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Another interesting story

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by Bob Zambelli, Jun 7, 2004.

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  1. Bob Zambelli

    Bob Zambelli F1 Rookie
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    #1 Bob Zambelli, Jun 7, 2004
    Since you fellows seem to really to be able to dig out the info on oldies, here’s another one. [NOTE – this one is, from my perspective, hearsay – I never saw this car].
    Back to Rochester, NY, in the 60’s, there was allegedly a professor from the Eastman School of Music who drove a Ferrari regularly. The car was unique in that it had some sort of wicker inlaid into the doors. Some said on the outside, some on the inside – it was supposed to be some sort of show car, NY auto show as I recall, based on a 330 2+2. When I first heard the story I was in college and had no time to investigate.
    Anyhow, later on into seventies, this story was told to me. A fellow (Kent) was at an auto parts store, the owner of which was supposed to have acquired the wicker car. He went there to have a bearing pressed onto the driveshaft of a GTB. He showed it to the guy and told him what was needed. He said no problem – he would do it for him immediately. Now, it really gets interesting – walking back into the shop, he asked what it was for. Kent said “a Ferrari” and he turned on him as if he was the hillside strangler! He said in a most threatening voice “we don’t work on Ferraris!” Then Kent asked “Why not – you own one, don’t you?” He turned around, walked back to the front, practically threw the driveshaft at him and said that he couldn’t do the work. Since he seemed extremely agitated, Kent figured that the best thing to do was to leave, which he did.
    About seven years later, I related the story to a fellow and he told me his. Being an Italian car aficionado, and having heard about the wicker car, he decided to visit the owner at home – this was a year or two after Kent’s encounter with him. After being invited in, he queried about the car but got nothing more than a run-around. He happened to look out the window and saw some people checking out his car (just a Honda, as I recall) – looking inside, underneath, and so on. At that point, he decided that the best thing to do was leave and forget the whole matter – when he went out to his car, the people ran in back of the house and he left.
    I should mention that these stories came from reliable sources – I knew them both and they would never invent something like that.
    There the story ends – I moved away and I’ve never been in touch with anyone about these “happenings” or the mysterious car.
    So, what’s the story? Was there ever a “wicker” car or is it folklore? I should mention that other people in Rochester had heard about it but nobody ever saw it.
    OK, historians/gurus – what can you make of it??????????????????
    Bob Zambelli
     
  2. yale

    yale Formula Junior

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    #2 yale, Jun 7, 2004
    This site is so wild at times, first someone writes in about a green series 2 330GT that I sat in in 2000 and now you write in about this wicker 330GT. I have seen this car! It does exist, it is a pretty damn weird site also, wouldn't say pretty but it is unusual. It is unfortunately being parted out by Fred Petroske. Isn't it great when the mysteries of the Ferrari universe get explicated, small ones though they be.

    Yale
     
  3. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
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    #3 ArtS, Jun 7, 2004
    If I recall there was still enough to be put back together last time I checked. Call Fred if you want it. You would have a unique Ferrari with NY auto show history for relatively little money.

    Art S.
     
  4. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
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    #4 vincent355, Jun 7, 2004
    i remember reading something about this car. I'll have to check.
     
  5. Bob Zambelli

    Bob Zambelli F1 Rookie
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    #5 Bob Zambelli, Jun 8, 2004
    More information, please. Who is Fred? Why is the car being parted out?
    Do you think he might have any history on it? Where is he located?
    Bob Z
     
  6. Bob Zambelli

    Bob Zambelli F1 Rookie
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    #6 Bob Zambelli, Jun 8, 2004
    Hi, Yale - where and when did you see the car?

    Bob Z
     
  7. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 wax, Jun 8, 2004
  8. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
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    #8 ArtS, Jun 8, 2004
    Bob Z.,

    Fred's site is www.mostlybritish.com the car is not presently listed, but if you are really curious, give him a call. If you do, fill us in.

    Art S.
     
  9. yale

    yale Formula Junior

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    #9 yale, Jun 8, 2004
    Hi Bob,

    Fred Petroske is one of the two main Ferrari "toasted ponies" places, the other one is Tom Shaunessey who posts here. Both have bought quite a few basket case Ferraris over the years and parted them out. Fred is in the Finger Lakes region on New York State and has three or four 330GT's plus a smattering of other Ferrari's along with a bunch of Jags which I believe was his first business, (parting Jags out that is), and quite a bit of other things. I drove up there, (about 8 hours from NYC), in my 330 just to see what was there.

    There used to be a fellow in Connecticut named Jerry Curtis who had business selling spices and Ferrari parts, (believe it), but unfortunately he died. I used to go by there and he'd look under the hood and go, "Hey Yale, you know those little rubber dohikies are the wrong ones, here is what you should have there." And he would give me - along with sell me little things that were in boxes in his garage. Outside his garage were a few Ferrari carcasses (one of which was the nose of a GTB, seems like some guy had a short nose and wanted a long nose and got Jerry to weld one on, and then decided he wanted the short nose back on again!!! The long nose of the car was laying around. Yeeesh!)

