I saw an ad in the classified of the Detroit News that just said " Three Ferraris for sale" call xxx-xxxx. I called and the guy said " I got three Ferraris a few years ago when the Ferrari dealer would not pay their bill. I don't know much about them, and I only drive them a couple of times each year, otherwise they just sit in the corner of my shop with a cover on them" He told me he had two Dino GTS's and a 308 GTS. He said he did not know what they were worth, but a wholesaler called and he said he would bring a check over for $50K for the two Dinos. It turned out he was two miles away! I jumped in the car and drove over and could see that the Dinos were about a 7.5 on a 10 pt. scale. I started them both and drove them around the parking lot. Just as I told him that I would write a check for the Dinos for $50K, the dealer drove up and started to rant that the cars were his, etc. I told the owner, I'll give you $51K right now and no more bids. He took the offer, because he wanted to buy a "nice dinner for his wife" The wholesaler was tapped out, my banker covered my check, and they were mine. I sold the worst one quickly to a dealer for $45K and had a nice $5K Dino. When prices went up I had to take an $80K offer. Things were so hectic, I never even got a look at the 308!
Hi Guys I just joined today. I wanted to know, many of you write these amazing stories and I would like to know how to you track down a car like that? Is there any way? Is there any left? Thanks again
Those last few years in the late 80's brought out huge numbers of old Ferrari cars for sale worldwide,and an equal number of dealers and collectors snatching them up quickly some trading hands 2-3 times in a WEEK. This Lusso #5499 was a barn find we bought from Mark Smith in Philadelphia who never seemed to run out of interesting Ferrari's to buy.
Vasco, No he wasn't burried with the 550 in Fairmount, Indiana. About a year ago in an article in Sportscar magazine featuring Jay Leno, ( I think the main feature was the new 911 C4S ) there are a few whispers that Leno owns the frame of Little Bastard and also a Harley given to Elvis by Dean, ( who was a fan of his music and Elvis a fan of Dean's acting. ) RocketBoy
interesting stories everyone thanks for posting it's been my wildest dream for years..........a barn find Miura !
Dutch carmagazine Autovisie featured a story on a French farmer a couple of editions ago. He had two (incomplete) Miura's rotting away on his territory. Just when the journalist wanted to leave, he spotted a third (complete) specimen somewhere in a barn (yes!) under a sheet.
Hi all my first post - been lurking for awhile. Hoping to add a vintage Ferrari to my Porsche collection. Anyway, here is a link to my barn find story which was picked up, re-written and published in the August 04 issue of Excellence magazine: http://168.144.182.110/Roadster1.htm More here: http://168.144.182.110/RennsportReport.htm
In the 80's, I realized that Chet Bolin had disappeared with 0425GT, thr PF prototype of the TdF's. It took a lot of detective work, but I finally came up with an address in a trailer park retirement area. No phone no. John Starkey was visiting me at the time (after having written a book on the TdF's), so I said, "how would you like to take a long sunday drive with me?" When we got there, parked in front of his trailer was a tattered cover on the unmistakable shape of 0425! Chet remembered me from the "old days", so it didn't long to talk him out of it. At that time, prices were escalating rapidly, anf I didn't have the means to buy and restore this lovely one-off, so I had to pass it on to Walt McCune, who did a great job. I've been trying to do the same on 0407GT, the first "low-nose" 250GT Europa, Writing the long-time owner every few years. Just a few days ago I learned that someone else pried it loose. RATS! Look for it next year at Pebble Beach.
I'm in the middle of one right now. I got a call yesterday from a friend who chases cars for his collection, but he's a 60's American car guy. Called me and asked if I would be interested in a Porsche 356B Super 90. He didn't want it, but I could have it if I'd like. Price is very low, so I'm waiting to see the car but he assures me, that but for some front suspension work, the car is ready to roll and is part of a collection of cars he's going to buy from an estate. So, next Monday or Tuesday, I'm off to look at the car, and if it's okay, it is coming home with me. Dave M.
