Tag Archives: 1968

Ferrari

1968 Ferrari 365GT 2+2

Towards the end of the 1960s, Ferrari was in a transition phase. With the introduction of the mid-engine Dino in 1968, the model lineup would forever include a mid-engined sports car in the lineup. Also, more creature comforts began to filter their way into Ferrari road cars, such as the case with this 365GT 2+2. This was the first Ferrari to feature power steering and air conditioning, which was standard equipment for US customers. With its familiar Columbo 4.4 liter V12 delivering 320 horsepower, this touring machine was capable of a run to 60 in just over seven seconds. Over 800 copies were produced from 1967 through 1971, giving way to the 365 GTC/4. This 365GT 2+2 for sale in California is a European market car in eye catching Fly Yellow replete with California black plates.

1968 Ferrari 365GT 2+2

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1968 Ferrari 365 GT. Excellent Matching Numbers Euro Model. The Ferrari 365 GT was designed by Pininfarina and followed in the vein of the 500 Superfast, bearing a striking resemblance to it. Sometimes referred to as the "Queen Mother" of Ferraris, it was the last of the front engine, wood dash cars unfettered by DOT and EPA regulations. It continued a wonderful legacy of awesome road cars that began in the 1950s with the Columbo engined 166 and 250. The example here is a Euro version 1968 model that has not been offered for sale in over 20 years. It has been in the careful custody of its current owner since the 90s. A Ferrari/Maserati collector and enthusiast, the current owner has fastidiously maintained the car and recently has reluctantly decided to part with it.

I had the pleasure of owning this very car prior to the current owner. It was my wife's daily driver. It provided us years of pleasurable and reliable (exciting) "transportation" and completed several (fast) trips up the coast to the Monterey weekends in August. IT IS AN AWESOME CAR ON THE ROAD! With 12 cylinders up front, 5 speeds, quad exhaust, Borrani wires, leather interior, wood dash and wheel, and super svelte styling, the car literally has it all. Just 800 examples were built between 1968 and 1971. (Compare that figure to 1284 Daytonas...)

This Ferrari is a matching numbers example. Here is the original chassis plate. Chassis # 11853. The wheels are original Borrani wires, including the spare. Tires are correct and extremely rare Michelin XWX. The tires have plenty of tread, but are a bit aged. For any high mileage driving, it is recommended that newer tires be fitted. The body on this Ferrari is excellent. It has never suffered an accident or damage. All the lines are nice and crisp, just as original. In 1998, the car was repainted professionally in fly yellow, and the bumpers were re chromed. New window rubbers were installed and and the trim around the windows was re anodized as per original.

The paint has held up extremely well and needs no attention. The car appears large from the outside, but once inside, it's just right. Visibility is superb in all directions with no blind spots. The seats and interior are in excellent condition. The leather shows little wear and is nicely patina’d. It has factory air conditioning, although it has gone unused for years. It worked previously and may just need some freon. The electrics all work as they should, including the crazy motorized front 1/4 vent windows, controlled by the switches shown here, just forward of the window switches.

The odometer shows 93,173 kilometers (57,767 miles) and although unverifiable, is believed to be original. The condition of the car supports it. The early cars such as this one, came with this gorgeous wood rimmed steering wheel. It's literally a work of art. This one is in excellent condition. The 365 GT is a true 2+2. The leather is all in nice shape. The very nice original headliner is shown here.

The car runs beautifully. All three Webers, both distributors, and everything else that matters-all in fine fettle. The correct original plate is still intact on the air cleaner, as well as the correct yellow fuel line. The underside is rust free. Original rockers seen here. This is the right rear underside. The left rear underside. The 365 GT is such a beautiful piece of machinery. The classic design elements characteristic of early Ferraris are all here, like the famous egg crate grill. Really, words are not necessary when the photos herein aptly represent this Ferrari's impeccable beauty. The original correct leather tool rolls are present. The original jack is here, but most of the tools are non-original replacements. A parts manual (reprint) and an original owner's manual are included.

This is a GRAND OPPORTUNITY to own an excellent example of a classic front engined V12 Ferrari that you can actually drive. And drive it you will. When the current owner and long-time friend of mine called me to say he was selling, I was a bit saddened. Having enjoyed owning this very car myself, and seeing the joy it has brought him, it will be bitter sweet to see it go. Ferraris do that to you. There is a very reasonable reserve on this auction. It is not available for sale anywhere else.

