1st Straman 400A conversion on Ebay

s/n is 22767 according to Cannillo's website - http://www.cannillomotorsports.com/inventory/straman/straman.htm

 

Is that steering wheel rusted?? Makes one wonder how often the top was down when the rains hit.

 

This is the same dealer where I bought my 400i from a year and a half ago. While a decent guy to deal with, he was less than forthright when describing the car's imperfections. Make sure you do a thorough PPI before bidding on this car.

 

sorry that engine doesnt look like an 8k mile engine!!! i can show him a picture of an engine of how it should look!!!!,,,

 

Whats up with the black front end? Looks out of place...and I LIKE Boxer trim!

 

Just my opinion but those wheels are horrible looking on that car.

No what you're seeing is someone has done a poor job of anodizing (sp?) the silver spokes of the factory wheel.

Yeah, thats pretty bad

 

Sorry to be a doubting Thomas but I don't believe this car has only 8k miles on it. Maybe only 8k on the new speedo that has been installed (look close at the interior shot and you'll see it), but 8k on the whole car? Sorry but I'm not buying it.

I'm not calling Mike Cannillo a liar, afterall dealers are at the mercy of what owners tell them.

But just consider the following:
Notice how the dash, center console, even the gauge surrounds have been covered in tan vinyl or leather?
Anyone notice the 2 different side mirrors?
Non OE road wheels?
See the condition of the steering wheel?
The car has been painted from brown to red and yet the front painted again to black?
Check the condition of a few of the items in the engine bay.

All of this happened to a car in just 8,600 miles?
It sure seems like a lot of repair to items that shouldn't need replacing after just 8k miles.

 

I'm surprised that this car is bringing so much. It'll never get close to the almost $50k asking price on his website, but I thought $30k would be a stretch. Maybe someone actually thinks being "the first" 400 convertible adds value, but, for starters, IMVHO, 400s look horrible as droptops.

 

I agree that 400 droptops often don't look too good (I love the roof line and C-pillar on the coupe), but this is one of the best conversions I've seen as the hood folds away into the body so well.

 

Posting this just for fun..........



"You don't like 400 droptops?
Ok how about 400 clown cars? Can you believe this one? Yes guys it is true....its a yellow 400i with a BLUE ragtop!"

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If he was "less than forthright" about the car what is it that made him decent to deal with? Looks like a buy here, pay here joint to me.
I see no expense was spared on the exhaust and the interior workmanship looks dodgy too.

 

Did the owner of this house take it into a very low income area to photograph it? Doesn't really look like a neighborhood where someone does $8000 majors...

Odd place for a "famous movie producer" to live...

 

I'm sorry, I must say.....but 400i cabriolet conversions just look horrible to my eye. If I ever find my perfect series II, black interior 5-speed in a decent outside color and it's been chopped, I'm gonna croak right there.

haha..

 

It was blue from the factory. It was CHANGED to that yellow!

 

You'll need to better define "very low income area"
On Long Island those houses in that neighborhood are still currently fetching $400k+

 

I bought my 400 from Mike, also. The picture is taken outside his office,
in an iindustrial park. He keeps all the cars there, in a warehouse. Nice area outside that, though.

 

Oh, man, buyer beware for sure...

First of all, the FIRST 400 to be converted by Straman was 22477 (a 400 5-Speed); the second to be converted was 22767. Secondly, this car was for sale in 1985 - with twice the mileage it has now...! The details from '85:

CABRIOLET CONVERSION offered 1985 by Peter Sachs of Stamford, CT. Dark metallic brown with brown and beige interior, champagne top. Special factory installed interior trim with exterior gold accents. Conversion by Straman. USA instrumentation, fully legalized in California. One-owner car, pampered since new. 16,700 miles.

Don't believe me, check out FML 1001.

Stoops.

 

How some Ferrari's can end up looking this bad is a mistery to me. And why one would pay so much money for a non original, non Italian conversion is something I, as a European, can't understand either. I don't think anyone with a brain would spend any cash on a dog like that. I've seen several 400 conversions for sale in the UK and Germany. They will not sell for more than a Coupe. I guess because they are not built by Ferrari.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1983-FERRARI-400-i-Convertible-Spyder-Automatic-Mint_W0QQitemZ330177124723QQihZ014QQcategoryZ18180QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here a very nice and original 400, like it should be:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-FERRARI-400i-400-RED-TAN-COMPLETELY-RESTORED_W0QQitemZ150174395794QQihZ005QQcategoryZ18180QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I saw the comment about the low income etc. If $400.000 is expensive in the US you're all very lucky to be there. Where I live in Europe 300K will get you a very small appartement with neighbours who kill sheep on their balconies, 400K a little home for a small family with a little garden in a neighbourhood where everybody drives an Opel, Mazda or worse.