Tag Archives: 1972

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona

Voted by Motor Trend Classic as one of the top ten Ferraris of all time and Top Sports Car of the 1970s by Sports Car International, the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 is an icon. Along with these accolades, the Daytona gained a prominent role across a vast swath of popular culture, from Brock Yates' Cannonball Run to the cover of The Carpenters' album "Now and Then." A little under 1,300 Daytona hardtops were ever produced, as opposed to only 127 examples of the open top Spider. When a good one comes up for sale, collectors take notice. This example for sale in California comes from a private collection and looks to be well preserved rather than over restored.

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB Daytona

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1972 Ferrari 365 GTB Daytona. Rare classic, collector quality, excellent car inside & out. Just acquired from a private collection, this 1972 Daytona is an outstanding example and one of the finest we have had in years. This exceptional car, with a well documented history, looks great and, runs and drives like a classic Daytona. The Daytona is sought after by collector's worldwide as experts believe the Daytona will continue to increase in value. To own an example of the Daytona like this one is a rare opportunity. Vehicle options include power windows and air conditioning. Car also has coveted tool set and, a car cover.

One glaring omission with this ad is the mileage. I wouldn't suspect this car has been abused, as it looks to be in good nick. The asking price of just under $370,000 is about in line with current market values for Daytonas. In classic Rosso Corsa, this motor would look equally at home on the American interstate as it would bombing down a coastal route on the French Riviera.

-Paul

1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione may have seemed a bit far fetched when it appeared for sale in the US in 2008. The last new Alfa Romeo to be sold stateside was the 164 sedan, which was a competitor to the mid-sized luxury sport sedans of the world. However, this wasn't Alfa Romeo's first foray into eight cylinder sports car territory. The Montreal was originally introduced as a concept vehicle at Expo '67 in Montreal, hence its name. The ironic thing is, it was never sold in the city which bore its name. A version to comply with North American emissions requirements was never developed. With its two litre V8 engine derived from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, this was no ordinary sports coupe. From it's retracting slatted headlamp covers to the vents behind the doors, this was a wild looking machine for the era. This example is for sale in Sweden, not far from the border with Denmark.

1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal

The Alfa Romeo Montreal is a very nice GT car. This one is in very very good condition and ready to drive anywhere. There is absolutely no rust on the car and the paint is fabulous. Great power and sound from the engine. A lot of money has been spent here recently. Very original and unmolested car. Could be the best on the market today.

At almost $47,000, this represents the high end of the Montreal market. This one, however, is original and well sorted, which is important with these cars, as they can be a tad finicky, especially when you consider the complex SPICA fuel injection system. Overall though, a nice example of one of Alfa Romeo's most exotic efforts to date.

-Paul

1972 Maserati Ghibli SS

The Maserati Ghibli is one of those grand touring cars that epitomizes everything that was great about Italian design in the 1960s and 1970s. Long, flowing lines and sumptuous details are the hallmarks of this machine. This particular Ghibli is a desirable one. Not only is it the later, higher horsepower SS model, but with the 5 speed manual, black paintwork and Borrani wire wheels, it certainly looks the part.

1972 Maserati Ghibli SS

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Designed by a young Giorgetto Giugiaro while at Carrozzeria Ghia, the Maserati Ghibli has been referred by some as the most beautiful sports/GT car of all times. Even if you do not agree with that strong of a statement, there is no denying the Ghibli is certainly a very striking and handsome car whose timeless design has aged very well. Even today, when driving a Ghibli, people stop and stare at the car's beautiful lines.

Powered by a dry sump V8 engine and fed by four Weber carbs, the Ghibli delivers the performance you would expect from an Italian exotic. Its closest competitor, and the car it is most often compared to, is the Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona. Both are large front engine cars. Both were for 2 people and were built in the similar years (1967 - 1973). Both were priced about the same (the Ghibli was a little more expensive) and built in similar numbers (about 1150 each). Where the cars differ is in their character. The Daytona was optimized for performance while the Ghibli towards being a “gentleman’s GT cruiser”. People that own both cars generally agree that the Ghibli is the better car for regular driving and rallies. If going around the race track is your thing, go for the Daytona. Of course there is also the matter of price, as today the Ferrari Daytona is MUCH more expensive; both to purchase and maintain.

