WANTED: 250 GT Lusso

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330 America
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WANTED: 250 GT Lusso

Post by 330 America »

OK Guys - its been a year (maybe more) since I've been on this chat board, despite reading a few things to keep abreast of what's going on. For those that may remember, my 330 America restoration has entered its 3rd year (if you can believe it, because I can't).

When I joined this chat group in 2003 I debated whether I could part with $175,000 - $200,000 for a good 250 GT Lusso. How stupid could I have been? To get a car now means spending double -- thus, I've decided to enter the market now for a #'s matching "driver" (older restoration/#2 condition) vehicle. I don't need to pay a premium for a Pebble Beach show car to cruise around the Texas Hill Country. I've talked with multiple sources: Thomas Hamann, Paul Baber, Mario Bernardi, Gary Bobileff, Fabrizio Carugati, Franco Lembo, and others (I've worked my Roladex pretty hard) so they're on the lookout. The Euro/$ exchange rate stinks as we all know, so it makes it difficult to get a deal done under $400,000.

If anyone has got a lead on a car, I'd sure appreciate it. At this price, I'm already going to have to be medicated for the next couple years to recover from sticker shock -- but if the Lusso's go any higher I simply won't be able to chase them any longer :(

Love reading about the new 250 GTE and 330 GT 2+2 owners joining as well as trusted insight from Art, Rudy, Tom, and the usual gang.

It's good to be back....
Steve Patti
Ferrari 330 Americ (5061) - SOLD
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (ex-Bill Adam)
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (7UP guest car)
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Art S.
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Post by Art S. »

Steve,

PM John V. I think he might have something for you.

Regards,

Art S.
1965 330 2+2 series 2 7919
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
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Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

Welcome back, Steve.

Chasing that dream Lusso of yours is going to take some work. The $400,000 base may be made of concrete at the moment. I know of s/n 5239 coming up at Christies and I hear she's a nice example. Many years ago, I told my former boss that I simply could not afford to buy a house. My boss told me "Rudy, sometimes you just have to jump". It was the best advice I had received in years. I bought the house and somehow it all worked out despite all the reasons I knew that it wouldn't. In 1952, a Bugatti Royale was for sale in Chicago owned by a doctor who wanted to get rid of it. Asking price was $1,500 US. My father met with the doctor but he simply could not raise the money. The car now resides in the Schlumpf Museum. I do hope that you won't have to repeat your post in a few years and say "if only I had made a bid on that $400,000 Lusso!"

Anyways, make it happen.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
Jimmy Chen Shiba
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Understand that feeling

Post by Jimmy Chen Shiba »

Great to have you back Steve. Don't we all go thru that now and then ? I am located in Yokohama, Japan and last year there was this virtual fully restored Lusso for sale around your budget. If you are interested, I can ask my friend, vintage Ferrari dealer, (he's only 10 minutes from my house) about your dream Lusso. Hope you would be united w/ your future Lusso. w/regards Jimmy
1969 Dino 246 GT Tipo L #0508; 1973 365 GT4 BB #17585; 1970 365 GTB4 Daytona #13745; 1966 275 GTB 3carb all alloy longnose #08191; and few others
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330 America
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Post by 330 America »

Rudy - given the horrible auction experience I had with Bonhams on my 330 America (they basically lied about the condition of the car in their auction catalog, on the phone, and then "misplaced" the Condition Report on the day of the Gstaad Auction) -- I'm not sure I can return to another auction house phone bid situation.

Jimmy - go ahead and inquire as to the availability of the other Lusso. I like your car collection as it sounds like you've got a few more $'s than I do in your stable. I've sold my 1968 Shelby GT350, 1992 Carrera RS Clubsport, E55 AMG, and Porsche GT3 Cup to buy real estate -- but managed to hang onto my GT3 Clubsport, Porsche Speedster, Boss 302, and 330 America.
Steve Patti
Ferrari 330 Americ (5061) - SOLD
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (ex-Bill Adam)
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (7UP guest car)
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
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Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

Steve,

I can certainly relate to your feelings on an auction house car. Buyer beware would be the motto here. I only mention this example since I have known of it and it was part of the Mimran collection until 1997. Doing all the 'homework' with full documentation along with expert opinion is the only way to go on such a large investment, no matter who the seller may be.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
Jimmy Chen Shiba
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Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 7:09 pm
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Out of luck

Post by Jimmy Chen Shiba »

I did call my dealer friend and unfortunately the Lusso I mentioned has been sold long gone. Sorry couldn't be of much help, Steve. Jimmy
1969 Dino 246 GT Tipo L #0508; 1973 365 GT4 BB #17585; 1970 365 GTB4 Daytona #13745; 1966 275 GTB 3carb all alloy longnose #08191; and few others
John Vardanian
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Post by John Vardanian »

