$1,335,400,00 reserve not met.

Cool car. Not sure about that red stripe though. Only 3000 miles!? Talk about a garage queen.

 

Very impressive. A bit out of my league though, I'm afraid...

 

Superb story to go along with it. I hope everyone reads "Doc's" write up. Just the way I imagined it would have been. Thanks for that.

CW

 

I can't view ebay on this gov't computer. Could someone cut & paste?

 

Here it is.

Ciao
Eugenio

FACT:

Sort of a BARN FIND with the exception that the barn is an exotic car dealership's climate controlled warehouse.

Perhaps your last chance to be the first owner of an original 365 GTS/4 Daytona Ferrari Spider (convertible). Please note that we have used "GTS" above instead of "GTB" as some people search the Internet for GTS meaning "S" for Spyder when the reality is that very few of the original cars were marked "GTS/4". We only know if perhaps 6 that use the GTS and they are all of late 1973 manufacture. All 1971 to 1972 Spyders were marked both on the cars and on the paper work as "GTB/4". With the very rare exception of some paperwork refers to the Spyder as "GTS/4" as seen on our Rimesso from the factory. All other factory documents use GTB.

This is an ORIGINAL basically untouched / unmodified / un-restored / never wrecked USA model Ferrari Daytona Spyder. To be absolutely clear on this issue... This is NOT a re-bodied Scaglietti Daytona or some re-manufactured car.

The production numbers are somewhat disputed as to the total number of Spyders built but, the leading Ferrari historian in Switzerland has supplied me with the following corrected information. His information has been verified by several other notable collectors of the Daytona and is backed up by actual Ferrari corporate documents.


Total Genuine Daytona Production Spyders Built 121 (includes US and European models, but not including the 1969 Prototype)
96 of the above 121 were USA models.

This car #14543 is one of those original 96 USA models.

SPECIAL NOTE: In the above numbers we do NOT include any of the re-bodied Coupes done between 1975 - 1981 at Scaglietti in Italy nor do we include any Coupes re-bodied in other countries at any time as these should NEVER be considered legitimate Spyders.

This car is perhaps the best documented Daytona Spyder out there. All this can be 100% verified by Jerry Rausch who is the historian for the Ferrari Club of America. Additionally any Ferrari registry in print will also list this car. Below we supply a selection of the most important documentation as proof.

Provenance of the car is perhaps one of the best as well. Original order MSO from Bill Harrah's Exotic Car Dealership "Modern Classic Motors" and then to Action Performance / Jack Frost MD a long time and well known Ferrari collector and super enthusiast for the Daytona. This car has NEVER been registered by an individual. All paperwork is from manufacture to dealer and then to another dealer.

Sadly Dr. Jack is no longer with us. He is survived by his wife (also a long time Ferrari nut) and 6 gear head sons. I am one of those sons... and this car is being offered on behalf of my mother.

We are not in any hurry to sell this car and we currently have many unsolicited offers under 1.2 million. We are looking for a new home for this rare automobile.

Basically 100% original except for a re-paint in the late 80's or early 90's (special attention to match paint exactly) as the original paint basically fell off in large chunks. Typical of a quality control issue Ferrari had with paint in the early 70s. Entire car was painted even though ( as I recall ) only the hood and nose had flaking issues. Please note that original Ferrari paint was not used to avoid any reoccurrence of this issue. Special computer color matching was used to assure correctness of the high end DuPont formulated paint.

Completely original other than the paint. Car has been maintained and driven a couple of times per year up and down our lane in our annual effort to keep the collection from slipping backwards. Additionally we drove this car to several local car meetings / events. You have to remember at one point my father had over 50 cars in the collection including 3 other Daytona Coupes so a concerted effort was made to keep everything in top form.

