1958 Ferrari 250 ‘Pontoon Fender’ Testa Rossa, serial number 0738 TR

http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0738tr.250tr.htm

 

In general I try to take a non-confrontational approach to the occasional inappropriate, unsubstantiated posts that show up now and then on this site... This will not be one of those occasions.

I was not exactly sure what rock you crawled out from under so I took a moment to see who you might be and what your previous back ground posting was on this site.

Your sole other post, hence your id name was on Steve's 908.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=137881752#post137881752

$6M??? You were only off by just a bit on that one! Hope your not a gambler.

Fresh from your expert call on the 908, you have decided three years later to inflict your 2nd bit of wisdom for the esteemed members of this group on the 250TR that is less than a week away from be auctioned off by RM in Monterey.

Simply put, never in the history of the world has any one single post been more far off the marque than yours. "Replica" implies construction without original content or construction to original specifications, measure or means in a timely manner as that which it attempts to copy.

Trust me on this one... I spent the better part of 20 years inspecting, measuring, researching, buying, playing, racing, trading any and every 250 TR I could get near. I worked tirelessly with Chris Nixon, John Godfrey and Godfrey Eaton attempting to truly understand each of the sets of 20 components and eventual 18 examples completed by Ferrari that are identified today as a "250TR."

Over the years I have traveled the world and I have met with, totally annoyed, bargained, battered and begged each of the owners of these 18 examples to gain access to these machines. I eventually bought several of these machines and later sold them onto various clients. I have also raced them and used them on a regular basis on the street.

This included 0738/TR!

Therefore with ample personal and direct knowledge, I say, how dare you make such a half !@#$% statement regarding this machine? Did you even attempt in anyway to do any amount of direct research before vomiting your preconceived notions of what this machine is and remains to this day?

If you were merely curious about the who, what, when and where, you would have received a fantastic amount of information, support and assistance from the various members of this site.

Instead, for someone know reason, you have implied that the current owner has done something to conceal the real history of this car. That it does not have it's original chassis and that perspective buyer's should "beware."

Unflush your head, get a clue and grow up you complete and total piece of trash!

All 18 of the 18 client 250TRs built by Ferrari survive to this day. More than a few have some issues due to the fact that all but one had the living crap raced out of them and continued to do so long after they should have been quietly retired or chucked onto a scrap pile.

Only one of the 18 has some frame issues. Many, lost their engines in period but fortunately Ferrari provided plenty of "in-period" replacement engines along with a slew of rear-axles and gear boxes. Quite a few were given new bodies in period... more many years later as was 0738/TR.

As regards 0738/TR, this car was rebodied in-period and continued to race with a new "Berlinetta" body. It later was used as a sports or sporting car by the Brazilian family that owned it. When purchased by Colin in Brazil, except for the period Italian coupe body, it was essentially as built by Ferrari from day one and aggressively raced by its subsequent Brazilian owners.

The UK based restoration that saw a period correct replacement Scaglietti body that was fitted only to bring the car back to its original, "as-delivered" configuration.

Not one of the previous owners or the current owner has ever shied away from any of this. I first inspected this TR in the mid-1990s. A few years later we acquired it. I photo documented the car's intimate details as they were so well preserved and so period correct, that I knew in the future, this would be a way to document and provide evidence and information to future enthusiasts about how these cars were originally constructed.

My original photo records and notes for 0738/TR have now been used to assist in the restoration of two other examples as well as to correct several other examples that were previously restored incorrectly.

Obviously the main components excepting the body, where dead original. Engine, gearbox, steering box, radiator, oil-cooler, gauges, generator, rear axle, fuel tank ect... were all as delivered by Ferrari. It was the small detail items such as the wiring harness, voltage regulator, fuze panel that really blew me away as each was carefully serviced, maintained and repaired but never replaced.

As for the frame itself, this car was raced longer than just about any other client 250TR. Miraculously it never had a significant on-track altercation. Today the frame remains spot-on correct, straight as an arrow and without defect or issue whatsoever!

The current owner has done what few current owners of these machines do. He has raced the car without regard for anything except being competitive and winning. He has done so for more than ten years and in that time, he has both won, lost, damaged and repaired this car always so that it was ready and competitive for the next race as well as the car's next custodian.

