The Provenance of 0353 AL - 375 America (1958 to 1974)

Details pictures must be very interesting on this car.

 

Best first thread ever?!

Thanks so much for posting this. Can't wait to see how it develops.

 

It will be really interesting thread. Scott, please share more images, stories and documents.

 

After reading this I have to be thankful for sites like this one and Tom Yangs. How easy it is for us to communicate around the world, at any time and location in searching for answers or parts.

 

Thank you!Thank you! This is an absolute treasure. I have in my file on 0353 much of the F Chat posts from 2009 including from Marcel Massini who if he hasn't already received Part ! will be thrilled to get it. This is the kind of first hand provenance that is so special. The picture of your father with the car is great. Along with sister car 0359 these may be Vignale's crowning achievements tongascrew

 

This car was my first introduction to Lampredi power. In 1976, Sue and I took our 330 GTC and Wayne and Gracia drove 0353AL to the Ferrari Club group at the Indianapolis Speedway swap meet. On Sunday, we decided to convoy home together as Wayne lived 40 miles to the west of us. We agreed to take some lesser used two lane roads instead of the interstate, with much of this trip on dead straight smooth roads.

We were crusing along happily in the 70 mph range when we came upon a late 60s Plymouth muscle car ahead and we both sped up somewhat and passed him. A short time later, I checked the rearview mirror to see the Plymouth gaining rapidly on us. He blasted past running about 100-110 mph with lots of noise. After he passed Wayne, I saw some smoke start to roll out of 0353's exhaust and knew the race was on. I dropped down to fourth, and nailed the GTC. We both caught the Plymouth and sailed past, while I was still in fourth gear, Wayne stayed on the gas and I was able to say with him up to about 125 mph, whereupon the old Lampredi just motored off into the distance. Shortly after, we both slowed down and resumed our pleasent drive home.

A few days later, Wayne called, and I was amazed to have him tell me that after he got home, he just felt the 375 was not running correctly, so he did a compression test and found TWO CYLINDERS WITH NO COMPRESSION! That old Lampredi, on TEN CYLINDERS, had walked away from a good running 330GTC.

That experience, many years ago, told me everything I ever wanted to know about Lampredi V-12's.

 

This photo was taken at the Monza circuit in 1957, at that time owned by Harry Burl Chambers. Copyright unknown.
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More pics of 0353 here: http://www.***********.com/forums/ferrari-discussion/10649-pictures-375-america-vignale.html

 

Link does not work.

Marcel Massini

 

How fortunate are we classic Ferrari geeks that Scott has elected to share this wonderful trove?!

Seriously, thanks man. This is a real treat. I'm raising a cold pint in your direction right now.

 

And the second pint from me. And I am sure more will follow. Better take a cab home. tongascrew

 

This is simply fantastic.

A window to the past. Perhaps a better time?

Either way seeing this machine in late period is staggering.

I salute the OP.

Many thanks. You've made my day... (I rarely post but this is more than worthy of my scribblings)

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WONDERFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The current exterior is black, the current interior is purple.

Marcel Massini

 

Thank you for all the documents. I think the color in 1957 was Blu Scuro. This is a photo of the engine of 0353AL taken at the same time when it was at Monza. I don't think it shows black.
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Wow!!!what a great!...thank you so much for sharing this...what great memories you must have of your father associated with this outstanding piece of ferrari history...Stuart field

 

Fascinating - Amazing to think that the current owner wouldn't want to at least have copies of this early documentation.

 

Thank you so much, Scott, for bringing all this to light. I have a raft of photos in my computer, and I believe that Joe must have given them to me. I'll post a few. Here's a tale from the old days, which is a commentary on how Ferrari owners were a closely-knit and trusting group. I had bought the broken engine no. 0380AM from Peter Helm, and when Joe learned of this he wanted to borrow a head, which I promptly delivered to Joe. Later, when it was time to sell the engine to Chuck Weiss, I realized that a head was missing, and couldn't remember where it had gone! I ended up placing an ad in the FOC bulletin, and the next call I got was from Joe, bless his heart.

Thank you, Scott for allowing me to handle Dad's probate. It was an honor.
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P.S. That last pic was by Dean Batchelor, then with R&T. And to answer the next question, that object behind the shifter is a turn signal switch. And yes, it does appear the this car and 0359GT used the same body buck.