CHROME & BADGING: The chrome and badging are all original and in excellent / like new condition. Unlike our other 3 Daytonas the chrome on the Spyder is near perfect. Most Ferraris of this vintage have chrome that peals to varying degrees. Badging is only what was supplied at the factory there are no added items. The rear license plate frame is original and is from the Ferrari factory in Italy. This is NOT an after market item. Proof of this can be seen in the Italian Rimesso or factory build delivery sheet.

Runs well and is 100% mechanically sound to the best of our knowledge. I can not vouch for the 8 track player as to my knowledge it has never been used given the natural sound of the engine I think you can understand why. Other than that it has not been messed with in anyway. Vehicle has all the ear marks of original patina on engine components and shows little wear as you would expect on leather seats or steering wheel. Car was basically left alone as we had so many other cooler cars to play with over the years.

Front & Rear Windows: Are free of defects and are original. See photos below.

SPECIAL SAFETY NOTICE: This car has the ORIGINAL TIRES on it. We have never replaced the tires and thus I would NOT trust them at any speed. Tires do not show any age or flat spots and that is why I mention this. There is a full size spare in the truck of the same vintage.


Provenance: Personal Vehicle of Bill Harrah

Mileage: 3692 miles

Engine Type: V12 Tipo Ferrari 251

Chassis Type: 365/GTB.4

Body Type: Spyder USA

Date Built: October 22nd 1971

Wheels: Stock Ferrari Chromodoros (Star) (5) with Octagonal Knock Offs.

Location: Iowa, USA (but, you need to contact me directly @ 606-787-0022 KY USA EST)

Price: $1,395,000.00 US Dollars.

Condition: Used / Near New / Original

Rust Free

Register: Never Registered

Titled: Clear / Original Italian MSO + Bill of Sale

Serial Number: 14543

Tires: Original (5) VINTAGE Michelin 215/70 VR15

Air Conditioning: Yes

Sound System: AM / FM Radio & 8 Track

Windows: Electric

Antenna: Electric

Warranty: None / Sold As Is.

Tool Kit: Not Included / We did not get on from Harrah.

Test Drive: Yes... Pay in full... Drive 250 feet. If not what you want return in same condition for refund.

Delivery / Shipping: None offered. Local pick up only.

Interior Color: Leather, Seats Black with Red Insert, Carpet Red with some Black Panels. Typical Daytona pattern.

Exterior Color: Piano Polo Park 20. R. 152 Salchi / White with Red Insert

Documentation: 100% Verified (see below) (Yes you do get all these with the car.)

* Original Italian MSO / Certificate of Origin: #8683 Verifies: Serial #, Body Type (Spyder) & Date of Manufacture.

* Original Certified State of Nevada Bill of Sale: Verifies: Serial #, Body Type (Spyder), Model # (GTB/4) & Date of Manufacture. From Modern Classic Motors to Action Performance (my fathers exotic car dealership).

* Original Italian Rimesso / Bill of Lading : #968 Verifies: Transport to USA, Serial #, Body Type (Spyder), Tires, Interior / Exterior Colors & Date of Manufacture.

* Original Modern Classic Motors Invoice: Verifies: Serial #, Body Type (Spyder), Original Cost, Unregistered & New Owner.

* Original Modern Classic Motors Cash Invoice #288: Verifies: Serial #, Body Type (Spyder), Color, Shipping, Mileage, Original Cost, Unregistered & New Owner.

* Original Modern Classic Motors Personal Letter: Verifies: Personally owned by Bill Harrah, Serial #, Mileage, Body Type (Spyder), Verifies all other documentation, Unregistered & New Owner.

* Original Fax Order From Ferrari: Verifies: Serial #, Body Type (Spyder), Color, Shipping, USA Model, All Features.

* Owners Manual & other Ferrari period paraphernalia... Yes we do have these and they are included in the sale. None of which is in mint or even very good condition. Well read and well loved. I have not photographed these as there is no reason to. If you want mint originals they are available on the market and cost $500.00 or so... nothing in the grand scheme of things. So if you do not like this fact of my melancholy attitude about it then perhaps you should pass on the car. We focus on what is most valuable and most important.