Interestingly, these late sixties 2+2 Ferraris are some of the more affordable pieces of hardware to emerge from Maranello. Entrance into this club starts around $60,000 to $70,000 and for the most well restored or original examples, look to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of around $120,000 to $130,000 or so. I’d wager to say this particular car’s reserve may be hovering somewhere around $90,000 to $100,000 or so. This 365GT certainly looks sharp in yellow, but I would prefer a more subtle color, such as a dark gray metallic or deep burgundy or brown. If it’s a classic V12 Ferrari you seek, these sleek machines offer relatively good bang for the buck.

-Paul

Maserati

1968 Maserati Mexico

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In the 1960s, Maserati was making a name for itself with its stylish and luxurious touring coupes. These cars were very advanced for their day, capable of high speed and equipped with advanced technology for the era. Styled by Vignale, the Mexico was the successor to the 5000GT. Initially available with a 4.7 liter dual cam V8, a smaller 4.2 liter, this car for sale in California has the smaller, 4.2 liter engine made available later in the production run.

1968 Maserati Mexico

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305 Produced, Maserati Mexico chassis number AM112*328*. Fitted with a 4.2-litre engine, Colour: silver, Interior: black leather. Constructed in June 1968 and sold in Italy to Sig Carlo Petrini of Bastia in Umbria. Dash facia covered with wood paneling, Borrani wire wheels, ZF 5-speed gearbox, Power Steering.

At a little over $57,000, the asking price for this Mexico is pretty much spot on with where the market is on these cars today. Many of these classic Maserati grand tourers represent a fantastic way to get Ferrari or Lamborghini like performance and style for a fraction of what you would pay for those other, more famous Italian classics.

-Paul

Fiat

1969 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

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Along with the Alfa Romeo Spider, the Fiat 124 Spider is one of the most popular Italian classics in the US. Nearly three quarters of its nearly twenty year long production run was sent to the US market. As a result, there is a plentiful supply of these roadsters available, but relatively few of its hardtop sibling, the 124 Sport Coupe. These coupes employed the Lampredi designed twin cam four cylinder engine that was featured in the roadsters and included advanced features such as four wheel disc brakes and a 5 speed gearbox. The AC was the first series of these coupes, followed by the BC and CC series. Production for all three series spanned from 1967 to 1975. This example for sale in Indianapolis is one of the best I've seen in quite a while.

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

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Now a rarity on the American Road, a rust free 124 coupe such as this one is a hard item to locate! In fact this car was imported by a Marque Enthusiast from South America a few years back. This car is a true survivor, that while presentable and quite drivable as is, could bennefit from some restoration work. The Seats appear to have been redone in the correct and hard to find material, and the car runs and drives quite well but will need some electrical sorting. Really these are very minor things that can be addressed over time as one enjoys the car and becomes familiar with it. I doubt you will find a better 124 Coupe on the market today.

While these coupes are less common than the Spider, the best Spiders out there may command anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000. For the condition and mileage, around $10,000 to $15,000 could be considered a fair value for this tidy little coupe.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400

The Lamborghini Miura is the holy grail of classic Italian cars. Marcello Gandini took the world by storm when the P400 prototype debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in 1966. It popularized the "supercar" genre, as noted automotive journalist L.J.K. Setright used this term to describe the Miura upon reviewing it. To this day, the Miura is admired for its daring looks and innovative packaging. This car was a departure for Lamborghini, as they began by producing grand touring vehicles that were more comfortable and usable than comparable models from Ferrari. Not only was the car's looks revolutionary, but the drivetrain itself was rather advanced, as Lamborghini combined the engine and gearbox in one casting so transverse placement could be easily implemented. This concours example has around 13,000 miles and includes a certificate of authenticity from the factory.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400

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This is the Supercar you have been waiting for – the rarely available Lamborghini Miura! Buy Now to get a jump start on this year's car show season. This 1968 Lamborghini Miura for sale is perfect for the discriminating auto enthusiast who knows that it is the original Miura P400 model that changed the sports car world forever (it wasn't the later S or SV models) when the first V-12 mid-engine production road car was shown at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show.

