How good it was that we changed our original plan. We first decided to make Paris in one go: RM’s Auction, Bonhams’ Auction and off to the exposition. However, after being ready with Bonhams offers, we skipped the plan and went to Retromobile on Thursday morning. We have been fully surprised by long queues at the pay kiosks; the move to the bigger exposition hall 1 obviously attracted more visitors than previously.
The pleasing spectators' reception made spotting and mugging cars not really easier, but so what. The first quarter of the hall was reserved for clubs and part dealers. The first Ferrari was a real barnburner: Former Pink Floyd member, Nick Mason’s 512 BBLM was on display by a car valeting company called Lescot Care. #27577 is the well known dark Green car that was sold new through Jacques Swaters' Garage Francorchamps to Blaton in Belgian national livery of Yellow and was entered in 1979’s Le Mans, achieving a 12th OA and 5th in class with Faure/O’Rourke/Beurlys/de Dryver behind the wheel.
Another Belgian car was #16717, a Daytona GTB/4 Competizione Conversion on H.A Histoire d'Autos’ stand. It is one of the eight unofficial but recognized converted cars that was prepared by Garage Francorchamps and was frequently entered in the Ferrari Historic Challenge.
Sport e Collection promotional display is always a pleasure. This time they joined in the 275 GTB hysteria –everybody seems to have one since the touched the million dollar barrier, just like it is with the Dinos: high prices release cars from ownership- and 6603 in elegant Grigio Ferro was shown, provided by dealer MMC. The car with ass. # 27 was originally delivered via Chinetti to the USA and last spotted with a dark Red stripe and being French registered at Spa Classic in 2012. As Sport e Collection usually shows two cars on their stand, it was no surprise to find another Ferrari next to #6603. This year they had one of the 333 SP, # 022, on display. The car was delivered new to Jean-Pierre Jabouille for the JB Giesse-Team in 1998 and became ISRS Champion that season with 6 victories and 3 dnf.
#18939 was shown by FFSA and sure was one of the most modern cars on the show, eligible for Retromobile. Obviously a 308 GTB Vetroresina from new, it seems to have become one of the Michelotto transformed Group 4 cars. The car was identified by its registration plates from Padova.
Parisian Broker FA Automobile had four Ferraris on display in total. Beside 12155, a 365 GTC that was sold new to Italy and changed its colour from light Blue to Grey met., Dino GTB #06718 and the American Targa-pendant #04126 in beautiful Rosso Rubino with Beige Daytona seats have been shown. The Daytona Spider Conversion #13477, once being part of the famous Kroymann’s collection was on display as well.
Chantilly Cars Prestige had an “old acquaintance” on display. The 250 GT TdF Replica that uses 1303GT’s Telaio plate and engine and is said to have been built by Apal’s founder, Edmond Péry, once again showed up. L’Atelier des Coteaux is currently restoring Daytona #12787, a car that was delivered new via Pozzi to its first owner from Lyon on February 25th, 1970. The car with ass. # 61 stood on their stand with the body that was already painted.
Paris Automobile showed the Dino Berlinetta #01352 still on Black plates from Paris and 250 GTE #3291GT.
At European Car Legend we met good friend and Dino Guru, Matthias W. Bartz, who laid beneath 246 GTS #07868 to look for some more numbers for his database. They had a 250 GTE as well as a restoration project and this car remains one of the unidentified cars, no numbers visible anywhere.
This all has obviously been the prelude to the cars of true beauty to come: First is 0858, the 330 P4 Fantuzzi Berlinetta, which became 2nd OA and 1st IC in 1967 before being fitted with a Barchetta bodywork, then to a 350 CanAm Spider and obviously has been reconverted to a Berlinetta. Medlin asked 11 Mio. USD for the car in 1998 and it left unsold at the famous RM Auction at the Factory in 2009 with a high bid of 7.25 Mio. €. 0858 was last offered by DK and displayed in Paris by Graissage Complex together with GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione #2209GT, once rebuilt by Drogo and then built back to original by DK again. The 49th Berlinetta Competizione was sold new to Jo Schlesser, who won the Tour de Corse in 1960 with the car. Good friend, Andreas Birner, offered the original engine for sale in 2011 that was purchased by then owner Leslie Wexner, probably now reunited with the car.
