New 365 GTC/4 Delivered to Hong Kong

I had the car inspected for painting by the guys at Blackbird Automotive in Hong Kong. Man of the people there were from the official Ferrari dealer Auto Italia. They found some rust underneath some of the panels so they will have to take it down to bare metal in some areas to make sure the car is painted well. I am going to choose a period correct dark blue from Ferrari. I'm also going to have the interior redone to a medium tan leather as well as restore the mouse hair on the dash to make everything correct inside. I'm still wondering about the cloth inserts. They are in decent condition but after all the work I am doing I dont think it will look so nice as having 100% leather. I'm inclined to keep the inserts, have them cleaned and vacuum sealed for the next owner if he wants to have them restored. I also think I will replace the mag wheels with Borrani wire wheels to make the car look more refined. I will of course keep the mag wheels for the next owner. I think with the changes the car will look very elegant.

 

A short update on this. I discovered that the original paint for this car was Red imported to the UK. Given that it was the original color, I've decided not to change it but just give it a touch up in the areas where the paint is faded or chipped. Since the leather isn't too badly worn and it has the original cloth inserts, I will keep the interior the same and just give it a good detailing. I took her out again and she is smooth. I love this car.

 

He asked me not to disclose it but there is a book out there with all the old Ferrari VIN numbers, where the cars were delivered and the colors.

 

Wow. Thanks alot! How did you come by this information?

 

I guess changing the paint back to Blue is back on the schedule

 

Thanks Greg. I should have referred to that document.

 

I totally agree Wayne. The car will look so much better in blue.

 

The car finally went into Blackbird Auto in Hong Kong for painting and interior retrimming. I am painting her back to the original Celeste Gainsboro (Light metallic blue with a slight green tint) but I still feel this car should be painted dark blue or dark metallic blue. However, since I consider myself only a custodian of the car, it is my duty to reskin her in the original birthday colors. Can anyone please send me detailed photos of the interior of the 365 GTC/4? I would like to know what was the original color of the mousehair and how much it covered. I would also like to know how the deck behind the rear seats and the the area underneath the front and rear windows were done originally. My shop guys told me that these areas of the car have been redone in the past (and not too well).

 

Thanks. I found a used book online in a very good condition and I just ordered it. Yes I did see the 275 GTB/4. It looks wonderful.

 

Thank you so much for this link. I'll check it for sure.

 

I am still torn between Celeste Gainsboro vs. the other colors. I really think the car looks better in a darker blue than the light blue with green tint. What are your opinions about these other 3 metallic blues?


Blue Dino Met
106-A-72
Blu Sera Met
106-A-18
Blu Ribot
2.443.631

 

Here are Blue Dino, Blue Ribot and Blue Sera colors photos are from the 365gtc4.com. I believe it should be Blue Ribot or Sera.
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Willen at Blackbird gave me four period correct blue color samples. I decided to go with Blue Sera Metallic. It was the darkest of the metallic blues and I think it will suit the GTC/4 really well. The color is the far left. The next colors are Blue-Dino, Blue Sera and Celeste Gainsbero (the original color). I thought long and hard about the respraying the car in her original colors but I just don’t think it would look as attractive. Maybe time will prove me wrong.
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I stopped by the shop today to pick out the color samples for the interior. I decided to keep the original color scheme. Zegna cloth inserts to keep the originality of the car. We will import the leather from the UK. It seems there is a leather company carrying the 'Connelly' branding. It seems that the center consol and the dashboard was not originally 'mousehair' according to the "Original Ferrari V12" book. It seems that the dash was black vinyl and leather. Since I dont want to cover it with vinyl, I will have to go with either mousehair or some other dash material. I've asked some other folks that have restored a GTC/4 recently about what they did. If someone would like to volunteer a suggestion it would be greatly appreciated. Please enjoy some photos of the beginnings of a repainting job which I believe will take now more than 3 months. The hood and the trunk has the paint already removed. The bumpers have been removed. The front bumper area shows some rusting and some heavy overspray. I'm getting excited!
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