Thomas Crown Nart Spyder in Octane 191

True but they were already downsizing and were not doing that well when they sold. Another car collector business part owner was taking market share, the Waltons.

 

Getting back on topic...
In Modena, brand new, during a photoshoot in a city park before it was shipped across the pond to the new world...

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Looks like the trunk(boot) is open.

 

Actually the Orto Botanico di Modena, the botanical gardens in the city of Modena, located next to the Garden Ducale at Viale Caduti in Guerra 127 in Modena. The beautiful building Vigarani Palace is also part of it.
This location was often used for photoshoots with new Ferraris, in the 1950s to the 1970s. Other locations for photoshoots in Modena were the Aerautodromo and also the Municipal Building in the square of Maranello.
Here's another pic of 09437.

Marcel Massini

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Thanks for that Marcel,

Maserati also used the park with la Pallazzina Vigarani as background very often in those days.

MS

 

Is it known if 09437 was taken back to bare metal when first colour changed to burgundy from the original pale yellow or just given a blow over?

 

Will ask Roger Colson, I have to speak with him in the next few days.

 

Thanks, Marc.

 

My copy of Octane finally arrived yesterday. That is a wonderful article Marc, I feel the same way about the NART Spyder. I vividly recall as a boy buying that issue of Road & Track at an airport newsstand, probably read that copy cover to cover dozens of times. The following year I bought the Fitzgerald and Merritt book with savings from my paper route. That was the start of my journey which brings me here today.

 

Thank you very much 375+, nowadays unfortunately in this increasingly shallow twitter world article lengths are restricted, I am supposed to give 2000 words but actually do 2500 which is alas the maximum. In the past I have written 12000 word articles so it is quite restrictive and I am struggling with my last of three 9/2018 US trip articles which I have to deliver next month in deciding what gets left out... However I am very grateful to Octane for the opportunities and the article will become an enhanced, longer more in depth text along with more photos in a future book chapter.

I know how you feel I first read that R & T article in one of those Brooklands softbacks...I read it many times too! The Fitzgerald and Merritt books were very good for their time in earmarking most if not all of the one offs that are so alluring like Nembo spyder 1777GT and the "Fellini Fantuzzi" holy grails on Borranis....

Best regards,

Marc

 

I for one very much enjoy reading your well researched and knowledgable pieces in Octane Magazine. They are highlights in what basically is a magazine heading downhill a bit in terms of quality. I think they made the wrong decision in cutting article length and depth and they might want to give authors like you and John Barker more space.

 

Thank you Hans you made my day this Sunday.

I am having lunch in London in ten days with editor in chief James Elliott and will show him your comment so he pushes it "upstairs"

The most important of my three USA 9/2018 trip articles will be out in two or three months though the car - a major icon never ever driven by any writer- does not have a cavallo on the nose but a Trident.

All the best,

Marc

 

Still waiting for Octane 191. Issue 190 with the purple Countach showed up this week...

 

Marc, very much looking forward to the next articles

James Elliot, yes, many years ago he was editor-in-chief of Classic & Sportscar and I remember him writing about his own cars: A Triumph saloon, which was rotten and constantly braking down, and a Jensen Interceptor, which was also rotten and constantly braking down. Now in Octane he's still writing about these two cars and it appears they are still rotten...

I fully understand printed media is under pressure. But they still have authors who are more knowledgable than most social media influencer guys and I think they should built on that strength and give the authors space for telling interesting stories.

 

Hi Hans,

Yes James loves his Jensen

I am a traditionalist always preferring to read printed quality content as there is too much nonsense and erroneous data online, poorly edited or not edited at all .

All the best,

Marc

 

+1

 

And most of the printed media articles is usually done by actual journalists, not merely glorified bloggers who like to copy, paste and rearrange information; and said information has incorrect data at most of the time.

 

Hi Steven Roger replied today he is pretty sure it was just a "blowover" paintjob burgundy atop light yellow.

 

Thank you, Marc. Presumably it got a bare metal repaint during its restoration overseen by Al Roberts around 1985 as stated in your excellent Octane article? Has it been restored since and what condition is it in today?

 

Hi Steve, to answer your new set of questions:

No doubt it got a bare metal paint job during Al Robert's restoration.

Don't believe so -looked just right very slightly patinated- other than maintenance albeit limited as it has lived a sheltered concours life (who is going to go to the supermarket in a gazillion $ car?...alas)

Absolutely excellent apart of rear suspension bushings a bit worn consequently the rear was trailering a bit in constant radius corners depending on throttle on or off.

Off to London this whole coming week Tuesday dawn to Saturday afternoon, hope to meet a few Ferraristi and Maseratisti! Free Tuesday, Saturday morning.

 

Thank you, Marc.

 

Joe C. is Lawrence A's nephew I believe. The greatest of the NART Spyders. Denise and Pinky Rollo almost won Sebring? Hmmmmm.

 

17th overall. 2nd in class, whatever class that was.

 

Formerly Powder Puff but that hasn't been PC for quite some time.