WANTED: Maserati/Ferrari Barchetta Recreation

330 America · Post by **330 America** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:19 am

Hey all -- looks like lots of good stuff happening with guys getting new cars. I hope to have my 330 America back after its been tied up over 18 months undergoing a restoration.

Gents, I need your help. I'd like to add a 2-seater to my stable, but the Lusso's are now officially out of my price range and I'm not a big Daytona fan -- so owning a Berlinetta is likely not going to happen. That leaves Barchetta's which (at $500K - $2M) are not even a consideration -- or are they? While I've never been a fan of replica's, I ran across a very good Maserati spyder recreation for under $90K and that has intrigued me to consider owning a "sleeper" Barchetta/Spyder such as a 212 Inter, 500 Mondial, 275MM or 340 MM. The key would be using a real Ferrari motor (presumably a 3 litre V-12 to keep costs manageable) and gearbox....for improved road-worthiness, I would consider updating brakes & coil-overs and would recondition guages via D&M and use reproduction bucket seats, etc.

I've emailed Bob Norwood here in Dallas to see if he would build something like this and have found a really nice 1959 250 TR with original Ferrari drivetrain and replica body (for the low, low price of $239,000).

I'd like to avoid butchering a 250 GTE so I'm searching for suggestions. Also of interest would be a mid-50's or Tipo 60/61 "Birdcage" Maserati, or even a Jaguar C Type -- what they all have in common are the swoop fenders and open-air design that really shows off the design lines of the car.

Any suggestions/recommendations of (1) whether to pursue such a project, (2) who I might contact to do the work, or (3) whether you know of a good candidate car?

Keep your eyes open and feel free to PM me or email at spatti@euro-rs.com if you find something interesting.

John Vardanian · Post by **John Vardanian** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:26 am

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85102

Check this out.

Art S. · Post by **Art S.** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:20 am

How about a Maserati Vigniale Spyder (sorry about the spelling); Lamborghini 350 GT or Lamborghini Islero?

Regards,

Art S.

330 America · Post by **330 America** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:45 am

In my opnion, the Lambo 350 GT Spyder looks similar to a Ferrari 275 GTSthe Maserati Vignale looks like a 250 PF Cab (even has '63 GTE/'64 Lusso style front lights) -- nice boulevard cruisers, but nowhere as sexy as the 1950's racing spyders that I'm thinking about.

The Islero is really nice looking (I was not familiar with it) as it looks like a Ferrari 400i/412i series, which are probably my favorite Ferrari model from the 1970's/1980's and one that I always wanted to own -- except I haven't had the guts (uh, pocket book) to want to deal with the unreliability of those year Ferrari's. Not sure if the Islero is available in a Spyder, but again I think its going to suffer from refinement -- that is, its not quite so much an open cockpit racer.

I've found a really nice 196 Dino recreation in Italy with original alloy Dino motor & gearbox, with great bodywork for about $85K (this looks like the best deal yet). I've also found two 500 Mondial Spyder cars built on Alfa Romeo chassis (Bertone 2.0 litre motors). About $130K for one and $170K for the other (the latter with an alloy body, Borrani's, etc. - built by ex-Porsche Works mechanics at a cost of 500,000 Deutch Marks and is the best I've seen). So as you can see, the prices are all over the place. I'm going to talk with Mr. Shaughnessy later today for some insight....I might be stepping into a huge can of worms, but its worth exploring.

davidoloan · Post by **davidoloan** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:44 pm

How about a brand new Bugatti Type 35, apparently made from scratch without taking the identity of "real" car.

Constructors Website http://www.pursangweb.com/

330 America · Post by **330 America** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:49 pm

Thanks David -- but again I'm looking at 1950's vintage racers. If you check out Barrett-Jackson's website for the upcoming Scottsdale auction, you'll note Lot 407 which is a really cool BMW Factory recreation of the 1938 328 that won Mille Millia. Its got a 2.5 litre engine from the 2002 Tii pumping out 165hp with Weber's. Its a trick little car and I thought about bidding on it -- but the 196 Dino, 250/375 MM, or 500 Mondial is simply much sexier looking (and I won't have to wear those goofy Eddie Rickenbacher helmet/goggles combination!)

Art S. · Post by **Art S.** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:23 pm

Steve,

Speak with Bryan P. he knows all things Mondial (his dad has owned one for a few years).

Regards,

Art S.

330 America · Post by **330 America** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:34 pm

How do I contact Brian P?

Art S. · Post by **Art S.** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 4:22 pm

I'd send him a PM. He's posting in the 'Freshly redone nearly new 365GT2+2 interior' thread.

Bryan's listing in the owners section: http://www.tomyang.net/cars/othercars/phillips.htm

Bryan's Dad's listing:
http://www.tomyang.net/cars/othercars/phillipsR.htm

Regards,

Art S.

330 America · Post by **330 America** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:29 pm

Art - thanks....just spoke to Shaughnessy and got some good advice on this. Sounds like if I'm going to go replica, I should stick to one that's already done correctly and then beware that the secondary market may (or may not) be good later. I need to chew on this some more -- if the Barchetta option doesn't pan out, I may go Daytona (in the interim) and hope a downturn sends the Lusso's back within range so I can swap out the Daytona against it. The trips to Europe and import process can be tiring, so keep your eyes peeled for a solid Daytona also.

Art S. · Post by **Art S.** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:12 pm

Steve,

I know of a good (show winning - sorted) fly yellow daytona that's local. The owner mentioned that he was considering selling, its not on the market but it would probobly take $225k to shake it loose. If you're interested, I'll ask him and put you in touch.

By the way, have you considered an Iso Griffo? Very cool cars with american muscle drivelines.

Regards,

Art S.

330 America · Post by **330 America** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:33 pm

I think the 196 Sport Dino or 246 Sport Dino is the way I'm going to go and I've found a couple superb recreation cars in Europe with all Ferrari components. Prices range from $90K to $180K -- the latter being too much for me to justify for a non-factory built car. Since there were only three Fantuzzi Dino Spyders manufactured in 1960 (and only 3 the two years prior), its a very rare car for which a recreation is justifiable -- basically a Testarossa with half the engine size and much fewer examples made. Some cool history at: http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:-Ri ... 96+s&hl=en

Gotta see if I can pry the funds loose since I just replaced my Porsche race car and still have some checks to write to finish the 330 America in the next 90 days.

Thanks for the group commentary.