The Miura P400 model is the car that popularized the phrase "Supercar" when British motor journalist L. J. K. Setright wrote about the Lamborghini Miura in CAR magazine in the mid-1960s. It is the Miura P400 that established Lamborghini among the manufacturers of the world's highest performing and best looking sports cars. Ferrari didn't introduce its first V-12 mid-engine Boxer road car until 7 years after the Miura P400. Since it was introduced, the Miura is regularly noted as one of the most beautiful cars ever designed. Even 45 years later, the Miura's design is timeless and holds its own against any sports car. The Miura P400 was the fastest production road car in the world in its time.

This specific Miura for sale is further distinguished by the fact that it is unrestored (with possible exception of some exterior paint) and properly maintained. A collector car can only be unmolested and original once, and most of the cars of this era have been modified in numerous ways (no longer as was produced by the factory). No expense has been spared to sort out the car and maintain it properly. All the normal maintenance items have been refreshed (lubricants, brakes, suspension, tires, etc.) at regular maintenance intervals to keep this a safe, high performing drive.

This specific Miura for sale was meticulously evaluated by the Lamborghini factory's Registro team (led by the factory's highly regarded test driver Valentino Balboni), and was given a certificate of originality (Certificato d'origine). This Miura is low mileage and regularly run to ensure it stays in good running condition. This car is well sorted and is very reliable. This car has been invited to numerous Concours d'Elegance events and is always among the people's favorites and has received numerous awards.

Given the age of the car it can never be certain what the true mileage is. When I bought the car in 2002, the Euro odometer read 12,427 KM (7,722 Miles). I had a US units speedometer installed (still have the original speedo) when I bought the car (to make measurements easier during road rallys), and the current odometer reads 5,385 Miles. Thus, the total known mileage of this Miura is 13,107 miles. The excellent original condition of the car would indicate this truly is a low mileage vehicle whatever the actual mileage is.

Quite simply, there never was a car like the Miura and we'll never see another one like it in the future. This car emerged at a time when regulations were lax and automotive designers played it fast and loose, limited only by their imaginations. I am quite glad that the Miura concept of 2006 didn't see the light of day, because this is one of those vehicles that deserves to be remembered as is. Any kind of tribute or revival would be sacriledge to the the original.

One of the Miura's most famous appearances on the silver screen was in the opening scene of the original Italian Job starring Micahel Caine and Noël Coward. As Matt Monro plays in the background, the character of Roger Beckermann casually hurdles the car around the tight roads of the Italian Alps. One surely isn't prepared for the disaster that hits a few scenes away.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1968 Lamborghini Islero

The predecessor to the amazing Lamborghini Jarama featured a few days ago was the Lamborghini Islero. This was the follow up to the very first models produced by Automobili Lamborghini, the 350GT and 400GT. While it wasn't as big of a success as the mid engined Miura, it certainly fit the mold of the refined touring car that Ferrucio Lamborghini was aiming for in his rebuke to the Ferrari empire.

Only 225 Isleros were ever manufactured, 125 Isleros and 100 Islero S models, which featured a tuned engine and a few minor styling changes. This Islero was one of a hanful painted in Bronzo Scuro, which suits its sublime character quite well.

1968 Lamborghini Islero on eBay

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This is NOT the same Islero offered early this month on ebay. That was Islero #6411. Both cars are painted Bronzo Scuro, I supplied the paint codes to the owner of #6411. A lot of research went into getting the correct original color for the paint, working with friends at the factory, PPG and old paint samples. The color is extremely effected by light conditions, when in direct sunlight the color really comes alive.

This is Islero # 6243. There is a good possibility that the car was used in the short film Vedo Nudo - La Diva. Released April 17, 1969. Filmed early fall 1968. The time frame of the film matches #6243's build time and there were only about 4 or 5 cars built in that color. Body delivered by Marazzi to Automobili Lamborghini SpA Aug. 7 1968. Car completed September 3, 1968. Delivered to Swiss Lamborghini importer Garages Foitek Oct 2, 1968. Sold to dealer Bader.

Sold to a Guther Kraxner of Kirchberg Switzerland, Sold through a Carlo Pina of Solothurn, Switzerland to USA (CA dealer) Aug. 8, 2000. Sold to Ohio Sept 11, 2001. Owner transferred to NYC leaving car in storage at well know Lamborghini shop in OH. I purchased the Sept 4, 2003. I have records on the car including copy of the Swiss Title. I have hundreds of pictures of the car from its original condition when I purchased it, to the strip to bare metal, and repainting. It has also been documented on Ferrarichat.com - Lamborghini section - Islero thread.