* Nothing Else: If it is not listed above then it is not included in the sale.

History:

Built in 1971. Ordered by Modern Classic Motors (Bill Harrah's Exotic Car Dealership in Reno NV.) in this rare perhaps the only one in this color scheme and combination. Used by Bill Harrah himself as a personal vehicle until we purchased it in Jan. of 1976. Bought in January of 1976 with 2509 miles on it. See Original Federal Odometer Statement from Seller / State of Nev. Trailered to Iowa where is lived in a climate controlled warehouse among 50 other exotics for over 30 years.

Vehicle has been well maintained and run 2-3 times per year to keep in shape. Seen occasionally at local car club meetings.

FICTION / THE STORY:

The following is completely unsubstantiated as I can not offer any supporting written evidence. This is just one of the stories my father told our family and visitors to the collection over the years.

Mileage: This particular car was owned by Bill Harrah himself and driven by him. As stated above as fact... The story is that this car was used at the Harrah Casino in Reno as a comp to high rollers and celebrates like Bill Cosby, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., etc. It is for this reason that the car had 2509 mile on it when we bought it in January of 1976. Again there is no solid proof offered for this.

Car interior and exterior color combination: My father was told by Bill Harrah himself that he ordered this car in this color scheme. The story goes that Mr. Harrah had just been to the 1969 Frankfort Auto Show in Germany and had seen the Spyder debut in this same color combination. He liked it so much that he special ordered the car in this configuration. This is NOT the same prototype show car from Frankfort. Other than the prototype car we have never seen another Daytona (Coupe or Spyder) in this color scheme. It may well be the only one in existence.

The photo below is the only photo we have ever seen in print that offers photographic proof. Photo / Clipping was given to my father by Bill Harrah so I have no idea what publication this is from. There are many written accounts as to the exterior color combination of the Frankfort Spyder all of which substantiate this claim.

Now the update...of the FACTS: Again special thanks to Marcel in Switzerland who is the Ferrari Expert mentioned above.: The Prototype 1969 Show Car was not white. It was yellow with a black insert. (I thought that clipping looked a little tinted to be white... hey that is what we were told from Mr. Bill himself.) Anyway the prototype car is #12851 and is well documented and still in loving hands. Sorry we will not say who's so do not ask.


Click photo to enlarge image.

SPECIAL THANKS TO FERRARI ENTHUSIASTS AROUND THE WORLD:

On behalf of my mother and 5 brothers; I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the unprecedented and truly un-expected response to this page. My father was a fiercely private individual except when it came to cars. Before beginning this sale I personally had very few regrets in regards to my dad. He had lived a life full of automotive adventure and enthusiasm. But, now on day 5 of the e-bay auction and with countless e-mails and phone calls from around the world... I am truly sorry that I had not thought of suggesting this to my dad before he past last Christmas Eve. He would have so enjoyed see and hearing from all of you. It really was what he lived for. He never bought a car in anticipation that it would sell for anything more than what he paid for it. He was a true purist who just got lucky to have good taste and a keen sense for speed. With the Daytonas he bought them to insure that he had a new one to drive when he was 80+ years old.

For myself and I know for my dad there is no greater automotive marquee than Ferrari. I am sure he would want all of you to know that the dream is not un-attainable. After all he was nearly 50 years old before he bought his first Ferrari. So while many of you likely think like me... "I will never be able to own a Ferrari."... Remember how old my dad was and how long and hard he worked before he could afford one. To my dad nothing was impossible... you just had to want it bad enough.

For those of you who never got to met my dad in person I have attached to the bottom of this page one of the many stories that he started to write before he died. My mother and brothers all urged him to write his memoirs but, only fragments like this remain. On behalf of my father I urge all of you to write down your own car stories so that they can be passed on. You likely will never know what value that hold for future generations of gear heads.

