#40040 is still alive today and with the same owner since many years. Im sorry but not allowed to post more pictures for this car. Im pretty sure the owner/mechanics are reading this thread too and let them decide if they want to post more pictures or not. Nevertheless heres a bit of history on #40040 : - Originally delivered to Racing Car / Kessel in Switzerland. - The only Silhouette delivered in Blue Spezia aka Blue Tahiti. The other blue cars (#40060, #40070 and #40072) were delivered with blue Acapulco exterior. - Shipped outside Europe in the mid eighties. - Little used for the last years as owner and car are in two different locations.
Ah, now it became clear why it was missunderstood with racing car, most thought the car was used for racing. BTW Loris passed away last year, he lost the race against cancer.
Sad to hear about Loris. Kessel / Racing car is still involved in the car business http://www.loriskesselauto.ch/ I'm pretty sure that #40040 is a standard production car and never used as a race/track car.
The quoted number of 31 survivors that has become folklore is clearly incorrect! Although 33 cars are known to exist today there were at least 41 known survivors in 2001. This does not mean that these other cars no longer exist but simply that they have not been seen since 2001, so any information about any new sightings would be appreciated!
I completely agree. Not all the above pictures are from the cars as of today. F.e. the pictures for #40000 , #40024 , #40030 , #40038 and #40072 are all scans from car magazines in the late seventies. Anyone who knows the present status for one of these cars?
My post misleadingly suggests that none of those "missing" cars have been seen since 2001. In fact some have been seen as recently as 2006-08.
Great thread everyone! I'm wondering if some of the Silhouette experts would know of one of the cars that was in the Arizona area about 25-30 years ago? It was red with I believe gold wheels but not sure of the interior. My father owned the car for a bit and loved it, that is until a shoddy, previous transmission rebuild let go while he was driving in Wyoming. Any information on where the car is today would be much appreciated!
Red was the most popular Silhouette colour. Of the cars that ended up in the US only 3 were originally red and all were still red when last seen. A further 3 cars (maybe more) have subsequently been repainted red. I heard of none with gold wheels but two cars had non-standard wheels when last seen.
do you have some infos on its history? pics? i saw it many years ago in magazines, etc... always had a fascination for that one!
Unseen seen since 1993 at 30th anniversary. This car has only just been discovered and increases the known survivors published above to 42 in 2001 and 34 in 2011.
#40046 (dark blue with body strakes) last seen at a meeting in Berlin in 2006, any information appreciated. #40070 (white) with Ben Lombardi currently for sale in US.
I checked my data and couldnt find a Silhouette with golden rims in the US. Only two cars (#40006 and #40014) were recorded with golden rims and both stayed in Europe. Do you have any further information: when/where did your father buy the car?, when/where did he sold it? A picture will be very helpful; nearly every Silhouette is unique (different mirrors, bumpers, wings, color combinations, ).
Thank you Kevin! I'll see if I can find the picture again and ask him more specifics. I was moving and found several photos. The gold wheels may have been my memory playing tricks on me. The transmission let go and he traded it for an Espada (fail) in Phoenix, AZ; in 1985-86.
As regular visitors to this thread will know 40006 was uniquely trimmed for the Paris show. This comprised charcoal dashboard, light grey carpets, black leather with black velour panels. I recently discovered a Urraco that used the same colour scheme which confirms that these materials, although unique to my Silhouette, were used on the Urraco. Even the black velour has turned red just like mine! http://www.leonardisportcar.com/home/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=60 Accordingly I have now had the dashboard and carpets re-trimmed. I used reversed Alcantara 9002 on the dashboard as recommended by Bruno Paratelli as a mousehair substitute. I am very pleased with the results. It may not be precisely original (it's better) but I think if this option had been available at the time the factory would have used it! Remember even the road test of the Chinetti car referred unkindly to elephants skin and I still regret the Alcantara dash of my Urraco (though probably black was not the best colour). New mousehair is being produced by HVL in Netherlands but the colour is not correct. The advantage of Alcantara is that it comes in a wide variety of colours. http://www.alcantara.com/uploadedFiles/files/ColourCard_Alcantara_Auto.pdf The only downside is that Alcantara doesnt stretch which makes trimming around tight curves etc a challenge. I will get the seats done when I can find the correct material! Image Unavailable, Please Login
When the dashboard was out of the car I replaced the instrument panel as the original was showing signs of fracture - a common problem. I came to the conclusion that the fractures are mainly due to flexing of the panel caused by the large gauges but also in some part to the fact that the gauges are very tight in their housings. I substantially reduced the flexing with a piece of 15mm aluminium bar drilled 8 cm apart that fits over the adjacent mounting screws of both gauges. I also ensured that the clamps do not spread by using a cable tie around the gauge and the clamps. I sanded the holes so that the gauges can rotate. In addition I stuck washers around the fixing holes with one side shaved as they are close to the edge. The instrument panel went back ok - it is a tight fit - fingers crossed.... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Paul, looking very good. You haven't thought of an upgrade to the new CarbonSkin material for the seats ?
The dash looks great! Are new instrument panels still available from stock? Mine is also cracked. Jonathan
I am keen to try and maintain the original appearance. If this is a fabric similar to black velour I have no knowledge of it. Further information would be appreciated.
I very much doubt it. I will pm you with my source. They come with blue backlit panels but since mine is the only production car with red ones I had to fit the originals in the new panel.