I've added photos of #6243 when it was painted Blue and the Dark Brown color it was when I purchased it. When we stripped away the layers of paint we found the original Bronzo Scuro which is shown in the pictures. In addition to the body work. The following has been done to the car by the previous owner or myself since 2001.

New exhaust
Rebuilt Front and Rear Calipers
Repacked Front wheel bearings
Machine Front and Rear Rotors. (Have a set of new Front Rotors)
Rebuilt Brake Master Cylinder
Rebuilt Brake Boosters
New Brake Pads Front and Rear
New Brake Hoses Front and Rear
New Brake Light Switch
New Brake Light Assemblies
New License Plate lights
Clean out Fuel Tank
New fuel pump
Replace fuel lines with Stainless hoses
Carbs Cleaned, new needles and seats
Replace all engine hoses and belts
Replace thermostat
Radiator Clean and Flushed
Rebuilt oil cooler
Replace Cam Cover gaskets
Engine Compression Test - Strong (all cylinders within 10%)
New spark plug wires
New distributor caps
New points
New rotors
New condensers
New spark plugs
Front and Rear Bumpers polished
Door handles re-chromed
All trim pieces removed cleaned and polished.
New windshield gaskets front & rear
Front Seats - new leather
Rear Parcel shelf - new leather
Rest of interior conditioned and re-dyed
New Headliner
New Carpets
New Seat belts (4)
New Tires - (5)
Recovered sunvisors
New carpeting in trunk
New engine hood pad
Wheels stripped and refinished. (Not happy with result, plan to redo) minor issue.

Suspension:
Have new ball joints for front and rear as well as new bushings for front and rear suspension.
Plan was to put them as well as the Front Rotors on over the winter, rebuild front and rear shocks, clean and refinish suspension parts and undercarriage. Other minor things that needs to be addressed. rear ashtray (Alfa 2600), Dead Pedal (located), interior light (Mercedes parts bin), Correct Rear window latches (located).

This is stuff I can remember, I'm sure there are a lot more things that I've replaced that I've forgotten. It shows 97,665 klm (60,552 miles) on the car. While I don't have documentation of it, research indicates that the engine was rebuilt before it came to the US, which matches the strong compression numbers. Given everything else I've done to the car, if I felt the engine needed rebuilding, I would have done that as well.

Reason for sale: I have another car in restoration that will be part of a special display recently announced for Monterey 2012 (originally planned for 2013). That change has pushed forward the restoration schedule for that car. Unfortunately the Islero has to go as result of that accelerate restoration schedule. Auction may end early as the car is being offered within the Italian automotive community.

I always appreciate it when sellers include pictures of the restoration process. It is obvious that a lot of care went into bringing this car back to its original state, even if a few minor parts need to be sourced (not an easy task for such a limited production vehicle). The paintwork gives this car an air similar to Steve McQueen's Marone Metallizzato Ferrari 250GT Lusso. While these early four seater Lamborghinis have not reached Miura values, it does seem as if prices are on the rise, even if we are in harsh economic times. Overall, a good presentation of an oft overlooked model from the house of the raging bull.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

Silver 1968 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 For Sale in Colorado

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GTV's are always easy fodder for this blog but the pictures and action on this auction compelled me to post it. It's so sharp and really presented the way I'd want to own. Close to original but with tasteful upgrades to complete the look.

quote from the seller's listing:

Here is my 1968 Alfa Romeo GTV originally sold in France. The car was brought to the US in the early 2000's and was restored to a very nice driver condition in 2005 and before my ownership. The car runs and drives very well. It is completely reliable. The paint is not perfect but presents very well. The can starts and runs great. It shifts very well with no second gear issues. All lights and gauges work. The car drives very well around town as well as on the highway. The brakes and clutch are in good operating condition. The car was fitted with an aftermarket air conditioning unit. 14" Panasport wheels with good Yokohama tires. Overall a nice GTV and cool because Alfa never sold a 1968 model year car here in the States. ***Please note I have changed the amber inboard lights to clear. Amber lights included.

Bidding has been swift and considering there is still 7 days to go with this auction, it appears the reserve has been met and the current bid is over $18k.

dc