DBR330GT wrote:
I have had very thoughtful responses regarding the radio. It seems a Becker Mexico is the best choice. HOWEVER, when I read a for sale ad in NY Times from 1970 when Cornelius Ryan was selling the car, it specifically states the radio was a Blaupunkt signal seeking 2 speaker system. HELP please. Do I get the Becker or Bleupunkt???
The seats are a bit of a question mark too. I omly want to do the front seats as everything else looks fine. We are told the new front seat leather will need to be DYED to match the other leather. I an concerned it will peel off etc. THOUGHTS?? Can the result be durable??
Dan - it looks like you are stuck with a Blaupunkt if originality is your goal. Regarding the seats they were most likely Connolly Leather in their Vaumol quality. Vaumol was vegetable tanned, then the whole hide embossed with a smooth grain and eventually painted like a car with a spraygun, dye and solvents. If your upholsterer knows what he is doing the newly dyed hides to match the rear will be just as durable as the originals. Again I would look towards Bill Hirsch with getting the right materials. He was a dealer for Connolly back when your car was new. Hope this helps
Mike
We have made some progress on the car. Richard has removed the cylinder liners and found they were dated 1966! The car is a model year 1967 built 9/27/66. He has ordered new pistons, liners etc.
Recall that the original leather has been redyed. All of it is good except for the collapsed driver seat and torn passenger seat. It is perforated, including the back of the front seats. Stephen has found a guy to replace the leather and we have a very close match from one of the samples. They also have a machine to correctly perforate the leather. There is a chrome strip which separates the back of the seat from the front and for originalty sake (Remember this is a Sympathetic resto), i was thinking we will re use the leather on the back of the seats. THOUGHTS?
After much thinking, i think I will go with a Blaupunkt radio as I have documentation that this was in the car originally. It appears the correct model was a Koln (signal seeking) but it is very rare and expesive (> $1000). I have contacted a guy in CA who states the Frankfurt was one step below and he has a EURO spec 1966-67 model- perfect for my car! COMMENTS??
I have determined the correct dimentions for a period front Dutch license plate and have ordered a Dark blue one with white letters that state "AA-13", which was Prince Bernhard's number. Cool!
DBR330GT wrote:
Recall that the original leather has been redyed. All of it is good except for the collapsed driver seat and torn passenger seat. It is perforated, including the back of the front seats. Stephen has found a guy to replace the leather and we have a very close match from one of the samples. They also have a machine to correctly perforate the leather. There is a chrome strip which separates the back of the seat from the front and for originalty sake (Remember this is a Sympathetic resto), i was thinking we will re use the leather on the back of the seats. THOUGHTS?
After much thinking, i think I will go with a Blaupunkt radio as I have documentation that this was in the car originally. It appears the correct model was a Koln (signal seeking) but it is very rare and expesive (> $1000). I have contacted a guy in CA who states the Frankfurt was one step below and he has a EURO spec 1966-67 model- perfect for my car! COMMENTS??
Nothing wrong with reusing good leather. Regarding the radio, Euro Spec means that the bandwidth is different than on US versions. For instance I think the european FM band ends at 104 whereas ours goes to 107.9 if I recall that correctly. Also the european FM signal is always on the even point ( FM102.8 ) whereas here in America we broadcast on the odd number FM 103.9 as an example. This would not be a problem on an analog radio but it is a big problem on modern highend digital car radios that are exact in their tuning. So to be original you would need a eurospec Köln but why not stick with the Blaupunkt brand and get a US spec model from the period.
Good Luck with your choice.
Mike
Koln and Frankfurt are the same radio, the only difference is the signal seeking which the Koln has and the Franfurt does not. They both have a DIN plug in the back that you can get an adapter cable for an iPod input if you like. Yale
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
Mike, I take what you are saying to mean is that the euro frankfurt WOULD work in the US since the dial allows fine tuning so it can get say 104.9. So I could listen to the radio but if I like station above 104, then I am out of luck. Right? Honestly, in a Ferrari I dont listen to the radio anyway and if I did I would use the iPod (I am getting a cable to hook intothe radio) Therefore,I think I am inclined to get the euro version to be as accurate as possible. Let me know if anyone thinks this is a mistake- I will probably buy it in a day or so. Thanks!!
I have not chimed in for a while but in checking your thread I realised that I may have something to add.
If I recall, the radio I have in my car is a Frankfurt, it is quite neat as it is (at least mine is) half transistor and half tube! So it comes on slowly and has that tube radio quality to it - pretty cool! You will save yourself a lot of money if you find a dead one and have it repaired - they are very straight forward and the components are availible.
Out of curiosity, why are you replacing your liners?
The liners must never be drilled outside the block, they will then be oval.
So if he took them out for drilling, put them back and then drill.
If you put new pistons in oval liners you will have blue exaust, and we don't want that, do we ???
Dag
330 GT 2+2 Serie II VIN 8495, 1966
Fiat DINO Coupe 246, 1971
Fiat Ritmo Abarth 1988
ISO Milano Diva 1959
Audi Urquattro 1984
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, 2006
You are very fortunate to have Richard working on your car. Richard worked on my first Ferrari, a 1988 Testarossa when he worked for the Ferrari Dealer. Richard is a true Ferrari enthusiast and any car he touches is better for it. Richard also advised me when I was purchasing my 250GTE. Richard contacted the dealer's mechanics on his own time to verify the car was as claimed. The car was far from perfect but Richard put his approval on the car. I bought the car unseen; little did I know that car would turn out to be one of the best cars I have ever bought. Richard will do a fantastic job on your engine and I look forward to hearing it run at an event in the future.
Thanks Gary. Richard has always done perfect work for me on both the 328GTB and the 330 GT. Richard already did alot of work on the 330- in fact the engine is the LAST known problem. I dont know of anything that needs attention once the engine and the other things we are doing are complete,
I had a great time at Cavallino! Tom Y and I had a good lunch overlooking the ocean at the Breakers. My highlights were seeing Admiral Phillips car and closely examining the 3000 mile all original series 1 330 GT (5701 I believe). I also judged the 355/360 class.
Things are moving along on my car. The undercarriage is done and cosmetic parts are ordered. We are hvind a hard time with the diamond hood pad- Can anyone suggest a source for this?
Parts are coming in for the engine. David Carte will be finishing the cam covers (parts are all over the country!). Richard has removed the liners and new ones are coming in. He removed the old ones so the engine block may be decked properly. He has done this many times. He also doesnt feel comfortable re-boring old ones. We are keeping the connecting rods; they are being renewed and magnafluxed. The cam shafts are done. Pistons are in. They heads are getting renewed with new seals and valve guides. The headers have been ceramic coated inside and out.
Still trying to decide on the exhaust. I want the proper sound so I am thinking of going with ANSA, but it wont last forever. Timevalve is stainless steel but doesnt sound the same. YOUR thought please!!