    That wicker Ferrari had the wicker stuff attached (glued? shellacked over?) to the sides of the car kinda looked like it belonged in a fern bar circa 1974. I really can't imagine anyone thinking that was cool...even in 1974.

    Please keep those stories coming. All the best,

    Yale
     
  10. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
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    #10 El Wayne, Jun 9, 2004
    The Felber/Michelotti "Beach Car" is not the same as the wicker 330 we're talking about here. The Felber car, 365GTC/4 s/n 16017, was rebodied again by Michelotti as a "shooting brake" and shown at the Geneva Salon in 1977. It still resides in Switzerland today.
     
  11. tritone

    tritone F1 Veteran

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    #11 tritone, Jun 9, 2004
    Fred Petroske advertises in the FCA classifieds on-line.
    FCA.org
     
  12. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 wax, Jun 9, 2004
    You, sir, are a National, nay, International treasure.
     
  13. rob550

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    #13 rob550, Mar 22, 2014
    I have acquired the "Wicker Ferrari" from Fred's widow back in October 2013.
    I am in the process of restoring it but without the wicker . I would appreciate any
    history on the car , all I know is Fred had it for a while but how long I don't know.

    Just thought I would give an update on an old thread.
     
  14. juandzine

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    #14 juandzine, Feb 5, 2015
    I attended Monroe Community College (MCC) on Alexander St in Rochester in 1965-1966. The Eastman School of Music was directly behind MCC on Prince St. There was often a 330 2+2 (America I think) Ferrari parked on that block. Being a sports car nut, I spent lots of time looking at it, though I never met the driver/owner. It was a brown metallic with a wicker insert applied over the paint on each side. I don't remember anything unusual about the interior. I was told that it had been a Paris or NY, or? Auto Show car and that it belonged to a Eastman Prof, though I have no idea if those statements are true. It was only the second Ferrari I had ever seen on the street at that time. It is or was real, I saw pics a few years ago on Ferrarichat of the car semi apart and badly in need of restoration, though my current search did not find them
     
  15. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
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    #15 El Wayne, Feb 5, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I was the one who posted the photos. Here's the thread that you're looking for:

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vintage-thru-365-gtc4-sponsored-vintage-driving-machines/258689-wicker-2-2-a.html#post142088295

    Here they are again, along with a later restoration photo:
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  16. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 donv, Feb 5, 2015
    Wayne, do you know if it's going to be redone with the wicker?
     
  17. Enigma Racing

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    #17 Enigma Racing, Feb 5, 2015
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    Now that would be something. Can't tell from the picture if it is actual wicker or a print applied to the panel but it was all the rage in the 60's.

    I remember the Peter Sellers Radford Mini that was customised by Hooper that had wicker work painted on the panels at a reputed cost of £2,600 in 1963.

    K
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  18. 12659

    12659 Formula Junior

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    #18 12659, Feb 5, 2015
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    Attached is a photo of the wicker car. It was taken during the Monte Shelton Rally last July.
    I corresponded with Kerry Chesbro about it, and offered the S/N to him. he knows all about it. The car now lives in the people's republic of Oregon.

    Cheers

    Mark
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  19. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #19 donv, Feb 5, 2015
    That's the wicker car? I see that car at C&C all the time-- I'll have to ask about it.
     
  20. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
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    #20 El Wayne, Feb 5, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2015
    Don, if you see post #13 in this thread, the new owner chimed in and stated that he was having it restored without the wicker:

    It seems to me that this is more likely s/n 6641, which received the engine from the wicker car (s/n 5393). Some confusion might be due to the fact that both cars are ex-Fred Petroske.
     
  21. 12659

    12659 Formula Junior

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    #21 12659, Feb 5, 2015
    As I understand it, the car was restored in Canada then sold to Oregon. If I recall correctly, it's non matching numbers edition.
     
  22. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #22 donv, Feb 5, 2015
    I'll have to look at the s/n number next time I see it and report back. Given the weather, that's unlikely to be soon.

     
  23. RPN

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    #23 RPN, Feb 6, 2015
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  24. Jurassik

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    #24 Jurassik, Feb 7, 2015
  25. rob550

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    #25 rob550, Aug 30, 2015
    Sorry for the long delay to update you on this unique car . I am amazed at the information that came up about it and raises all kinds of questions for me.

    Can I find out if it was a "show " car , it is believable because this was an early production ( 16 th made ? ) so they may have been one of the first in North America .

    I also wonder who installed the wicker , I don't think it was put on in Maranello .

    To update everyone , the car is on a rotisserie with the underside and top in epoxy primer . It cleaned up nicely and I am very happy with the condition. It will be ready for paint soon and I am not sure if it should be painted in the original brown color.
    I am all for originality but it would not be my choice .
    I am partial to the blues , maybe the maroon . When I got the car the interior was completely reupholstered in tan so the paint would have to compliment it.

    I now have all the major parts to put this together that were missing when I purchased it.

    I have also spoke to the Lady that has my original motor in her car . I hope maybe someday ..........

    Also what is up with the America 330 badge on the back by the tail light .
     

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