Tillack got it, I was in line, making the first $350K offer, full asking price. Bob Kramer, then went from Rich Darling's, who could not make up his mind, then straight to Tillack's shop who paid $360,000. All happened quickly. Very quickly Tom Shaughnessy Barn Find Specialist
Here's my Porsche 356 story: Around 1999 a guy emailed me saying he had a old 58 Speedster race car that had been stored in his barn since the early 70's and he was wanting to sell. The car was in a small town a couple hours outside of Indianapolis and he told me I could come and see it to make an offer once he dug it out. I waited patiently for about 6 months and he finally called to say it was ready for sale. I flew out to see a friend in Indy and we drove down to check it out. This place was on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere! When we arrived the guy had his car stuck in the mud out in a field in front of his house because he was trying to pull the roll bar out of some vines that had taken it over. We went around back to see a honest to god tattered old barn and a Speedster full of bird **** and pack rat nests. The car was definitely "experienced" and a hell of a lot worse than he had disclosed, but actually running, sans brakes. Myself and one other gentleman made offers and I didn't end up with the car. On a Ferrari Note: Mo Nunn has a 308 he found in an Indiana barn. They restored it out a Vince Grantatelli's shop back when Mo worked for him, nice open exhaust now
The next time that somebody starts expounding upon the special nature of Ferraris or how they're "not Corvette land; not even close", I'm going to remember Ed's story. It seems that a Ferrari can set in a trailer park or a barn just like any other car.
When I was very young, my mother told me of a Ferrari that she stumbled across in Italy with her aunt when she was in her early 20's which was some time in the late 1950's or early 1960's. The story was they were at a monastery looking at leather goods that the monks made and sold. She noticed a blue convertible in the back of the shop. She was told that it was a Ferrari and it was there having the interior redone. The owner ran into financial trouble and could not pay for the work that was done so he gave it to the monks. They offered it to her for $3000, the cost of the interior work. My parents were not very well off and she could not fathom the costs associated with importing it to the states so she passed on it. I don't know anything else about it but she regrets not buying it to this day and I shed a tear when I think of it.
Getting close. Got some pictures, and a little information today. Car broke something in the left front suspension in the early 70's. Guy took the part off, put it in the corner of the garage, and gave up on the car. Been sitting there ever since. Appears to be a '61 or '62. Def not a '63. So, I'm guessing it may have a few issues. The son asked if I wanted him to crank the motor over to see if it was ok!!!! Needless to say, I told him to put the keys away, I'd come by and take a look myself. Interior is shot, but the body appears excellent, and it still has its 70's era PA plate on it. Here are a couple of very bad pictures he sent me. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
These are 2 pictures taken from my friends farm here in Melbourne; the first, under all those boxes is of a 'Torpedo bodied' Bugatti, circa mid 30's. The second is his E-type (he has 3 in the same condition), Lea Francis, Isotto Fraschini and others whose names I cannot remember.
Hi im new to this FerrariChat.com, but here is my barn find storie!!! A family friend just had her boyfriend of 13 years drop dead of a heart failer. When I was 21 I went over to the house to hang out with them, at the time I was driving a Porsche 914-6. After a few hours and 8 or 9 bears, he takes me downstairs into his basement and shows me his 1983 Ferrari 308 gtsi. With only 17,000 original miles. It's black with tan leather, mint condition! He tells me how in the late 80's he was drunk and missed a gear an blew the time belts, and some day he will get it back on the road!! Well that was 7 or 8 years ago and now I have the car. My freind called me after her boy freind past and asked if I would like to take another look at it. I went right over. After drinking some more bear and talking about her friend that pased away she tells me that for 2000.00 dollars and a new leather sofa I can have the car. We went out that night and got her that new sofa and the cash!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two days later I went to the house to get the car. While diging around to find all the parts to put it back together I find. 1. set of new race cams 2. full gasket set 3. all machine work is done 4. heads are rebuilt 5. new J&E pistons 6. new clutch 7. new water pump The list goes on and on!!! Looks like he was just about to put it all back together when he droped dead!!!!! Well now I have it at my house and by May 2005 I should have a 308 gtsi with 17000 miles on it to drive.. LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login