German dealer, Jan B. Lühn Klassische Automobile, displayed one of the original Daytona Spiders, # 14547 in elegant Grey met. Vis-à-vis of their stand, Lukas Hueni from Zurich had his display and whenever he has Ferraris to show, this display alone would be worth the visit of Retromobile. The last ever produced 250 GT Lusso # 5955GT shared the display with #6707, a 275 GTB sold new to a M. Fidier in France before being sold to Switzerland. Highlight of Hueni’s display was one of the three 250 LM Stradale, #5995, built in July of 1964, the car was sold to Count Volpi in its today livery of Argento/Blu Panno. The plexi rear window was added by the Factory in 1967.
German classic car dealer E. Thiesen surprised us with the Chairs & Flares Dino, #07808 we had seen very recently at the Essen Motorshow where is was offered by a Dutchman. Rumors had it that the car was sold on the first day in Essen but it soon showed up as being for sale on the internet with an asking price close to 400 k€.
Movendi from Düsseldorf showed the 250 GT Elena # 0869GT once again, the car we already reported about in “The Chronicle” earlier and the one we looked at together with very good friend Mike Sheehan shortly before last Christmas. We are still trying to identify a 330 GTC displayed by Movendi, a car that is registered on German plates “E-GT 40H” and seems to have some history with The Gallery of Brummen – we keep on investigating…
British dealers Fiskens and J.D Classics rivaled with their display. Fiskens showed 275 GTB #08061, a car that was new to a Sig. Landini in 1965 but was acquired by Gregory Noblet close to the millennium who frequently entered the car into the Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge. We last spotted the car again at some Spa Classic events. Another Lusso, # 5851 in Blu Notte was delivered new by Italian dealer Ravasio & Figli to a M. Lafuge from Paris before leaving France from the long term ownership to Germany in 1994 where it was temporary resprayed in Grey met. and received the Bordeaux interior it shows today. Dutchman Dik Lievaart purchased the car in 2001 and it was to be seen at various classic events, amongst have been the Het Loo Concours, the 60 Anni display of the Dutch Ferrari Club in Maastricht and the FF60 parade and rally during Spa Classics in 2012. Fiskens showed the second original Daytona Spider, #14415, one of only 18 European spec. cars. The car was enjoyed by owners all over the world, new to Italy, then to France, to the US and finally back to Europe, to Switzerland, where it was owned by Nathaniel Rothschild.
J.D Classics didn't cut any corners and counterattacked with two 275 GTB, #9999 and #10147. Both are European specification and 9999 was sold new to Onassis’ son, Alexander. The Daytona Berlinetta #13701 was sold new to Sig. Serandrei from Italy where it returned to after a long term ownership from Nevada. Highlight with J.D Classics was 0152EL, 225 Sport Vignale Berlinetta, probably the oldest Ferrari on display. The car was sold new to Frenchman, Pierre Boncompagni alias "Pagnibon"and entered in four races that all have been won and the car is a real Mille Miglia participant.
Austrian Classic car dealer, Peter Wiesner brought four Ferraris to Paris. One of those was 206 S Dino #016 that was raced for the Scuderia Sant' Ambroeus by Edoardo Lualdi. During Ferrari Shell Historic Challenge’s heydays in the early period the car was entered frequently. Another Dino GTB, 02274 and a GTB/4 Daytona, #13493 have been on display beside #18471, a 365 GT4/BB in light Blue.
The last spotted car was identified with the help of some good French friend. French restorer RedParts had another Dino GTB on display that was in primer only without interior and glass – and, sure, no numbers. However, this one should be #06572.
It was interesting how many -to be correct, three- engines have been on display. F113B*09660*and F131B*53892* have been on display with RedParts and another engine, # 135B0007271 was shown by Gervadino Design. F113B*09660*and 135B0007271 are used as the basis for glass tables and, thank God, it was obvious that 135B0007271 was a fake numbered engine.
We sure missed some dealers or Ferrari displays, like Pozzi or Cecil Cars, but the quality of the cars displayed used to still on a high level and the visitors seemed to reward to bigger exposition hall. For us at F-Register, Essen and Paris are always rivaling for the title “Indoor exposition of the Year” and it is very hard to judge: Essen is bigger by far; Paris has expanded the quality of the display Ferrari-wise over the last years and to be honest, ambience is still a bonus point for Paris.
Slide Shows of Retromobile and the accompaning auction activities are already available in this section.