It is 3:00 AM and I have never felt closer to my dad than now. For this I thank all of you for making this possible.

I hope you enjoy the story below. It is NOT about this car but, rather it is the story of his first Red Daytona. Please note that he was a volunteer Race Car Doctor at Sebring every year in the late 50s though the early 70s. My dad's idea of a family vacation... and wow what an idea.


CONTACT INFORMATION: I am the designated point of first contact for our family. Please be aware that with my fathers recent passing all other family members are too busy to respond to the volume of calls / e-mails that this car will generate. Please respect my family's privacy and use this contact information only. End runs around me will be met with possible no sale regardless of the offer. In short I am your first and best contact. Final disposition / acceptance of an offer can be made within 48 hours. If you want to see the car, it is open for viewing by appointment only. Offers in person (after viewing) are preferred and can be accepted on the spot.


Michael Frost
Tel: 606-787-0022 (Mon - Fri 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Zone)
E-Mail: [email protected]


Odometer Statement
Italian SO / Title
Nevada Bill of Sale

Odometer Close up
Italian Rimesso
1969 Spyder Show Car

Original MM Invoice
Original Cash Invoice
Owned by Bill Harrah

Fax From Ferrari
Engine ID Plate
Passenger Interior

Passenger Engine
Rear Window
Passenger Rear 3/4

Driver Rear 3/4
Rear Full
Driver Interior

Driver Door Panel
Hood Padding
Driver Side Engine

Passenger Front 3/4
Front
Close up Window

Driver Front 3/4
Chrome Close Up
8 Track / Radio

Dad & His Babies
Mom & Dad 1996
Dad 1984



The Very First Ferrari or "Adventures With THE BOSS"---(Bill Harrah):

by Jack Frost MD "DOC" to his friends.

(un-edited)

It was just one of those things that was meant to be. Although I was a devout worshipper at the altar of Zora Arkus Duntov from the first moment I could afford a fuelie Corvette, deep down (VERY deep down), I lusted for a Ferrari. Not just any Ferrari, of course, but a real RED Ferrari. I had listened to the siren song of those wonderous engines from various corners and down the straights at the 12 Hours of Sebring where I was part of the Trauma Team from 1959 to 1970. Things were extremely informal in those days and it damn near took an act of Congress to get Luigi Chinetti to provide Snell Approved helmets for his drivers. He would try any sort of chicanery to dodge his responsibilities for driver safety. I swore that I would never buy a Ferrari if it had to be from him. Since he was the sole distributor for the marquee in the Fifties, my wait for my dream car was rather protracted.

Then the entire Ferrari scene changed when William Harrah (of casino and hotel fame) started Modern Classic Motors and was appointed the new Ferrari West Coast Ferrari distributor in the late Seventies. My wife and I had gone to a dermatological seminar in Palm Springs, CA in November where to my chagrin, I discovered it was a "goof off" conference where the only interest was in playing golf and skipping meetings. It infuriated me that we had taken our valuable time (and a considerable amount of money) in an attempt to get some new technical knowledge concerning techniques to treat complex and advanced skin cancers. On the hotel lobby's newsstand was the latest issue of ROAD & TRACK that featured an article on newest model road Ferrari, the 365 GTB/4 or "Daytona" (a name which Enzo Ferrari detested). The title of the feature story was "Simply, The Best Sports Car In The World" ! I must have reread that story at least five times and I suddenly told my wife, "We're am going to call Modern Classic Motors in Reno and see if we can get a chance to drive one". My wife, surprisingly said, "Great idea. I am tired of seeing you sit around complaining about this seminar".

When I called MCM, the operator at the switchboard asked with whom I wished to speak. I glibly said, "The owner please, if he is there". The next voice was that of William Harrah himself and I nearly fell out of my chair. Later, it was revealed to me by Vern Kiel, the manager of MCM, that Bill had just walked in and grabbed the phone as a joke. After explaining my predicament, Mr. Harrah suggested that, if I had the time, why not fly to Reno and drive the Daytona? It was not really quite that simple as he had politely questioned me on my background, driving experience and other details. Vern Kiel came on the line and said to call him back with the flight schedule and he would have one of MCM staff meet us at Reno International AP. It was with a considerable amount of glee that we fled that miserable seminar and were on our way to Reno that very afternoon.

