 

Already up to $250K. 6 days to go.

 

Wow, this is incredible information that you’ve put forward on this car! I would not know where to begin to appraise it. Having not memorized Bartz’s book, I can only see a few things that would raise a red flag. I do remember while working at a Ferrari Dealership back in the ‘70’s that my boss pointing out that early models didn’t always use the same parts as in other same models. We ordered what we needed from Algar only to be surprised when the parts came not being the same as what needing replacement. This Euro car did peak my interest as the bidding reached $250K with 6 days to go as 4CamGT reported

 

Yes that kit is for the e series.

The certification lists the original interior as Beige 430, but that car has a leather interior, big money to change that one.

Totally agree the classiche certification is a joke and can only be considered a money making scam and highlights its next to useless.

Engine bay light switch is missing as well

Bonnet rubbers in the wrong place........now we are getting picky!!

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Interesting to note that the correct L series reversing lights were fitted to the car for the Classiche inspection but are no longer present on the BAT photo's.

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This thread could get interesting!!

 

Been removed in this photo!!

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One day I'll be brave enough to post loads of photos of my car and invite you guys to tell me what's wrong with it!

But not yet!!

 

I dont think its a case of picking holes in the car or anyone else's car, the thrust of Iain's case was that it is sold with a Classiche certificate which entices the potential buyer into a false sense that the car is perfect and rather ridicules the whole process as a farce.

With possibly a few exceptions (not mine as well), most dinos are not 100%

Tony

 

Bang on the money Tony. People are suffering a bit from cabin fever during lockdown and some online car auction sites have seen some high prices achieved as a result of buyers getting a buzz out of the bidding process I suspect. This is a nice car without a doubt but less informed buyers may regard the Classiche as a gold standard seal of originality for the entirety of the finishes and be tempted to bid high as a result.

Don't worry about your car John. Harvey and I already ran through that with Paul, it's previous owner He changed a few things as a result

 

Not being critical at all. Sorry if it came across like that. I find it absolutely fascinating and very constructive. I am only too pleased when those in the know are prepared to share their knowledge - it's part of my education. As I say, one day I'd like to know exactly what is incorrect with mine, as I am sure there is plenty. But I am not sure that I am brave enough yet!!

 

Yes, I think mine is pretty good, and I am very happy with it despite that there are certainly still a few things wrong with it that I know (radiator header tank for a start), and sure to be a few more things besides. I am not in a rush to make changes, though I did seek out an original horn push, as the repro one with which it came to me, annoyed me every time I got into the car - not easy to miss form a driver's point of view!

Before:

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Now:

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While I have the attention of the experts, there is one thing that has mustified me for some time now.

The heater / ventilation controls on mine are, I believe, incorrect (see first photo below) in that the left and right hand hand sliders should be the same (see second photo), but I have seen this arrangement on several cars (sometimes the other way around - see third photo). Is there some explanation other than the obvious one, i.e. that they are all wrong?
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I have seen your type set up in a number of cars John. My car 03050 has the same set up but my other cars - 04054 and 07610 - have the two DEF type sliders on either side. Your centre slider is mssing the red and blue dots though to indicate which direction opens the flap to let the radiator warm air flow in to the cabin. Having said that the system flows hot air in regardless of the position unless you install a non original in line shut off valve near the radiator to close off any route for the hot air to enter the system. Your dash switches have been refitted the wrong way round after the retrim in the mousehair. The Hazard switch should be on the right and closest to the instrument binnacle whilst the DR DL fan switch should be on the left beside the glove box.

 

The layout on my car is the same as the 2nd photo,

The heater / ventilation layout / piping changed on some cars so the controls MAY have been arranged differently

 

Thanks, Iain.

Is there actually any difference in operation between 03050 and the other two?

I still have the red and blue dots, but only just!! They are so faded that they don't show up in the photo. Yes, Harvey fitted the same valve arrangement as per your cars - works great, so I have you to thank for that, as he told me it was your idea in the first place. It may not be original, but when I was driving to Maranello in 30C+ temperatures in Summer 2018, I was immensely grateful for it!!

Incorrect positioning of the switches noted, thankyou. I guess that is not a major job, so maybe I'll get them swapped over some time.

 

Off the top of my head I can't recall if there is a major difference John. It's a while since I've driven Kermit. The earlier E series cars have separate switches for the left and right blower motors but this was changed to single switch operation for both on the later cars. The valve cut off was something I saw on here and then searched for a suitable period looking item which I found at one of the classic Alfa parts specialists. I've only fitted it to my GTS but am very glad it's on there as it at least is capable of blowing some ambient air around your feet on a hot day. You would have suffered catastrophic dehydration on your jaunt to Maranello without it I would have thought as the goldfish bowl qualities of the GT's glasshouse turn the cabin into a sauna in even moderatley warm sunshine. I suspect that is why Ferrari chose cotton towelling for the cloth seat insert option to soak up back sweat!