I'm posting this for a fellow poster from another forum: One day when I was about 14 (~1966), in mid-town Mobile, Alabama, I was cruising around on my bicycle when I spotted a fellow working on a small red convertible sports car in a very small, dilapidated wooden garage behind a house. Out of curiosity I stopped to chat and met a guy that seemed to be in his early twenties. He claimed the car was an early Ferrari, and showed me several prancing horse badges on the car, including the steering wheel emblem. The car was in rough shape, and the original engine had been replaced with a non-Ferrari engine (type?). He said he was going to return the car to Ferrari power and restore it. Thats about all I recall of the incident. There were very few Ferraris made before the late 1950s, and with the passage of time and the dimness of my memory, the car may have been something entirely different. But Ill always believe it was a Ferrari I saw that day. I never saw the guy again, or even the garage open. I would be interested if anyone knows anything about what this car was and what became of it. So you sleuths. Which car is this? I'm sure there were only a handful of cars that had a replacement engine and lived in Southern USA. Your help is much appreciated.
Actually engine transplants (usually Chevy) happened often. Looking through some of the many Ferrari books might jog your memory as to what model the car looked like.
Hi, Michael. If you're new to the Vintage Ferrari world, you might not appreciate how many different bodies were produced for cars during the time frame you mention. It could be one of literally hundreds of different bodies. I'm not sure we can help narrow that many down for you. I hope you do figure it out though! Your story really captures the first Ferrari experience for many of us. Matt
Cool story. I'd recommend posting this in the "South Central" section as well...more regional folks will see it.
You can browse this site. http://www.barchetta.cc/All.Ferraris/All.Ferraris.html Click on the "ferraris by serial numbers" in the left column and then browse the models by year. Maybe you'll see something that looks familiar.
Have you looked at period models it could be and determine what car you saw? Back in the day, I saw a Dino and no idea what it was, but finally figured it oit after a "old car" guy drove me to get more details and info....... Not the same car, but the same experience. I entered into the "No, it isn't a Ferrari, it is a DINO" arguement for the first time. Now it seems like the opposite arguement is the general story.
I am the original author of this post (on Car Lounge). Thanks to everyone that's responded. I know it's a very long shot for anyone to know of this car. My memory of the car itself is hazy (the 166 comes closest), but I distinctly recall the badges and of telling my father about them.