We were not prepared for our reception at the airport as a very nicely dressed young man circled the baggage area with a sign reading "Dr. & Mrs. Frost". He gathered up our rather sparse amount of luggage and led us to the curb and a magnificent Rolls-Royce Phantom V James Young limousine! Once at the hotel, we were taken to our SUITE and were told that Mr. Harrah would be along later. The bellman oriented us by explaining the phone system (including the one in the bathroom) and also showed us how to operate the cute little color TV in there. Needless to say, this was living in a manner that was entirely foreign to us.

Shortly before we had planned to go to the hotel restaurant, Mr. Harrah showed up with suggestions for the evening. He said that Bill Cosby (a closet gear head, he confided) was on the main bill and that he had taken the liberty of having a table down front for us at his show. Now, how could one not agree with one's host? Since time was rather short until the show, we ordered quickie room service and donned our "Sunday-go-to-meetin' " outfits which consisted of some rather informal evening wear used in Palm Springs. The Cosby show was, as expected, hilarious and as we were about to leave for our room, a waiter came to our table and said that Mr. Cosby would like to talk to us in his dressing room !

After a brief introduction, Bill said, "I understand you're here to drive the new Ferrari. DAMN, that is some car !". We stayed for about an hour as he called his wife, asked about how the kids were, etc. Then we got into cars, cars and more cars. Bill once had Carroll Shelby build him a special supercharged 427 "King Cobra" and on the dash was a plaque that read, "Built for Bill Cosby By Shelby And Guaranteed To Be Faster Than ANYTHING Owned By Steve McQueen". He said that once the car was unloaded in his circular front drive that he got in, cranked up that maybe 550 HP Ford engine, dropped the clutch and promptly did a scary "360" . According to Bill, he dismounted the beast, handed the keys to the guy who delivered the thing and said, "You tell Carroll Shelby that he can have this instrument of the devil". Later, according to Bill, the car was sold to a guy who took it out and promptly drove it off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. Well, that was the "Cosby Rendition", at any rate.

The time now fast forwards to April 1972 where we had decided to take delivery of the Ferrari in Modena while we are attended the International Congress Of Dermatology to be held in Venice. Our local travel agent booked us on Alitalia from Chicago's O'Hare to Milan, Italy and had us Rent-A-Wreck Fiat to drive the 200 km. to the Modena Depot. (No, Virginia, you do NOT take delivery at Maranello and if someone says they did, suspect their veracity from that point forward). The Fiat was delivered without seat belts and when I asked why, the rental manager said to drive carefully, not have an accident and no seat belts would be needed. This is very same Italiano mindset where macho males firmly believe running the car's air conditioning will rob them of their libido and virility. Go figure.

We were booked into the Fini Hotel, on Bill Harrah's advice, as it is just across the city park from the Ferrari Depot. Mr. Moglia, the hotel's impeccable manager had everything under control and had one of the hotel staff return the Fiat to the rental agency. Once again, Bill Harrah's long arm of influence came to bear as we were treated with greatest of deference. Mr. Moglia personally showed us our room and explained that he had made reservations at the Fini Ristorante which is across town but that the hotel limo would deliver us there and return us after dinner. We find out later that the Fini Ristorante had *** Michelin Stars, and rightly so. The evening meal was memorable and the service a bit overwhelming. We tried to tip accordingly but were still a bit confused on the relationship of the lira to the dollar so our gratuity was either 90 cents, $9.00 or $90.00! To this day, we are not certain but according to the reaction of the waiter, it must have been a $9.00 for the five course dinner.

