“Confronted with a tragedy like the one that has struck Japan today, Formula 1 and all its problems to do with tires, wings and engines is way down the list of priorities and today, my thoughts go first and foremost to the victims and their families.”–Fernando Alonso upon hearing of the disaster in Japan. His comment reflected our feelings as well.
What's in your driveway? Back in 1967 or 1968, Eric Davison of Troy, Michigan, looked out his window to see this Ferrari Mexico 340 Vignale Coupe, s/n 0224AT, sitting in his driveway. Unfolding out of the low-roofed Ferrari was his friend Cal Gleason, who had driven the Mexico over to show Eric his latest purchase. Cal was not a rich man, merely a man with good taste, recalled Davison, who took this photo. Today, Cal would have also been a very rich man, had he kept the Ferrari. It was sold last weekend at the RM Auction for $4,290,000.
and he paid how much for it in 1967 or 1968?
Ah yes, only if we had a crystal ball. In 1983 I had an opportunity to buy an almost immaculate 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 MM coupe being sold by a local 18 year old. The fellow had inherited it from his WWII grandfather who had brought it back from Italy. Price – initially $6000, but Harrods bought it for $42,000 two weeks later. (See Harrod’s Las Vegas display – Mussolini’s mistress’s car). A very similar car sold a couple years ago Vancouver owner to Seattle Microsoft guy for over a million.
At the bottom end of the scale, a Fiat 500 twelve years ago was worthless. Recently an “older restoration” was auctioned by Shannons in Sydney Australia for $31,500!!!
That’s crazy money and rules out the true grass roots enthusiast!
I was at the show,and the next car down the money list didn t even bring 1 mill.,a beautiful Duesenberg.
Someone must have wanted this Ferrari very badly to pay over 4 mill for it.
There were other Ferraris auctioned off as well,and all of them ,in my opinion,were much prettier than this one.
Believe it or not, I drove one of those Mexican Road Race Ferraris, bug screen and all in 1956 at a race in Denver. I have the photos to prove it. I THINK that it was owned
by Temp Buell or I. W. Stevenson or one of their wealthy friends.
Re: Wally H’s question about how much was paid this car in 1967 or 1968… According to Ed Niles, one of the original go-to guys in the U.S. if one wanted to buy what were then just used Ferraris, most such cars could be bought during the 60’s for about $3k – $4k. Ed, partnered with a friend in Rome, bought, shipped to Long Beach, drove and later sold about 150 used Ferraris from Europe between 1959 and the early 1980’s, just before prices began to skyrocket. He drove most of the cars he imported and, when necessary, performed repairs needed to drive and sell them for a modest profit. Many of his stories are incredible; but those were certainly different times. As late as 1978 or 1979, he and a friend drove two early open race cars to Phoenix in January to sell at auction, hoping to get about $7k for each. When they couldn’t get their price, they drove both home, with no tops, in torrential rain storms. Today each of those cars would probably sell for at least $1 mil.
Gleason most likely purchased this car from Tom Stewart, now in Northern VA. Stewart bought from a lady on the street in Georgetown (Washington, DC) around 1960–she had had a breakdown and was was using it as her everyday driver. Stewart knew exactly the provenance of the car, bought it on the spot ($4000???), drove it, raced it,and showed it in the mid-Atlantic region through the early 60s. He sold it and used the proceeds to buy his house/small farm around 1966. I know this because he is my neighbor, and his son (an Italian car nut and specialist in his own right) remains one of my closest friends. The family have a rich photographic history of this car. And…while no longer in possession of THIS car, they have collection of vintage Italian (Lancia) and other marques that is quite intriguing for those who know what they are truly viewing.