Restoration Progress - Opinions Requested

[Benjamin]

It's been awhile, but I thought I'd post some pictures with an update on the restoration progress. This has been a long process, mostly because of my travel schedule and because I am torn between seeing it through and enjoying my 330 or selling and moving on to the next project.

Here is a link to pictures I took today at the paint shop.

http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g278/ ... ?start=all

This is just one coat base and one coat clear, so I could approve the color. I was going to restore to the original blue and cream interior, but it has been a real challenge finding the right paint codes and matching. It's now a light metallic blue that looks silver in the shade and iridescent blue in direct light. The color actually accentuates the lines and, in my opinion, is well-suited for the car. I think when the chrome comes back from re-plating, it will really set off the lines.

I would appreciate your opinions on this - is this color too light or too modern ... or just right? Thanks in advance, Benjamin

[John Vardanian]

Hi Benjamin,

I personally like the color and have seen similar vintage Ferraris in or near this color.

Keep it up. It looks great.

john

[Yale]

Wait, after all this you are thinking of moving on to the next project??? If you do that the car will in all probability be Shaughnessied.

Here are two cars I looked at when I was looking for mine that have a color relationship to yours:


[img]http://www.parrotbyte.com/330GTRegistry/


http://www.parrotbyte.com/330GTRegistry/


Once again I can't make the link to photos work. I wanted to show pix of 5445 and 5601 (which was the prettiest 330GT I've ever seen, wonder where it is now.) Well anyway 5445 is the blue one in that link 5601 I guess you will need to find on your own...by the way I took some of those photos but the color never came out as sky blue as it really was.

Yale[/img]

[330GT]

5445:


5601:


Hmmm, I didn't realize that Shaughnessy was a verb.

[Yale]

That blue in the photo of 5601 is not at all what the car actually looks like. It is a deep but lighter sky blue. Thanks again Kerry for posting the photos, I guess I better take an html course or something. By the way I can't think of a person more of a verb then Shaughnessy.

Best,

Yale

[Michael Bayer]

Yale: If Shaughnessy is a verb, I can't imagine his declination! M

[Rudy van Daalen Wetters]

I'm thinking that 'Shaughnessy' could be a descriptive adjective.

The color on the car looks great to me.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705

[Yale]

I'm thinking that 'Shaughnessy' could be a descriptive adjective.

The color on the car looks great to me.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705

I agree it does look great but it is not the color the car is, which is also great. Too bad they "restored" it without changing any of the rubber or doing anything to the engine or suspension. I would have bought that one....course at the end of the day, cost wise, it might not have made any difference as I figure I am running about $500 in repairs a drive....(and this is in response to Kerry's Porsche comment.) I think I can keep the Porsche down to about 10% of that and that way I can mix and match depending on how much money is in the bank account. "Oh hey, made an extra $1000 this month, that's good for two Ferrari drives." I can make coupons up if you guys show an interest. Best, Yale

[tyang]

Hi Benjamin,

I think the color looks great! Are you going to go with a light colored interior?

I want to thank you for doing this car, and keeping it from getting "Shaughnesseyed!"

Tom

[Benjamin]

Thanks for all the responses and input. The color is really growing on me and I think the consensus is favorable. I had intended to restore to the original colors - dark blue metallic with cream interior - but this lighter shade is really growing on me. I think I'll go with a cream or caramel interior.

Prior to paint, I spent quite a bit of time and $$ sorting out the mechanicals from top to bottom, so have no fear this will end up being parted out. I have every confidence this is a reliable driver; indeed, I really enjoyed driving it before starting the cosmetic restoration. I was going to keep it with the "original patina," but it was pointed out to me that the car had already been re-sprayed at least once, so I figured there was no harm in re-doing the paint and interior.

As for selling, I've had tremendous interest from abroad - Australia and the UK - because the car is right-hand-drive and has spent most of its life in Sunny rust-free Southern California. The exchange rate is favorable and I understand that good examples of RHD cars are hard to find. Does anyone know how many RHD examples of these 330s were produced? I would imagine it would be less than one-quarter of the production, but that's just a guess.

Tom - as you and Bill Taylor know - I did not set out looking for a 330. I happened on this one by good fortune. Originally, I was looking for a more modern 12-cylinder, such as Boxer or a 365 GTC4. I have since found that at 6'4", I don't fit comfortably in the Boxer, but my itch for a modern 12 remains. The garage is getting crowded and I am getting tempted to sell my two F-cars and consolidate, now that interest is picking up in both the 330 and 308 GT4. But, it's a tough decision and I remain undecided. Meanwhile, restoration will continue. Chrome should be done in a week or two!

[330GT]

...Does anyone know how many RHD examples of these 330s were produced? I would imagine it would be less than one-quarter of the production, but that's just a guess...

Actually, for 330 GTs, it's less than 10%. Only 58 series I cars were RHD and 37 Series II were made.

[tyang]

A cream colored interior would make the car look spectacular. The only thing to consider is how to keep everyting clean. My seats are collecting a little dirt in the pores and cracks of the leather. Regular leather cleaner doesn't seem to pull this dirt out, so the more agressive pre-all solvent has to be used. At some point, I'll have to give up, and let the leather darken and age (ie. get dirty!)

Tom

[owen]

I like the color - looks similar to several cars I saw online when I was obsessing about what to do with mine and even considered going in that direction. Finally decided on the blue sera because I thought it would look better with original interior color, which I really liked.

You mentioned maybe going with caramel leather. Might be nice to go with a less common color such as that. The unusual colors and combinations have grown on me. My original interior was "orange pelle" and I plan to go back to that. Couldn't convince myself to combine it with the original Amaranto exterior though - a little too unusual even for me.

[Benjamin]

Kerry: I am surprised the production number for RHD cars was that low - other than the U.K., Australia and Japan, where else do they drive on the "other" side of the road?

Also, would you know from your registry how many RHD Series I cars remain viable (i.e., not Shaunessied)?

[Pat Garrett]

From what I could see, your paint will be great. In the photos shown number 5445, that is the color of my car, the picture 5601 is the color that was on it when I fist got it. In searching for the correct color, I did find the original color under one of the reflectors on the rear.