The exterior styling of the Ghibli is equally matched by a gorgeous interior. The Ghibli all leather interior is quite spacious and can easily accommodate tall drivers. One famous Ghibli owner was basketball star Wilt Chamberlain. This particular 1972 Ghibli SS is a three owner car with only 33K miles. Sold new in Los Angeles and had always been there until I purchased the car 4 years ago from the second owner. I then sold it to its third owner. The car is currently in at my house near Atlanta, Georgia area. Has all the desirable features you normally would want on a Ghibli SS; the larger 4.9 liter engine, Borrani wire wheels, power steering, 5-speed, AC and rare quad exhaust. Ghiblis look very good in black, and this car is no exception!

The interior is very nice and mostly unmolested. It still has the original front carpets with the logoed heel pads. Luckily nobody ever installed a modern radio nor were extra speakers cut into the door panels. No signs of accidents or rust. Paint is good but not show quality. Mechanically this car is sweet! Engine was recently rebuilt by Terry Girone; who use to work for the Maserati imported in the Northeast and also was the service manager of the Atlanta Ferrari/Maserati dealer. I have owned about 15 Ghiblis and I must say this is one of the best running one I've driven. Oil pressure is great. Coolant temperature stays constant, gearbox shifts well, brakes work as expected. Engine compression is between 150 and 160 psi across all cylinders, which is excellent. Gauges, switches, lights, clock in working order. AC was recently serviced. Between the engine rebuilt, the AC work and a few other items the previous owner spent over $44,000 in the last 3 years. Receipts come with the car.

Ghiblis are great rally cars as they are comfortable for long drives and quite reliable for an exotic. Included is the original jack with bag, receipts, and factory supplied owner’s manual. The owner’s manual is the rare 4.9 liter version in English and Italian. Note: State of Alabama does not issue titles for cars build prior to 1974. Car is sold with Bill of Sale and a certified letter from Licensing Director which explains the State law.

Prices for Ghiblis tend to range anywhere between $75,000 and $120,000 these days, and the Spider variants command much more than that, given their rarity in comparison to their hardtop sibling. Given this example’s provenance, I’d say $80,000 to $90,000 is probably in the ballpark of what this owner is looking for. With the work and money invested in it, it certainly would be worth it. This is truly an honest car for the discerning collector.

-Paul

1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

The Dino was a turning point in the history of Ferrari. Named after Enzo Ferrari's late son Alfredo (whose nickname was Alfredino), this nameplate was meant to brand a whole new variety of Ferraris, namely those without 12 cylinder engines. The 246 nameplate in this case represents the engine capacity and number of cylinders, in this case a 2.4 liter V6. Creating 175 horsepower in US trim, this engine would also see service in the Fiat Dino and Lancia Stratos. The Dino was Ferrari's best selling model up until this point and are highly sought after by collectors. This car represents the first year the Dino was available with a removable roof and while not a perfect example, has potential.

1972 Ferrari Dino GTS

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First a little history. This US spec car was manufactured in June of 1972 and first registered in late December of that year. The odometer show 48229 miles and that is accurate. It has been under the same ownership since 1975 (second owner) and is now being offered for sale by the family trust. It has the original “Pink slip” and retains the original blue plates, last being registered in California in 2005. When purchased the car was yellow and the owner had an extensive color change performed in the late 70’s. The car was maintained well, used sparingly but regularly until it was put into storage 5 years ago. It was garaged and only used in good weather never having the top fitted. It is in decent running condition but does need some work and it has some details that are not correct.

Now the good points. It is a California car that does not appear to have any rust or rust repairs. The body is generally in very good condition and shows no signs of having been in a significant collision. The paint is no longer perfect but at first glance it looks stunning. The doors both open easily and close with sweet light click. The gaps and panel fit are very good all over. Glass is in very good shape, no scratches or chips; all the chrome has a deep luster. The electric windows function well. The interior is clean and looks mostly original although the seats may have been re-upholstered. The grey carpet is in good order and overall there is not a lot of sun damage showing the car was not left outside.

