365 BB Chassis 17553 Nut and Bolt Restoration

Thanks John, glad you're happy with the differential and of course I recall the visit!

 

Went through all this. Amazing work and passion. Well done sir

 

Im always amazed at you work.

 

Wrong fog lights, correct for a BBi
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Mis-matched rad fan motors and the typical black paint on the fan blades to hide age and overspray
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Blades in natural dark grey plastic after some serious effort and time on the polishing wheel, hammertone finish on the correct motors.
I have since replaced the end play adjustment screws with slot heads.
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Horns are hidden unfortunately
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Good bye dump truck side lights.
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It wasn't this nice when it was new

 

Restored as new. as usual for Newman!

 

Indeed as new, just like in 1975 at the Ferrari dealership. For example no outside mirrors mounted on the doors; as seen in the last picture at post #479 here.

 

Why NO outside mirrors?

Where they left up to the dealer to place according to the country?

 

Yes, dealer installed but I don't know if the same version mirrors were used with any consistency. The choice may have been left up to the buyer once he purchased his BB. Also may have been a convenience to avoid damage on the boat ride!

 

The 1975 Road and Track article on this very car showed what the owner went with for mirrors. This article and another Oui Magazine article I have of this car has shown me certain details that were valuable during the restoration. One of the mirror choices would've been the small chrome mirror found on the 246 Dino which I have here to go on when the time is right.

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Note the sack seats. In this picture I was pointing at the heater slide controls to determine if they were chrome or black. They're black but the sheen makes it difficult to determine in a black and white pic.
The fatter toggle switch ring nuts were another detail I was happy to see and the slot head shifter gate screws that soon became phillips screws later in production.
Borletti a/c plate is narrower than the 512 and 308 version to fit the narrow console and the toggle switch plate is a 365 thing.

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I have been enjoying this thread on the restoration of 17553. However, I just realized I am pretty sure this car was the first Boxer I ever drove. In 1975, 17553 arrived by air in Chicago for Joe Marchetti, to be sold on to a client in California. When they took it off the plane, it was covered with race numbers and decals! It slid through customs without one single question. I am also sure Joe "helped" the process. I recall a midnight drive down the Dan Ryan expressway at way over 100 mph in the car. I was simply amazed with the sound and speed. Hilary Raab, Sue and I were having dinner at the Como Inn (Joe's restaurant). He came by the table, handed us a set of keys and told us there was a car across the street we might want to take a look at. In that time, if you were stopped by the police during one of these "test drives", all you needed to do was to tell them you were "testing" a car for Joe Marchetti. They always smiled, and said to "drive safely and have a good evening". In the Ferrari world, it was a magical time.

 

Oui Magazine

 

good old times

 

Outstanding result and impeccable work.

 

Test drive and sorting shortly.

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that front door forward edge to bonnet looks very close to touching.

 

The front bonnet is open. Not latched.

 

i know. still looks very close.

 

Its not

 

What are you sitting on for the test drive?

 

a wooden case for apples or potatoes?
so I did 45 years ago when I baught my 250 GT/E from the junk yard after get it run

 

Just a subtle question for Paul since he hasn't shared any pictures yet of the seats covered in a special fabric material. Said material was a challenge to obtain due to a variety of circumstances...

 

I have a sparco seat to use but I have driven my boxer without seats before by sitting on the floor. Not much different than on a seat.

The material for the seat has been sourced, samples have been produced and its right on the money. The seats are made and waiting for the material. Unfortunately it's been a long wait for the mill to provide the raw material in bulk to the lady that will hand weave it into something the upholsterer can then make into seat covers. Waiting is a drag but they'll be right.

 

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