1963 GTE "Custom"

[Benjamin]

Anybody know the background on this poor soul?

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1602323061.html

In case you might be looking for a "project," the seller emphasizes that its "not a good candidate for original type restoration!" The description is as follows:

"This car started out life as a 1963 FERRARI 250 GTE and was customized in italy by an american who was living there(he customized others as well)the car is titled in california-not licensed for many years however. THIS CAR IS BEING SOLD AS A ROLLER-ORIGINAL ENGINE AND TRANS ARE NOT PRESENT-AND I DO NOT KNOW OF THE WHEREABOUTS. THIS CAR IS EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED AND WOULD BE A GREAT PROJECT FOR ROAD OR TRACK. PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS-SERIOUS ONLY-THIS CAR IS NOT A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ORIGINAL TYPE RESTORATION!"

[Tom Wilson]

Wow, that one is certainly new to me! Have you tried to contact the current owner? Since it is half way between me and you, maybe we could meet in the middle and check it out.

By the way, Benjamin, just noticed you are in Del Mar. I am down there all the time. Hope to run into you some time!

[Yale]

Pretty neat looking car. I better post those photo here before they disappear. I assume when they say customized by and American living in Italy at the time they must mean Tom Mead.

[Tom Wilson]

Has the roof been chopped?

[Benjamin]

Tom - I would love to meet up and take a closer look but I have not contacted the owner yet as I am doing a lot of travel back and forth to the east coast for the last six weeks and am not sure when I can fit it in. Let me know if you set something up and let me know when you are down this way, too.

As for the roofline, it looked lowered to me, but the windshield also looked raked back, as well. It may be a product of the photos, though. The wheels do nothing for the lines, in my opinion, but I suppose it gives it a more modern, aggressive "resto-mod" look. The nose looks like a 275 GTB to me.

I assume from the admonition "not suitable for a restoration" means the owner intended to install a V-8 and has made modifications to the engine bay and driveline. At $27.5k, this makes the SBC transplant (ex-Hillary Raab car) that just sold on eBay in AZ look like a bargain.

[tyang]

Something is not right about the headlights on this car to be a 275GTB. The pointed tear drop section looks to be pointed out when a GTB points inward I think. Who knows with custom bodywork.

Tom

[kare]

I remember seeing this one for sale 5-6 years ago. Had a Mercedes V-8.

[Benjamin]

I spoke with the seller this week. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and true motorhead, although Ferraris are not his passion.

From my brief conversation with him, I understand that he picked up this car some time ago as a hotrod project but does not expect to get around to making it roadworthy so he has decided to sell. It does have a Mercedes V-8 and auto trans - likely from a 280. He believes that Tom Meade did the body work and that it was done to a high standard. The roof is chopped/removeable and he says there is some reinforcing so the body has very little flex and the gaps line up with the roof removed.

I am hoping to see the car in person on Sunday, assuming this storm in Boston does not delay my return to sunny SoCal. If I make it, I will post pictures and my observations.

Regards.

[Tom Wilson]

The roof is chopped/removeable

That's interesting; I would like to see it without its roof. While you are there, check and see if you can find a Pininfarina body number. It is a three digit number stamped on the hood latch (side facing the driver) and on the door frame, just below where the window enters the door. See http://ferrari250gte.com/resources/gte_ ... /index.php if you are not familiar with their location. From this number we can find the serial number of the GTE and trace its history.

Glad you got a hold of the guy and we look forward to more photos!

[Tom Wilson]

Benjamin - Did you ever get a chance to take a closer look at this?