David Piper restores the Talacrest P4

It must be said that for someone who already owns a 412P and P3/4 the decision to keep 0858 as a Can Am car must be much easier to make.

 

obvious english stampings

 

Not for me. That's what I would have done regardless.

 

You'd think that a "P4" expert (David Piper) would know what P4 stampings should look like.

 

hear, hear.

 

This post was directed at DP NOT retired who actually is a Ferrari Expert and correctly pointed out that the stampings on DP's "P4" replica ("0900") are obviously wrong.

Sorry for any confusion.

 

I very much doubt DP would care about using the correct type. We must remember he was putting 0858's spares to use to make another car himself. He's not Ferrari and yes they gave him a chassis number but why at that time in history would he care what type face he used. Only replica or restorations would care. When 0900 was built it was neither.

Hopefully the CanAm body and chassis bits have been saved so the next owner can rectify if they want to.

When I think of all the 30's Alfas that were similarly ruined ... Its just so sad that interesting variations were lost. Its impossible to stop, just like replicas.
Pete

 

Here's the point about the stamps. Purely VALUE wise, I think if a new owner wanted to do this he should have used Ferrari Classiche especially as you're right and David doesn't know and or care about the proper details as evidenced by the incorrect stamps on "0900" and incorrect replica "P4" body (English Wheel) he's fitting today on 0858.

I totally agree with your last paragraph.

"When I think of all the 30's Alfas that were similarly ruined ... Its just so sad that interesting variations were lost. Its impossible to stop, just like replicas."

 

Quote: "When I think of all the 30's Alfas that were similarly ruined ... Its just so sad that interesting variations were lost. Its impossible to stop, just like replicas."

And just so people can have something they can't afford. Sad.

George

 

That would have been very cool!

 

Pretty obvious, no? turning a perfectly original and rare 350 Canam into something with a non-original body, isn't doing the history of the car any goo.

Restoring 0846 to P3-specifications, would be wrong. Removing the Vignale body from 0038M and install a replica of the original Touring body, would also be wrong.

 

'Bout all I can say is that IMHO they are f***ing up and destroying a valuable and extremely rare piece of motor racing history. Rather sad that some with the means use those means so wretchedly.....

 

Ditto.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41boRGqCIr4[/ame]

 

Can Am was such an awesome series and a huge part of North Americas racing history. Too bad this piece of it is being wiped out.

 

interesting.
RM Auctions held at the Factory itself, and on the big screens the car was described as 1967 Ferrari 330 P4. (see vid at 7:59)

so it was sold as a P4 and the factory were in some ways party to this

 

Nope. It was not sold at that Auction. The Auctioneer made it very clear
before the bidding began that the car was 350 Can Am and Ferrari also
made their position that the car was a 350 Cam Am and that even if a new
Owner commissioned Ferrari Classiche to mount a Replica "P4" body to
0858 Ferrari would NOT Classiche 0858 as a P4 and we all bit accordingly.

Ferrari made their position Crystal Clear after that video was produced.

 

http://www.telegraaf.nl/autovisie/autovisie_nieuws/ferrari/12148661/__Ferrari_showt_Breadvan_en_Stirlings_250__.html

for translation: Translate google Dutch --> English

cert. historical interest for breadvan (white book)
I ASSUME 2735GT has the red book, but is has a rolled UK body..........
But others need to restore their SWB with a correct shaped Italian hammered body (steel or alloy)
Can 0858 be shown as "P4 spyder" in the Galleria next year??

I don't get it.
Maybe classiche should quit, it is a joke!!!

 

I read somewhere that Classiche corrected some aspects of the bodywork when they restored 2735GT.

 

I wondered Jim if your P3/4 is such a laborious task to start. 0858 seemed to be rather uncooperative at the RM auction.

 

If a hot-rodder - a known experienced feller like Piper, even - had Can-Am'd up that car, could see going back to P4 (w/the folks in Classiche). But as it sits (er, sat) - that Can-Am's a factory effort and a not an insignificant one, so ...

(btw, would've made a badass 'vert w/lights and a plate for runs to the DQ).

 

0858 had been put away wet and stored rotting away for a long time. Ferrari gave her a pre auction clean and started her but she was running very rough and IMO was not safe to operate in that condition and her lap before the Auction was canceled.

A lot of the fuel lines were not original and once again IMO not safe and if I had bought her I would have done a TOTAL restoration.

Getting a P4 mechanically injected engine to run well is a complex job and took us years to get right.

0846 starts right up and runs well but it does take a lot of supervision and care.

 

Having driven 0846 to Collosandro for a Cappuccino I agree.
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Thanks Jim.

Sad to hear 0858 was treated with such a lack of respect before they decided to now pretend its something it hasn't been for a long time.

Judging from your collection and their condition I wish you were the guardian of 0858 too.