The moment that I had waited half a lifetime for occurred the following morning, promptly at 9:00 a.m. when we walked across the park and had the receptionist at the Depot call for Mr. Boni, our factory contact. He appeared, impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit with the required fairly subtle red power tie and spoke perfect English with a decided British accent. As it turned out, he was the ONLY one that day that spoke a word of English. He lead us into the Depot shop area where our Chiarro Rosso (Italian Racing Red) berlinetta (coupe) was being rather brutally assaulted by two technicians with a variety of body shop tools. Mr. Boni explained that the factory test driver (from this point forward who will be referred only as "Numero Uno") had detected a high pitched wind whistle from the passenger side wing window at speeds above 150 mph which was, naturally, totally unacceptable. We returned the next day, the next and finally on the third day, I politely explained to Mr. Boni that we had reservations in Venezia for the International Conference.

At this point, I noted an identical model Ferrari sitting over in the corner and asked who was the owner-to-be. I was told that the car was going to a customer of Chinetti's from NYC who would be picking it up in about two months. It turns out that this vehicle did NOT have any wind noise over 150 mph and I politely suggested that perhaps they could continue to pound on my car and let me have this flawless one. Amazingly enough, Mr. Boni thought this was a capital idea and told us to return again at the same time the next day when "Numero Uno" would orient me as to the behavioral characteristics of my "new" Prancing Horse as they worked out the defects of the other for the Chinetti customer. We were ready to return to the hotel when Mr. Boni said that he would like to have me meet someone before I actually took delivery of the Daytona the next day. He ushered us down a rather dark hall and into an unlit room, except for fingers of light filtering through the blinds. As we entered the room, he introduced us to person clouded by the poor lighting. The gentleman slowly rose to his feet and greeted us in Italian. As he turned into the light, I nearly fainted as I was in the presence of THE MAN. It was Enzo Ferrari himself! Mr. Boni did the short introduction and I shook hands with this legendary figure, my heart skipping more than just one beat. The interview was polite, short and entirely in Italian. I thanked our host and we summarily left for the real world once again.

As we walked across the park, I thought how will we ever top this experience only to find a little Italian lady, dressed somberly in black at her news stand, waving the local newspaper with the headlines: " Gov. Wallace, USA, Assassione" or something to that effect. I recognized the photo of Governor George Wallace on the front page. My comment to my wife was, "I wonder where we can get an English language newspaper in this town". The newsstand owner, drew herself up to her full five foot height and replied (in perfect English), "Well, sir, if you kept a civil tongue in your head, you just might get one right here !". I apologized profusely and she told us she was back in Modena after her husband died in Hammond, Indiana after 48 years of marriage. Her only sister had insisted that she return to Italy where the two widows now lived together a few blocks from the Fini in a senior's housing project. She explained that with her American Social Security checks that she was quite comfortable and was happy to be back where she was born and had grown up.

We chatted perhaps for a half hour or so and finally she surprised us by inviting us to dinner that evening with her sister. When I asked her if she did not have a bit of trepidation inviting a complete stranger home to dinner, she replied (with a twinkle in her eye), "Well, Dottore, at least you are not Siciliano!!". As it turned out, the dinner was splendid, her sister gracious and we parted as newly found friends. We kept in touch with the two for about six years until her sister informed us in a Christmas card in 1978 of her death from natural causes.

Needless to say, I was awake a 4:00 a.m. the following morning and could hardly wait for the "orientation" ride with "Numero Uno" five hours hence. As usual, we met Mr. Boni promptly at 9:00 a.m. at the Depot and we were taken to the courtyard to meet the factory test driver, a thin, rather intense looking individual, dressed in the factory light blue coveralls with the Ferrari logo on the breast pocket. Mr. Boni introduced us and it was immediately apparent that our driver did not speak a single word of English. So be it. All gear heads instinctively understand each other. Right? Well, we shall see as this tale unfolds.