The car starts, runs and drives well the clutch being light and the gears shifting nicely, even when cold. The engine does not knock or have any other unwanted noises. It also does not smoke excessively and indicates 85lbs on the oil pressure gauge at 5000 rpm hot. There does not seem to be any overheating issues, although it has only been driven sparingly and local since coming out of storage. On the road the engine sounds great, having decent power and dropping to a fairly low idle once warm. The gauges all function with the fuel gauge being a bit intermittent may have a sticking sender unit. The brakes pull the car up straight without any fuss and there is no unwanted noise from the suspension. The hand brake holds firmly and is adjusted correctly. The steering feels light and precise; I think one of the nicer points of these cars.

Now the negatives, The paint has been spot repaired in places, the two most obvious being an area about the size of a dinner plate on the top of the right front fender that was caused from a bicycle falling on it. The second area is a round patch the size of tennis ball on the bonnet. There is evidence of minor accident damage on the left front fender extending back onto the door. There is an area in the wheel well where the tire has just kissed the fiberglass panel and rubbed the paint off – see pictures. There are a number of small chips and imperfections some that have been touched up and some not. The front shows some larger nicks, I think evident in the pictures and under the front there are a couple of dents under the bumpers and the lower panel has been damaged from parking mishaps. There is a small indentation in the top of the driver’s door that could probably be taken out by a good dent removal guy.

The interior door panels are a little tired and the door shut panels have been chrome plated, not left body colour as stock. The interior mirror is misty and the quarter lights (windings) are missing their catches. The heater fan switch is missing its plastic pad and the choke lever (never used) appears to be stuck. The AC fans operate but do not produce cold air and the heater is unresponsive. The wipers, washers and indicators do not function, possibly a fuse?

The engine burbles badly on de-acceleration possibly due to some missing emission equipment, diverter valve, ignition retard unit. It also does not have its carbon canister. It does have the air cleaner assembly, although not fitted in the pictures. There is also the odd spitting from the carbs at and just above, idle, obviously after sitting so long it needs a good tune-up. The engine does not have a bad misfire. It has had a non-standard fuse box fitted to the rear bulkhead along with some new insulation. The engine compression was checked and number 2 cylinder has a lower compression than the others and on further inspection, doing a leak down test it appears that the exhaust valve on that cylinder is not seating properly. It could settle down with driving more or of course it could get worse! First gear synchro is a little unforgiving unless you are going very slowly, but all the other gears including second (a common problem) are excellent. There are some oil leaks, causing a little smoke at a stop as it contacts the exhaust. Obviously after sitting as long as it has I would recommend replacing the fuel and cooling system hoses and some of the rubber mounts and bushings are reaching the end of their life. The steering rack shows some wear, a common problem I am told. The solid state fuel pump needs to be mounted better and the hoses secured.

So that is the full story on this car, not perfect but still a beautiful head turning classic Ferrari that will continue to appreciate. It is a very honest car with a known history, quite a local celebrity in fact.

Dinos in average condition tend to run anywhere in the $125,000 to $150,000 range. Mint, concours examples will reach closer to the $200,000 mark. The seller seems a bit optimistic, given bidding has reached $145,000 without the reserve being met. There are a number of odds and ends that need attention here. If one could procure this Dino at around $100,000 to $115,000, it would be a good buy for the enthusiast looking to tackle a bit of light restoration work and, once it is over, have a classic Ferrari that one wouldn't be afraid to use.

-Paul

1972 Fiat 500L

The Nuova 500 was a staple of the Italian motorways from the late 1950s through the 1970s. With its simple design, small footprint and clever use of space, it provided freedom to the masses with asking little in return. Today, there are still plenty on the roads, both in Italy and abroad and have amassed a loyal following. Part of its legacy is its modern day interpretation, the "Nuova" Nuova 500, if you will. While it has had slightly disappointing sales in the US market, it has relaunched the Fiat brand and reintroduced the fun of Italian motoring to a new generation of Americans.

