Hi In its end of year sale, traditionally held in Gstaad, Switzerland, Bonhams wrapped up the 2006 auction season by achieving great success. Highlights of the sale, which took place on Sunday 17th, were three prestigious Maserati racing cars, each boasting Le Mans history in the 1960s. Once the pride of the prominent RossoBianco collection in Germany, the only remaining Maserati Tipo 151 from 1962 was adjudicated to an American collector for a high bid of CHF1,840,000.00 (just over $1.5M), well above its high estimate. Both the Tipo 63 and the unique Tipo 65 from the same collection were sold as well, and the value of all three cars together exceeded CHF3.3M, a considerable achievement. All but one of the twelve Maserati models offered for sale found new homes, proving the continued interest from the collectors market in the Trident marque. It is expected that at least one of these three highly significant competition models will be entered in historic motor racing events in the coming months, at venues such as Le Mans, Laguna Seca or Goodwood. After decades in silence, it will be a great joy to hear the sound of these mighty Maserati racing engines thunder once again. Source: Maserati
>>> 151: non-original body, non-matching, but correct engine! >>> Tipo 65: original but with later modifications (rear wheelarches), for my point of view this car went to cheap! >>> Tipo 63: fitted with non-correct 4-cyl-engine instead of V12! All cars went to the Auriana-Collection in Connecticut/USA. Ciao! Walter
I was trying to reearch the story of this car and found contradictory info. such as the allegation that it was once thrown into a refuse pile by Chuck Jones who also threw away another Maseerati though a later writer on the Maserati Forum said, no,it ws 004 that he tossed into the hole in the ground. What I am curious to know is, if it was not 151.006 that he threw away, what did the car sell for after Jone, in roundabout (not to the dollar) figure? I think this was with the incorrect nose added after its racing accident. Is Chuck Jones still reachable so I can direct this to him? Thanks for any historical tidbits.
on the site BB I found a letter from a forumite whose nickname is "sneakercats" that says he owned the car form '70 to 76. He bought it from a frenchman (whose name might have been Paul Reynard) who bought it from Chuck Jones (not a replica car maker, I got him confused with Chuck Beck) . At some point the car was in a San Jose body shop painted white with white diamond tuft interior and even won an award at the famous Oakland Grand National roadster show. What I want to know is the approximate prices paid by the Frenchman to Chuck Jones for the car (it might have been a two car deal inlcuding the Chaparral I) and the price Sneakercats paid because only then can I rate it as a "barn find." I don't know what engine was in it then, the 4-cam or the 4.2 liter V8.
I have an email from Chuck Jones as recently as 3 to 4 years ago stating that he buried Tipo 151 #004.
<<<< "This fellow you know as Chuck Jones personally buried that chassis in the land fill at what is now the University of California at Irvine, 40 plus years ago, along with a number of other bits and pieces from various race cars that later took on a value that no one imagined at the time. I watched a bulldozer do even more damage to the frame as it was buried than it received at Daytona a couple of of years earlier.">>>>>
Walter: In the US in that time, scrapyards CHARGED you to take your car and you had to give them the legal title. Most race cars do not have titles, as they are not road licensed. Is was just easier to bury the remains.
What was the SN of the 151 sold? I have been trying to piece together the history of 151.006. So far have some contradictory but interesting material, some of which may be utter balderdash. --it was 151.004 that Chuck threw into the land fill not 151.006. --It was 151.004 that had the 427 Ford, the one that Marvin Paunch flipped , only to be saved by another racer who righted the car to pull him out (one trouble with doors that go into the roof is that, when the car is on its roof, you can't open the doors!)There is a photo in Finn's 'Maserati - Postwar Sporstracing Cars' of it on its roof fully ablaze. Cunningham gave it to Jones soon after. --151.004 was supposedly painted white by a famous California customizer and had a white tuck-'n-roll or diamond tufted interior --it was supposedly bought, customized, then hidden away for the boyfriend of a wealthy married lady hoping her husband wouldn't find out about this present --It was entered in the Oakland Roadster Show where it won an award similar to crowd favorite --the Frenchman that bought it from Chuck Jones was a con man who later went to jail. He was somehow related to a former premier (or whatever they call the President) of France. I'd like to hear confirmation about any of this as I plan to include 151.006 in a speech at Monterey on great garage finds.
Talked to Chuck Jones. The 151.004 was tossed into the landfill because it was smashed up and he only wanted it for the gearbox. The frame had to be taken apart to get the gearbox. He sold the 151.006 trading it for a new American car plus some cash. The buyer was a man named Reynaud who rumor had it was related to the premier of France in 1940 before Petain was put in by the Nazis. It wasn't Jones who put the car in the Oakland roadster show though ironically Jones was known for doing pinstriping and flames on custom cars at the time. Now the remaining factoid I'd love to hear about is how Peter Kaus found out about the car which had gone to Northern California after Jones sold it and how much he paid for it. There had to be more owners between Reynaud and Kaus.
Very good info. Many thanks. I currently have no access to my data base. But I think that #006 is now owned by L.A. in CT./USA.
It sounds like the 427 would be been more aprpo to a hot rod show.But I guess that engine was in 004, the car that was thrown into the landfill. Also like to know where the car was all those years between '65 and the time Peter Kaus found it. At LeMans it will be interesting to see if it smokes the 250GTOs
When I purchased the Maserati 151 006 in 1970 it was red and relatively complete. Spares included a front chassis section with suspension, rear chassis with transaxle and suspension, both from the 004 car, two engine blocks, two crankshafts, two heads, a front cover assembly with all the gears and many miscellaneous mechanical parts. The engine blocks had different cylinder bore diameters. The larger bore block (4.5L?) had damage from a broken connecting rod. I was told that the damage occurred when the Arciero Brothers put the engine in an Indianapolis car and blew it during qualification for the 1965 Indianapolis 500. Watch this video, search [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBImoaf8CA4]Brutus - YouTube[/ame] . At about 3:02 you will see a 1966 Cadillac Coupe DeVille towing the Brutus funny car. This was the car that was later traded to Chuck Jones for the Maserati and the Chaparral. I do not know if any money was involved. Story was that Chuck's wife was pregnant and they needed a comfortable car. White diamond tufted interior? No way! 006 had a show quality and tasteful black full interior with carpet and upholstered starter cover. Also, a wood rim steering wheel. The interior was done by someone named Bannon or Bannion in Gilroy, Ca. who was known for fine quality show car interiors at the time. Candy apple red? Try 1964 Chevrolet Riverside Red painted by Joe Wilhelm of San Jose, Ca. just before the 1967 Oakland Roadster Show where the car won the People's Choice Award. I saw the car at the show and later saw the trophy. The car had the 4.0L Maserati V8 engine. It never had a Ford 427 engine installed. The 427 engine was in the 004 car that Marvin Panch wrecked at Daytona. The one piece front bodywork was aluminum and fabricated by Troutman And Barnes. Not sure if Chuck Jones or the Frenchman commissioned the job. No fiber glass body work for this car. Hope this info is of some help.
