40th Birthday tomorrow for #02688

Since our Dino turns 40yrs old tomorrow,I thought it was time to share some photos with you. I have included a photo of documentation from the factory to Mr Victor Norman, the original owner after he took delivery in Italy in October 1971.
She was sold to John Sager, who was an Air New Zealand pilot, in about 1976. He was based in Britain and working out of Heathrow at the time. He brought her back to New Zealand when he came home. He had the original black cloth upholstery replaced with correct Connelly tan leather before export as genuine Connelly leather was unobtainable here in N.Z. back then. John also owned a Daytona when I purchased her from him, the second one he had owned. His original plexiglass car was registered FN 1 and was rather famous here as it was used as a promotion vehicle for a cigarette company in a period when it was pretty much impossible to buy a nice car here unless you had access to overseas funds.
I first saw a Dino in 1971 at a motor show in Christchurch (NZ).I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen and decided one day that I was going to own one. I purchased #2688 from John after saving for 10 years to fullfill that dream.
Although she has had many class wins in concours events including best body and paintwork prizes, she certainly isnt a "garage queen".Next month we are going on an Italian car run over a three day weekend, and will cover 1000kms or more in that time.
Yes, I know she has a Ferrari badge on the rear. I have the invoice in her folder with the account for the badge being fitted at the first service at Maranellos. I am proud that badge is there, and think that she has earned the right to wear it a lot more than some of the later offerings from Ferrari. I must add that I have no grudges against people who dont think it should be there, its a matter of personal choice.
There are two, one owner Dinos here in NZ, one in Christchurch and one in Wellington.The Christchurch car has covered something like 170,000 miles. The owner purchased a new engine on a trip to Britain many years ago and fitted it at around 65,000 miles. He has just had the original motor rebuilt and it is being refitted as I write this. Like most countries, we have quite a few Dinos here in long term ownership such as ours which speaks for the popularity of the 246.Very few change hands, and when they do, it is usually by word of mouth between owner and buyer.
Tomorrow Jo and I plan to celebrate the 40th with a nice Italian meal and wine, with some of our car enthusiast neighbours here too. I hope that if you are having a nice wine tomorrow night somewhere in the world, you will toast #2688 along with us please.
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Thanks a lot for your message.You can always look forward to the 50th since you missed the 40th?? Cheers - John.

 

Thanks Matthias.Will give her your regards and we will think of you tomorrow evening when we toast her on her 40th birthday. - Cheers,- John.

 

Well done, 45 years is a long time. Yes, its great to still think just as much of our cars now after all those years.I still have my MGB that I purchased new in 1970 also.The same applies to her.Parts for both cars are more available now than they were when new thanks to the specialists dedicated to providing parts for us. - Thanks,and cheers.-John

 

Thanks for that. You will be looking forward to celebrating in May next year too? We were going to take our car for a nice run today but it is pouring with rain so will have to leave her tucked up in the garage until it clears. - Thanks and cheers. - John.

 

Hi Paul. - No, you are not too late.Its 4-45pm on her birthday.Thanks for the greetings from 01464.Much appreciated. Its still raining here,but we are going down to the garage soon to share a wine with her.All the best, and cheers. - John

 

P.S - Paul.- Yes,we do have some amazing roads here,especially in the South Island.The roads down the West Coast are fantastic,beautiful roads and scenery with very little traffic.% years ago on the same Italian car run we are doing next month,we spent a whole afternoon with a friend in his 246GTS cruising down these roads.The two cars together on full noise were amazing.Some of the other participants with older cars said the two Dinos passing them time and time again made their whole weekend something they will never forget .We were stopping from time to time for food etc so we probably passed most of them 4 or so times. Maybe some of you other Dino owners should bring your cars over for a holiday and to sample our roads and scenery.We would be more than happy to organise this end.(Foof for thought eh????)

 

Hi Alberto,
Thanks for that.You will just have to celebrate the 45th or 50th in style. It was wet here yesterday so Jo [my wife] and I went down to the garage, poured a couple of drinks and sang happy birthday to her badly out of tune!! We had our neighbours over later on who own a really nice Triumph TR4A, and we celebrated with them too. Its hard to believe that our cars are 40 years old now. When non enthusiasts ask me how old Dino is, they dont believe me and think she is much younger than that.
Maybe for your cars 50th ,you could come out to NZ with a group of other owners and enjoy our roads? We have many car groups do this,mainly from Britain I think.Bentley owners do it from time to time and I think Morgan people do it too. Food for thought!!
Thanks, and cheers. - John.