330 America 5083 for sale

[Art S.]

In case anyone is interested; best offer over $100k.

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/car ... 48114.html

Regards,

Art S.

[Art S.]

The description:

1963 Ferrari 330, America #5083 Complete and Rust free, ready for restoration, second owner So CA.car. Engine has 2 Factory new Cylender heads ($20,000.00) and IIncludes 4 new RW3801 Borrani's ($7,000.00). Last America to be sold brought $314,000.00 By RM Auctions on Oct 31 2007 in London. Offers over $100,000.00 considered. 702-243-6557

[jsa330]

Art,

Wishful thinking on my part, but....does it run?

[Art S.]

Considering it has new heads, my guess is yes.

That said, there is a phone number in the ad, why not give them a call?

Oh, Scott, how tall are you? I drove Tom's America at the party and it was a bit tight compared to your old car.

Regards,

Art S.

[jsa330]

Considering it has new heads, my guess is yes.

That said, there is a phone number in the ad, why not give them a call?

Oh, Scott, how tall are you? I drove Tom's America at the party and it was a bit tight compared to your old car.

Regards,

Art S.

A 330 America is just wishful thinking on my part.

Height around 5'-10".

In my old 330, I used to pull the driver's seat pretty close for full pedal travel and then tilt the back a bit for a medium "arms-out" position.

It would have easily accomodated a six-foot-plus driver.

The thing that seems uncomfortable to me about GTEs is how close your hands are to the windshield. In the 330 2+2, I couldn't open the wingvent more than an inch without it being in the way of turning the wheel.

They weren't meant to be practical.

[Rudy van Daalen Wetters]

A former possesion of the Tom S. empire. We shan't waste time hunting around for the tools, jack or handbook either.

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

[Tom Wilson]

As a 6'3" driver, I can state that I drove Tom Y's 330 America for an hour or so very comfortably. True my knuckles smeared the windshield, but that has nothing to do with my body size. I would have loved a little more leg room, but feel the same about most modern cars. The biggest problem I had was getting my size 13 feet to work one pedal at a time; same as I have with any early non-American car. The bottom line is that the only thing that kept me from completing the tour was the state trooper at the bottom of the hill and the memory of my wallet sitting on the dresser back at Tom's house.....

And Rudy, removing the tools and jack from the trunk gives room for a few more bottles of wine on those California central coast jaunts!

[tyang]

The windshield is a little close on a GTE, but I've been trying to train myself to shuffle steer to avoid smudging up the window!

Tom

[sam231]

I too had the opportunity to drive Tom's car, and though not as tall as Tom Wison, I also found it a tight fit.....not bothersome though, just tight. I also found the shifter had a MUCH wider throw than my C/4.

Interesting thread: the 330 America felt much more sports-car like, tight and smaller than my old 330. My wife commented she felt the 330 was uncomfortable, while I, at 6'+ and 220 lbs. found it to be much more comfortable with lots more room than the the America or my C/4. I put a seating rail extensions in the 330 so I could slide the seat WWWWAAAYYY back during highway cruising (I have long arms and legs, relatively small trunk). The C/4's rear seats are so close that was not an option so comfort has to be addressed through the rake of the seat-back. The shift in my old 330 and current C/4 felt/feel much more fluid and the distance between gears much closer. Of course, that might be an exageration as Tom's car has realtively few miles on its rebuild.

[jsa330]

With an impending 308 purchase, I'm in for a whole new body-adjustment thing.

Steering wheel operation clearance is excellent, of course. However, the front wheelwells intrude in the pedal space, and in trying one out for size my legs were angled three degrees or so toward the centerline of the car.

However, that's not uncomfortable with size 9.5 feet, and I guess I'll get a pair of "driving shoes" and aluminum textured pedal pads.

The 308 is very low to the ground but doors are big and entry/exit is actually easier than my 330 2+2.

I'm sure there are other new surprises ahead, but again, none of them were designed for practicality.

[tyang]

With an impending 308 purchase, I'm in for a whole new body-adjustment thing.

There's also a seat bolster preservation manuver Bill Pollard taught me for 308s, and any other Ferrari with high bolsters. You get into the car by first sitting down with the right foot in the foot well (LHD cars) and the left foot outside the car. Once your bottom is in the seat, swing your left foot in. This keeps your body from touching the left bolster which always gets worn out from getting in and out of the car. Your technique will vary, but will definitely save you a trip to the upholsterers shop!

Tom

[jsa330]

That's a good piece of advice, Tom.

I'll look into an additional cover mat made for the carpet at the door, and no doubt some driver's side upholstery will have to be redone eventually, no matter how careful I am.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it all shakes out in the first few weeks of ownership...what minor comfort mods, mech tweaks, etc., need to be made.

[kare]

I wonder where the original engine and transmission are

Ain't with the car

Do you know which engine IS in the car? Bets wishes, Kare

[tyang]

Do you know which engine IS in the car? Bets wishes, Kare

That's Chuck King's car, and I think 6473's block is in that car...I think.

Tom

[kare]

Thanks! Makes sense.