This particular 1972 500L was one of those cars that caught my eye. It's stance, contrasting wheels and subtle modifications make this a tasty little number. It's stance gives the suggestion that it's ready to pounce at any minute.

1972 Fiat 500L

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This 1972 Fiat 500L was imported from Italy about 7 years ago. Fully restored with new 650cc engine and transmission, new wheels including tubes and tires about 1 year ago, Abarth steering wheel and shift knob, Giannini oil pan, electronic ignition, new top, new interior and much more.
Odometer shows 49,049 kilometers. The car runs very good, good engine and transmission, good brakes. Just a good strong little Cinquecento. Everything works with the exception of the fuel gauge. Inspections are welcome. I actually encourage inspections since this vehicle is being sold as is with no warranty stated or implied. I am not a dealer and am describing this car as best as i can. I am very conservative with my descriptions as you can see from my feedback. If you plan on driving or inspecting this vehicle please do so before bidding. Clear N.J title in hand.

These 500s are great little cars, cheap to run, easy on gas and elicit more stares than most Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Within the last half year, I've seen similar 500s range anywhere from $6,000 up to $12,000 and a little beyond, depending on condition. Most solid 500s in good condition, such as this, settle in around $8,000 to $10,000. This is a small price to pay for what amounts to one of the most legendary motors of the last century.

-Paul

1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 For Sale

Let's put the seller's description front and center on this one because I think he's got it nailed:

I bought this ferrari in 1998 with 12,120 original miles. The sound of this car is recognized as the most incredible of any ferrari ever made. Call me to talk about the car as I am listing it before the major service and the auction season. You will probably not find a better unmolested example of a c4.

The a/c has been charged since I bought it and blows cold. The heater core needs service as it fogs the windshield if on for a long time. I have removed the stock air boxes for cleaning and refinishing as well as the stock air pump...I have every part that was on the car. Call me and we will talk great ferraris and whether she is right for you.

1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4

"Call me and we will talk great Ferrari's and whether she is right for you." I love it! You have to audition for the right to purchase the car! That said, I don't blame him a bit. The 4 cam car is a special one and he's right, the sound of that V12 is fantastic.

I've had the pleasure of sampling one of these a couple of years ago when I was helping out with the rally for Brighton Motorsports. Here is my blog post on that experience and a video of my brief experience behind the wheel:

dc

1972 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe For Sale

This fantastic little coupe has only covered 43,400 miles and looks the part. The yellow is a nice shade that highlights the beautiful Pininfarina body lines. I'm not crazy about the late model aftermarket steering wheel or the alloys, but the latter is probably acceptable for the period. Overall it looks like a fantastic opportunity to get a great low mileage example at a decent price in a down economy.

Check out this

quote from seller's listing:

California car shipped to Connecticut several years ago, purchased and driven by me, (I love it)! Minor repairs done in my term with her include replacing metal (small weak spot) in passenger side floor and reinforcing rear shock mounts, single weber installed and tuned on an 1800cc BC Fiat motor (California owner had transplant done from original 1600cc motor), suspension is good, five speed manual (close ratio short throw) is good and the clutch is good.

Having tuned the Weber carburator, added new plugs and coil, I beleive she could use a valve adjustment... I have not had the time to address that issue. With the exception of the clock, all gauges work, manual windows and all glass is in good shape and the seals are ok.

THE BODY & CHASSIS IS TRULY GREAT, EXTREMELY SOLID with but a few small spots of surface rust, an incredible example when you consider 99.9% of Fiat 124 Coupes (in the world) have gone the ashes to ashes, rust to dust route (in their first ten years or less) and don't even exist in any condition anywhere!

The interior is an integrated mix-match of what appears to be '72 era and '74 era pieces... Having owned (new back in the day) a '71 Coupe followed by a new '74 coupe I can't even tell what is from which group, I think the dash and seats (in good shape) are from a '74-'76, possibly the engine donor car in CA... none of it matters, it all fits and looks right as well as having had a new headliner installed in CA.

dc