Some have called him reckless and a danger on the track. Others have said the car belongs in a museum and should not be pushed so hard. I have raced against the owner many times and he is both aggressive as well as incredibly skilled at extracting all that the car will give him.

How the car has been cared for, raced and maintained by the current owner is up for any manner of discussion or ridicule. How the next custodian will care for, preserve, run, race or show the car is also up for any manner of discussion.

What is not Sir, is the original nature of the car or the history of this machine from the moment built until today.

I am Bill Noon,

my direct phone number is 619 840 7811

I work at Symbolic Motor Car Company in La Jolla, California.

My direct email address is [email protected]

You are welcome to call me, email me or visit with me at anytime that is convenient to you and I will gladly share my public comments posted here in a far more detailed way with you privately!

 

Care to elaborate why? Aside from the replacement body the documentation on this one indicates full originality.

 

Every cast component in alloy or bakealite that has a date code has one that is within a few months of the car's completion. Every component that has a silked-on date code also matches the completion time-frame of the car.

Every cast component, engine, gearbox, rear axle assembly that has a numero interno matches Ferrari's original assembly records.

All of the connectors, wiring brackets, fittings, fasteners etc... are the correct type as is the original asbestos wiring loom and cloth wraps on the electrical runs.

The small detail items that are so easily lost, replaced and modified are not and that speaks volumes about the care and preservation the car has been given by each former owner, the restorer and current custodian.

I wish all of these cars had such long, lengthy and interesting lives, yet somehow remained as faithful and original as they do on 0738/TR.

Cheers,

Bill

 

I too see an intentional attempt to temporarily damage the reputation of this car.

Best wishes, Kare

 

You can find some more informations about #0758 here:
http://server4.foros.net/viewtopic.php?t=92&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&mforum=muchasrpms

 

Helluva good post, Bill...

Excellent.

Mike

 

0758?

Isn't this thread about 0738?

I'm confused.

 

A lot of thing happen to race cars over the years.

IMO as long as there is full disclosure and potential buyers do primary research all is good.

In this case of this particular car tons of information has been available for many years.

I agree with others that the sudden posting of "Buyer Beware" in this case is silly and suspect.

Buyers should always be aware but the statement that in this case there is any hidden/non disclosed information so far as I know is not true.

If there is Post it, but I suspect "908" won't and agree with Kare.

 

July 2008 Troll Human McQueen908Porsche - Not Subscribed.

Hello, does anyone out there have any early period pictures of the "troll" Human McQueen908Porsche - Not Subscribed? Also does anyone have any info on this poster's "real" history? The poster is claiming that he has "parts" of the original human (mainly the real a**, etc.). I don't think so, reader beware. Clearly, the bomb throwing lack of conscience is a clear indication of troll status and unless public accusations are substantiated, should be subject to a long term ban.

Thanks for any info.

Perhaps, someone with an axe to grind with the auction houses?

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=101499

 

Hi, thanks much for posting this thread. Many of these pictures I have but some I never have seen before. I don't know if you ever would have the time but a translation of these posts would be WONDERFUL !!! just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

Bill, If this person ever decides to show up a Symbolic you should sell tickets. You would make enough to buy back your favorate Ferrari of the past[which is ???????] just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

Correct... I think I need glasses now.

 

We both do.

Best!

 

0758 is an entirely different story! interesting enough in its own right but for another thread!!

 

Just a photo of the car in question. #0738 after a race (Silverstone in 1998).
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Bill, I think a warranted outburst of frustration, which nonetheless was tempered by many fantastic insights and facts. Thanks for that - I've learnt a lot about 0738TR as well as generic info about TR's. We are much blessed by having such knowledge shared publicly.

ATB.

Onno

 

0754 has been in worse condition than that, by a long shot. On more than one occasion.

 

This is the incident with Bart R's (also an F-chatter BTW) 250 SWB, is it not? It was on the National Geographic documentary on the Shell Historic Ferrari Challenge. Excellent piece of film.


Onno

 

Ahh the Coda Tronca body.

 

LOL

 

I am in utter and complete shock you would be stupid enough to even post such nonsense!

Three posts in two years and each one of them more pathetic than the last. That my friend has got to be record. How proud you parents must be.

Never did I ever think I would find myself asking this but Rob, this clown needs a vacation.

Bill

 

McQueen 908,

I suggest you start posting evidence or, at a minimum, well reasoned arguments instead of sweeping inuendos.

Jeff