330gt 2+2 on EBay

Any thoughts or recommendations regarding this 1965 interim 330gt 2+2 on EBay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching&viewitem=&item=230277871869&_trksid=p3907.m32

 

Thoughts:

From the pics and description, a pretty decent car all-round; will need a bare-metal repaint and that's the reason the price is lower than average. Interior leather looks good and would go with various exterior color choices.

Recs:

-Get an A-list independent Ferrari shop to do a thorough PPI.

-See and drive the car in person.

-The owner should give a serious buyer contact info for the shop that rebuilt the engine.

 

Looks nice. Definetly a project. But nice.

 

Thanks for your thoughts guys. I really appreciate it. I have had (and own) a number of modern Ferraris but this is my first foray into the vintage Ferraris. Quite honestly after having seen and driven vintage Ferraris I can't wait to get one home! A PPI is in progress, I have spoken directly with the former owner who commissioned the prior restoration. I am told significant documentation follows the car related to the restoration including the engine rebuild. I am worried however about the age of the rebuild and what effects it might have had on the engine.

 

This car appears to have the Air Conditioning option, which is unusual. Looks to be a USA car originally. The Registry is not completely clear, but the history on this car seems to stop in the mid 80s with the restoration. I know the ebay ad says 90s, but it's hard to tell without the documents (receipts). Definitely have the compression checked with a valve adjustment. Have the oil leaks cataloged from front to rear. Look over the brakes, especially the calipers for leaks (sitting doesn't do the brake hydralics any good). Make sure the brakes are in order functionally. These cars can kill you financially, so make sure you know exactly all of the areas you will need to restore/repair and catalog it totaling your expenses. You may be able to spend a 100K on a nice and mechanically sound example and be miles ahead of this car financially in the long run. Proceed with caution...

 

h00kem:

Regarding the age of the engine rebuild, and possible effects on the engine, what exactly are your concerns?

330 2+2's are almost always a crapshoot, especially the unloved (not by me) 4HL models. Lack of complete history is normal, same goes for tools and manuals. Best you can do is be as thorough as possible in your pre-purchase diligence, and be prepared to walk away.

Having been there and done it on a semi-barnfind 330, I can assure you that it's a hugely rewarding experience if the car is basically healthy. Yes, you can spend lots of money on it, and if so inclined, many hours of your own time.

But, you're experienced with Ferraris...the problems and parts on newer models are just as or more expensive as those on Vintage models. A positive mechanical aspect of Vintage models is their relative simplicity and lack of computerized junk...and they have a humongous steel timing chain instead of belts!

I won't be in the position to consider another V12 project for awhile yet, but if it was possible now, this car is one I'd be taking a serious look at. Interim 330's are much rarer and more desirable than Series I's...the refinements of the Series II are incorporated
into the 4HL body config...nice.

 

This is a nice car, and fun project from what I see. And from what I don't see is probably why it's price too low. Probably get what you pay for, but if I had the money, I'd personally go for whatever it held.

BTW, the cars in background of dealership were nice too.

 

+1
Good advice. I just purchased a Interim 330 as well and just tried to be as intelligent as possible while I was shopping for a 330. I looked at projects as well drivers and beauty queens. I was prepared to perform the necessary work if I made a bad buy, but the due diligence is I think the key.

 

Excellent advice guys. Thanks very much for it. I now have the car in the PPI stage and and at an agreed price so I am committed to purchasing it assuming the mechanicals check out as expected. I am looking forward to having it and bringing it back to a reasonable standard. The selling broker has been excellent to work.

 

gs, for some reason I had in mind that your car was an early Series II.

My 330 was a real project car, though basically sound where it counted. I paid $32K in the good ole days of December 2002, ended up spending that amount again, became a pretty decent amateur mechanic during the reconditioning process, and had an awesome driver at the end.

However, if there's to be a next time for me on a Vintage car, I'm going to do as you did and look for one that's better sorted.

 

Great, keep us posted.

Looks like a really good car; I hope it all works out for you.

 

Make sure you know the quality of the mechanical work, the age of the work is less important. I am in the middle of a total engine rebuild because the 'rebuild' done shortly before I purchased my car turned out to be a patch job. I had great compression and leakdown right up to the point the motor was torn down, thus it didn't turn up on the PPI. If you want more details, look at the May diary entries in Tom Yang's site. I'm not sure if this will help you but, maybe it will guide what you look at while doing the PPI.

Regards,

Art S.

 

I looked at several from early Series I cars to late single headlight Series II cars, but I bought S/N 6997, an Interim 330 in the end.

 

Looks decent-- the nice thing about needing a repaint is that you can paint it in some color other than red!

I'd email or PM Gerald Roush and get his history report on the car as well.

Why did the paint crack so badly? I saw the explanation in the ad, but I'm still curious.

 

Guys, I have read many times on this site of a program with Ferrari whereby you can purchase a certificate that details the original colors and options on the car when it left the factory. I can't seem to find it and how to access the program using the search function. Does anyone know? Yes, I plan to take the car back to whatever its original color was. Given the interior is tobacco-like in color I cannot believe it was originally red. My guess is silver. But it was certainly red by 1979.

 

Used to be you could register on the Ferrari Owners' Site and get a Heritage Certificate that stated original interior/exterior colors; all you had to do was send them a copy of your title and some recent photos to prove ownership.

I've been registered on there for 5+ years, but don't know the status of the Heritage programs now. The site's been changed around a lot.

I'm sure someone else here can give you more up to date advice.

 

I think the color sheet is still free (to the owner only). Contact Kerry at the 330gt.com he knows he details.

Regards,

Art S.

 

I've been told that Ferrari has discontinued the 'Original Vehicle Color' document program, but it still is on their website. I hope someone tries it out and reports back:
1. Register with the owner's site (www.owners.ferrari.com).
2. Login.
3. Select Cars/Classiche from the menu at the top.
4. Select Historic Archive (on the right).
5. Select Car Colours (on the right).
6. Enter the appropriate car type and data. The engine number is not the serial number stamped on the engine, but another number stamped on the rough casting near the serial number stamping.

 

Here is a nice thread on the certificate from Ferrari, seems they didn't need to send registratiuon into Ferrari

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194545




1

 

If you buy the car and register it on the Ferrari Owner's site, it will eventually be added to your garage section and it will list the original color.

 

Thanks for that post: Excellent.

 

Looks like a nice honest complete car.

 

Auction ended with "Buy it Now" at $72,000? Was that the real selling price? The seller will have to pay the ebay fees for that price as it stands. Hmmm...

 

I'm not 100% sure but I believe Ebay vehicle sales fee are preset so it doesn't matter what the final price is.

 

You're probably correct, but I believe the listing fee is preset, but if it sells, then an additional fee is charged.