Wow. That makes me think, we MG owners have to readjust our sights when
evaluating Ferraris and other exotica. We are used to looking at some
worn-out B and thinking "mechanical stuff, no problem... I can do all
that. Probably needed replacing anyway at that age. But that rust/body
damage -- whoa! that can get expensive. No payback there." But with a
Ferrari it's almost the opposite -- the mechanical stuff is esoteric and
hideously expensive, probably requiring expert intervention at a high
hourly rate, but the body work, while requiring some specialized skills,
is basically the same cost as on an LBC (high quality = expensive) -- and
the car is worth a whole lot more (than an LBC) when restored, so it
justifies the investment. Huh.
RO Lindsay had this to say:
>Tom.
> Thanks for your note. The Ferrari that you have seen was cosmetically
>a nightmare. I know. I watched it get that way. The car is however,
>mechanically perfect. Every mechanical aspect from bearings, brake
>calipers to main bearings and cam belts is new. While the cosmetics
>were 1.0 the mechanicals are 10.1.
> This car is of particular interest because it is a dry sump, European
>specification berlinetta. The dry sump means no oil starvation as all oiling
>is done under pressure from a 5 litre tank with the sump scavenged by
>dual gear driven scavenger pumps. The berlinetta body is quite rigid
>owing to the closed construction. The front storage compartment is
>aluminum and the valences are fibreglass. ALL of that is as delivered
>by the factory.
> Today, all rusted metal is replaced with correct new panels, inside
>and out. The car is repainted bright silver and the interior is preped
>for new leather. As it sets, it's worth over $35,000.
>
>Tomsaudi@aol.com wrote:
>
>> That is, without question, the saddest Ferrari I have ever seen. I can only
>> hope the guy paid less than $10,000 for that.
>>
>> This, of course, easily beats my old sad Ferrari story. I was at Lime Rock
>> with a friend at a Ferrari club event, and had the good fortune of getting a
>> ride in a worked 308 GTSi Quattrovalve. A guy was there with this (then)
>> brand new Ferrari 348 Serie Special who went it a turn too hot and seriously
>> twisted some metal on the rear quarter panel. Casual observers estimated
>> damage costs between $10-$20k.
>>
>> But man, this one takes the cake!
>>
>> Tom
>> 78 Midget
>
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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