Mr. Boni opened the passenger side door for me and I slid into black/red leather seat. As soon as I reached to buckle up, Numero Uno went absolutely ballistic, waving his arms and shouting what obviously was not complimentary. Mr. Boni intervened and explained to me that the factory test driver had been insulted since my buckling up inferred that I had no confidence in his ability to drive. Things calmed down and I again entered but this time did not attempt to use the seat belt. Numero Uno, now all smiles, got into the driver's seat and we were off from the courtyard onto the main boulevard. As we stopped at the first traffic light, I heard the nasty rasping of yet another V/12 and looked over to see a Lamborghini alongside with their test driver showing another customer a ride. The two drivers obviously knew each other well (Modena is a city of about only 60,000 population), waved to each other with big grins on their faces.

As the light turned green, both Ferrari and Lamborghini leapt forward scattering chickens, ducks and little old men and women on bicycles in their collective wakes. The Lamborghini, behind by about half a car length in two blocks, turned onto another road with his white faced passenger. We proceeded down a fairly wide two lane highway passing tiny Cinquecento or Settacento Fiats and farm trucks hauling produce at a rapidly increasing speed. We came upon a long right hand sweeper behind perhaps four or five of the little cars and one huge lorry (tanker). Numero Uno merely shifted down to third gear and nailed it. We easily passed the four passenger cars and as we were in the process of passing the lorry, I could see another car coming. The Ferrari was merely accelerating, howling it's siren song and as we approached the oncoming car, the lorry moved slightly to the right and as did the oncoming car and we squeezed between them with Numero Uno waving to both as they honked enthusiastically and gave him a "thumbs up".

About six miles out, we turned around into a small trattoria's parking lot, stopped and he motioned me to take over driving. As I slid behind the wheel and buckled my three point belt, he plopped down in the passenger seat and did the same, with a big grin, of course.

The journey back to the factory was relatively uneventful and we shook hands as the car was turned over to us. My wife, obviously relieved, climbed in beside me, buckled up and off we went to the "locked box" in the basement of the Fini Hotel. Bill Harrah had warned us about the high theft rate of exotica in Europe and had given us a list of hotels in France, Germany and Italy that had securely locked areas for about an extra $3 USA per night. Cheap insurance indeed. Vern Kiel of MCM warned us to take our own HD padlock and not trust the hotel's and we came so equipped.

Behind schedule already, we left at sunrise the next day for Switzerland where I wanted to visit the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's home and museum. An enthusiast of Doyle's writings since a high schooler and I was an active member of the" Baker Street Irregulars", a rather eclectic group of Sherlock Holmes fans who study his works extensively. I was always one of the Irregulars that sought out medical details from the writings. Conan Doyle, of course, was a physician (a failed one, incidentally) who created Holmes as his alter ego and of course, Dr. John Watson, Holmes' ever present loyal companion, religiously chronically all of the medical aspects of the detective's exploits.

We spent most of the day at the museum and headed to Cannes, France for an appointment at, ironically enough, the New York Garage, an authorized Ferrari dealer there for the 500 mile oil change and first service. Unknown to us, we made our Cannes overnight hotel's reservation right in the middle of the Cannes Film Festival. As we pulled up to our hotel and got out, flashbulbs went off and a crowd gathered as one of the newsmen shouted, "Andretti, Andretti!!!!". An obvious case of mistaken identify but it took hotel management to usher us and our luggage through a side door and away from the paparazzi. Later, I sneaked out and drove the Ferrari the two blocks to the New York Garage for it's servicing.

After a restless and generally sleepless night (the halls were jammed with party goers in various states of sobriety the entire time), I picked up the Ferrari and came back for my wife and we drove quietly onto the palm tree covered streets, heading for Venice and the International Conference. The street was relatively deserted at this early hour and as we pulled up to the first stoplight, a rather loud dune buggy pulled alongside. The driver had a tan sailor's hat pulled down over his sun glasses but he glanced over with a friendly nod. As the light turned green, we both accelerated VERY rapidly for about three blocks to the next light. The Ferrari had pulled the non-descript dune buggy by only about a single car length and as we stopped, I noticed the dune buggy had a Porsche NOT a VW engine which explained an awful lot. The driver, took off his cap, waved it and grinned with a "thumbs up". It was not until then, did we recognize Steve McQueen.

