Ferrari 340 America #0202A - It lives and is for sale!

Interesting. Yesterday i was browsing anamera and saw this one for sale which looks very similar

http://www.anamera.com/en/detail/car/103/index.html?no_cache=1&ret=63

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From the Mecum description of the 340;

"In 2006, automotive restoration expert Tom Shaughnessy of San Clemente, California, purchased what was listed as a vintage Devin sports car on eBay for $26,912. It was Shaughnessy’s plan to restore the Devin to its former glory, but he was in for a big surprise........ Shaughnessy and Ferrari expert Hilary Rabb soon found out that underneath the fiberglass Devin bodywork lay a genuine competition Ferrari......"

I lol-ed at this auction description; but it sure makes for a great story! "Who knew...."?

 

Isn't this an old advert from when the car was for sale 12 years ago? They've used the same photos

Regarding the the 340 America:

Wow!

D'oh!

 

+1

 

The way I remember it, TS had a sneaking suspicion based on the eBay photos. He sent someone to inspect the vehicle and made his purchase decision based on the results of the inspection. IOW, he had a pretty good idea what he was getting when he won the auction. He was paying attention and acted quickly...it wasn't some sort of serendipity after-the-fact. Blind luck makes a better story, but it ignores the real blood and guts of finding old cars.

 

The description is plain wrong.

Marcel Massini

 

Original thread here :
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/0202-a-bought-on-ebay-long-lost-even-numbered-comp-ferrari-found.113281/

 

classiche restored w classiche stamped engine?
restored via original drawings?

 

There are no drawings for such a Vignale body.
Body was recreated new in Italy.
Restored by Classiche with original engine.
Chassis and engine are genuine and authentic.
Restoration completed July 2019.
Shown at FNA display during Pebble Beach in August 2019.

Marcel Massini

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I guess I missed the original thread, cool to be catching up. Did Classiche build the current body? Do I understand that corectly?

Edit: I see Mr. Massini addressed my question while I was posting. Thanks.
Very cool they were able to get ahold of the right engine after all those decades.

 

Classiche doesn't build any bodies. Zero, none.
Such work is outsourced to local coachbuilders, as has always been the case.
The original engine 0202 A was also located and acquired (separately) by Tom Shaugnessy who had already purchased the "Devin" on eBay.

Marcel Massini

 

Thank you for clarifying. That has been my understanding but nice to have it confirmed. That was why I was so confused.

 

A portion of the chassis does not constitute the car in my book.

Hats off for the reconstruction.

 

It wasn't "a portion of the chassis". Please go thru original thread (see post #9). It is the entire original and almost complete frame plus the original engine.
The bodywork is new, of course.

Marcel Massini

 

During the same auction, this lot is quite intriguing...
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-454001/2009-bacchelli-and-villa-touringburano/

 

According to the book "Ferrari by Vignale" by Marcel Massini, 0202A was produced as a Spider, not a Berlinetta.

 

My book is 28 years old (it was published 1992), the research was done more than 30 years ago (from 1983 to 1991). The information about 0202 A in my book is partially incorrect.
Since publication of "Ferrari by Vignale" I have learned a lot more and fresh information has come to light. That is a normal process. History is never complete.
Notably the factory build sheets for 0202 A have become available.

The engine page of the factory build sheets for 0202 A says: “Prima Prova Vettura Berlinetta, Tutto Regolare” (which means that 0202 A was originally born as a Berlinetta and NOT a Spider).

Marcel Massini

 

The shape of the grille on the reconstruction does not quite match the original.

 

Agreed.

Marcel Massini

 

Sold - $88,000.

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Just like to plant a flag here to recognize Marcel.

Too many wanna a be experts on history (of anything) get so caught up in the pride of their authorship and ego that they fall into a false confirmation bias either intentionally or unintentionally. They stop looking for new evidence that confirm or deny what we think we know. Here Marcel is a true scientific historian. Always searching for new evidence. Once new evidence arises there is no hesidency to change an authored and published conclusion.

Bravo Marcel. Stay at it. Historians like you color this hobby.


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I remember bidding against Tom on the eBay auction for the chassis. I had an incling that the chassis was “Italian” but didn’t know exactly what it was....Tom did and told me he was willing to go to $250...I was out at $20...Laughing Out Loud...he already had the engine...I already had the distributor cap.....LOL!

I’m just happy the car was saved and restored.