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Oddity in a Straman-cut Testarossa Spider

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by Terry Godbout, Oct 11, 2005.

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  1. Terry Godbout

    Terry Godbout Karting

    Dec 23, 2003
    177
    Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
    Full Name:
    Terry Godbout
    #1 Terry Godbout, Oct 11, 2005
    A customer of mine inspected a 1987 US-spec Ferrari Testarossa that had been converted into a Spider by Richard Straman in CA just after it was made. In the process of checking out the car (I was 1000 miles away at the time), the mechanic and my customer removed a panel that fits under the spare tire in the front of the TR. Underneath this panel, were two pieces of what appeared to be a granite-like substance that were in excess of 2" deep. These pieces were cut to fit the opening and rested underneath the spare tire and took up the entire bottom area of the compartment.

    Has any one else ever heard of such a modification on a Spider conversion?

    What purpose would these serve being located so far forward in the car?

    Terry
    208.691.4666
     
  2. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Aug 3, 2002
    40,647
    California
    Full Name:
    Carbon McCoy
    #2 134282, Oct 11, 2005
    S/N...?
     
  3. flaviaman

    flaviaman Formula Junior

    Jul 26, 2005
    318
    Vernonia, OR
    Full Name:
    Gregg
    #3 flaviaman, Oct 11, 2005
    Would this car happen to be Bianco with Rosso interior? If so I believe it was the first TR Straman butchered...err chopped! It resided in Seattle for years, refueling it with the filler pipe next to the exhaust manifolds always made me slightly nervous.
     
  4. Driven1413

    Driven1413 Formula Junior

    Aug 14, 2004
    649
    South Shore, MA
    Full Name:
    Alex
    #4 Driven1413, Oct 11, 2005
    Is that the car that was Featured in "Road & Track's Exotic Cars # 7" back in 1988? That article featured some incredible photos of the car, I bought 3 copies so I could frame the article.

    Alex
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,087
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    #5 Rifledriver, Oct 11, 2005



    I always admired the "engineering" too.
     
  6. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    35,532
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    HUBBSTER
    #6 WILLIAM H, Oct 11, 2005
    I dont know

    My 512M doesnt have a spare tire & although Straman chopped her Ive never found the "granite" you refered to.

    BTW on the 512M Straman got smarter & put a large collar around the gas filler to keep gas from splashing on hot parts, its not perfect but its an improvement over the earlier cars. Also since my 512M was 1 of the last Chopped TRs he pretty much perfected it by the time 1995 rolled around
     
  7. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
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    Mr. Sideways
    #7 No Doubt, Oct 12, 2005
    Are we taking wild guesses?

    I guess: each piece is to go under the forward or reverse wheels, based upon where you've got a flat (on the other end) in order to get the jack underneath.

    Do I win anything?

    Can I guess forward weighting for cheap corner balancing and cheap front downforce at speed, too?!

    Or chocks?
     
  8. Tifoso1

    Tifoso1 F1 Rookie

    Nov 18, 2003
    2,602
    Pacific NW
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    Anthony C.
    #8 Tifoso1, Oct 12, 2005
    Can't believe none of you figured it out yet. Those are secret compartments for hiding.....illegal substances that resembles......some type of "powder".
     
  9. Terry Godbout

    Terry Godbout Karting

    Dec 23, 2003
    177
    Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
    Full Name:
    Terry Godbout
    #9 Terry Godbout, Oct 12, 2005
    This is not the car featured in the Road & Track Exotic Cars #7. This car is black/tan...that car was black/black and was the car that was originally cut to be in a Michael Jackson music video.

    I was glad to hear that the 512M conversion did not have the granite-like "slabs" under the spare. Now I am trying to find another early car to see if these slabs are unique to this car or all early Straman conversions.

    Maybe they were added to the car to provide, in the grand old American tradition, more "road-hugging weight."

    Terry
     
  10. Methos550

    Methos550 Rookie

    Oct 20, 2005
    9
    #10 Methos550, Nov 5, 2005
    Well you are a lucky guy as I have been Testarossa obsessed since 1986. :).

    I want a 512 TR but I always and must want to buy new.

    And maybe Gonzaga will take up a Nanophotonics research center
    at my urging because that would be a way I could afford a Ferrari.

    No Electrical Engineering for me....way too antiquated.

    Don't really like what Ferrari is making now.

    Any thoughts on the 512M's non-retractable headlights?

    Did Congress ban them at that time?

    Best,

    Marc
     

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