The week long dermatologic surgical conference was rather uneventful and Luella found a new love, Murano glassware. She bought a bunch, having it shipped back to the USA as we had no real trunk space in the Ferrari. The trip had been perfect, especially having the 365 GTB/4 timed by the Autostrada Policia at a closed new section of autostrada outside of Piacenza at nearly 280 kph or 174 mph, exactly coinciding with the factory's claims.

We were about 75 km outside of Venezia when a sudden, familiar and unwelcome pain in my back hit me and the sudden urge to vomit followed right on schedule. I pulled over to side of the autostrada and rolled on the asphalt shoulder, emptying my stomach and groaning in excruciating pain. It was obvious that I had become a victim of a renal calculus for the fifth time in four years. My wife took out my medical bag and gave me a shot of meperidine as in times past. Since I was totally incapacitated for any kind of driving, she took over. The 5 speed manual high performance gear shift did not bother her in the least since she was raised among five brothers on a farm driving a pickup to the farm field from the age of about 10. Once back at the hotel, I called my USA urologist who told me that if I did not pass the stone summarily to get back to him ASAP. The next 36 hours were pure hell, as expected and we finally appealed to Mr. Boni for assistance. He arranged for the corporate limousine to take us to Milano where, for the first time, we flew first class to O'Hare to meet one of my patients, "Beyer The Flyer" who flew us back home to our local hospital where after two more days of observation and rather massive doses of narcotics, my urologist surgically crushed the stone and I passed the fragments over the next 12 hours. "L 'Animale Rosso", or "The Red Animal" as my Italian friends dubbed it, came in by Alitalia 747 Cargo in a container only to be destroyed by a drunk the very same day it returned home.

Again, THAT is yet another story. Stay tuned.

 

Amazing story. Thanks for the link.

 

Wow that is a great story.

 

That was a great read indeed.

 

Sorry but I have better uses for $1.3MM. Nice story though.

 

+1,...that is 1.4 mil Jimmy

 

Interesting car, but it's been discussed here before. Check the date on that eBay listing, it's OLD... I wonder if the car ever sold???

 

was there really a Cobra so built for Cosby?

 

Yes, I read about that lately in a classic car magazin.

 

Too long story for my bad English, but an awesome car

 

Yes, there was. Cosby even talked about it when he was on Jay Leno recentley. Funny story, I will see if anyone has uploaded it on youtube.

 

A really good read! Thank you
CH

 

Doc's Story, is absolutly amazing!

Ciao...Paolo

 

If I remember correctly the twin to the SuperSnake that sold at Barrett-Jackson in January was supposedly built for Cosby. It was more than he could handle or something like that, it was then sold to someone else, and wrecked/destroyed.

 

I gave my program (from Scottsdale 07) to my dad, it had lots of info on the shelby SS/Cosby connection.

He may still have it and I can relay the info.

Personally, I didn't know Cosby was into cars back in the day....

 

the Daytona / Cobra conversations have me wanting to watch "The Gumball Rally " again !

i was able to ride a few laps in a Daytona coupe at local track 2 years ago.

i see why they are a benchmark!

 

A beautiful and intriguing story. Many snippets stick out, but I remember the one in which the doctor, through his son, telling young enthusiasts to not give up the dream of Ferrari ownership; and I smiled at the casual mention of 'our other 3 Daytonas'.

 

Yes, I remember watching the Barrett Jackson auction, and they were talking about the "Cosby Car" and the fact that Cosby was so afraid that he would kill himself with that car, that he sold it.

 

great story!