Hi Steve,

These guys have a decent driver. I do not know the asking price, though.

http://www.familyclassiccars.com/

john
PF Coupe
hangten
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Lusso for sale

Post by hangten »

Steve,
The car at Family Classics sold.
There is one for sale in FML that may still be available. It is a car that was sold by Symbolic Motors about 14 months ago and I have a lot of pictures of this car.
Here is the ad:

250 GT/L, S/N 4513 GT (1963). Silver with black interior. Restored, very strong mechanically. In Japan for many years as part of the Matsuda Collection. See Cavallino #92, May, 1996; 2003 Concorso Italiano, California. Car is in Florida. 90,200 km. $439,000. 12/24/06
Walter Giovanelli, cell 954-646-6060 (FL)


Good luck on the hunt.
Aloha,
Mark
63 250 Lusso #4383
72 246 GTS Dino #3890
John Vardanian
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Post by John Vardanian »

That 4513 was a pretty decent car, as I recall. The only thing was those little bumpers under the headlights seem unoriginal. Otherwise, it was very presentable.

john
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330 America
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Post by 330 America »

Let me take an informal poll for those that care to respond -- color combination for the Lusso. I've always tended to buy cars with unique colors so that they are not "run of the mill." I was looking at BMW Z8's last year and concluded the only color combo's that were striking enough for my eye were silver/red, or stratus grey/red. While the most popular were silver/black and black/black, I just didn't feel that for $100,000+ they didn't show off the lines of this special BMW.

Whereas red/tan is an appropriate color for a V-12 Berlinetta, the Lusso isn't really a racer -- rather a GT boulevard cruiser. So do I consider a more elegant color to stress its elegant design lines? I originally thought I'd go red/tan, but I'm intrigued by the dark blue w/tan (too bad I can't find a brown/tan like Steve McQueen's!) Given the popularity of silver/black, it seems like a safe choice if resale is my primary objective --however, it doesn't exactly catch my eye in traffic (no offense to owners of silver/black Ferrari's).

Thoughts? (Art - if my memory serves me, you own a Lusso -- what are your thoughts about color combo's that best show off the elegant lines of this particular model?)
Steve Patti
Ferrari 330 Americ (5061) - SOLD
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (ex-Bill Adam)
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (7UP guest car)
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Art S.
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Post by Art S. »

Steve,

I don't own a Lusso, I had the opportuntity to buy one when I bought my 330 unfortunately, it was abit of a stretch financially at the time so I passed.

I don't think I'm in the majority with my color choices for Lusso, I like subtle, oddball colors like brown and possibly a dark maroon. The Brown one I was offered was repainted a very light metalic blue that looked suprisingly nice with its tan interior.

To me, strong colors like red, yellow and black overpower the lines of the car. I saw a non-metalic grey that just made the car look like it was in primer - didn't work for me.

Regards,

Art S.
1965 330 2+2 series 2 7919
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David Booth
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Post by David Booth »

Saw one once in dark green (probably Verde Pino) with a tan interior that left me weak in the knees. I seem to see a lot of them in silver during the Monterey weekend, but to me, silver does nothing whatsoever for this car. It would probably also look wonderful in Rosso Rubino - the dark red, with a tan/saddle interior.
1960 SII PF cabriolet #2105GT
1963 250GTE #4799GT with 330 America engine #5033GT

"...Luigi follow only the Ferraris.."
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330 America
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Post by 330 America »

David - thanks for echoing Art's comments that this car looks best in a rich (not overpowering, nor dull) outer color and the tan/saddle is probably the best interior choice to show off the contrasting black dash and rear deck quilt stitching.

Art - I'm sure a stupid question, but do you know the whereabouts of that brown (repainted to blue) car that you were offered? I'd be willing to buy a car that was originally in a unique/rich color and dump another $15K-$20K into repainting it and reassembling it to its original color.

I'm reading each of the posted comments, so thanks to all.
Steve Patti
Ferrari 330 Americ (5061) - SOLD
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (ex-Bill Adam)
1988 Porsche 944 Rothmans Turbo Cup (7UP guest car)
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Art S.
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Post by Art S. »

Steve,

Contact Steve M., He and his father did the work. Though light blue is the car's original color, it had been repainted brown very early in it's life. As Brown is no longer considered a desirable color, it was repainted. I'll see if I can scan in some photos that I have at the office. It had 27k miles and SNAPs on the exhaust tips - very cool car.

Regards,

Art S.
1965 330 2+2 series 2 7919
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