The Emperor's Ferrari (Bao Dai)

I don't know if these numbers are accurate but for sure it's a french plate showing 0212A was in France at least in early 50's...

 

Nice thread

 

Here is what I have.171EL.was the Chinetti/Taruffi winning car in the CPA of 195i After the CPA 171EL and 0161EL. the Ascari/Villoresi 2nd OA, were sold in Mexico.It was reported that with the prize money some $70,000 went to SEFAC. 0171EL was sold to Adolfo Velazques who raced it in the next CPA The car was a DNF after a major crash.It is believed the car was written off as destroyed.0121A was then purchased from Ferrari by Velazques.The sn was changed to 0171 by SEFAC to allow Velazques to import the car into Mexico as a used car avoiding new car import taxes.This became an often used technique by Ferrari to assist regular buyers with their purchase of a new car. King Leopold did this four times. The new 0171EL seems to have for disappeared for over 30 years probably owned by Fernandez Rulloba. Anyone who has more details please let us know. Thanks tongascrew

 

There is someone here (ferrarmex) who seems to know more about 0212. But unfortunately he doesn't appear on ferrarichat for a year now. See :

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vintage-thru-365-gtc4-sponsored-vintage-driving-machines/90757-340-brakes.html

 

Pics?

 

Dr Google found this:

375 MM PF Spyder 0450AM

 

Thanks.

Shame on me. I saw it last year in Mulhouse.
Can I plead visual overload?

 

& this:

340 America Vignale Berlinetta 0212A
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

'Velocetoday' states:

"Not a 250GT Ferrari but chassis 0450AM which began life as a 375MM Spider, later converted into this coupe by Scaglietti for Emporer Bao Dai of Viet Nam. Dai bought a Casino in Lyon, France and moved there in the mid- 1950's."

Italians at the Schlumpf
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

A: Yes

B: Casino.

C: Yes.

D: No Brainer !

E: Unlikely.

It appears; and I am slow to realise that Bao Dai owned:

1: 1952 340 America #0212A, which appears to be the car in discussion.

2: and also 1955 375MM #0450AM.

3: 1955 410 Superamerica S1 Coupe #0493SA.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

# 0450AM, some details...obviously, I hope to be able to complete soon with photos of the engine and interior !
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

What a pity to see 0212/A with a red colour today. I wonder when the car will be restored back to original colours (if it's not already done : who knows ?)

It's a chance to see 0450/AM conserved in the Schlumpf museum today. I bet anything if the car was sold, the stupid owner would put a 375 MM PF spyder replica body on it...

 

Totally Agree. In fact, as you know, it's not exactly the "Schlumpf museum", but the National Museum of Automobile. All the cars should be considered as a national treasure, and can't be sold. However, it is sad to see the lack of maintenance of these cars..And how many tens (or hundreds) are still waiting in the reserves ?
But the museum (or rather the French State) obviously has not sufficient means to maintain or restore properly. Selling 2 or 3 Bugatti (for example) would allow a significant improvement !

 

Don't they have some rare Mercedes Benz race cars in the reserve? If they sell them to Mercedes they would probably get a lot more then by selling some Bugatti.

 

Mercedes tried to buy a specific car - but had no success!
The Musee National has a list of cars that will never come for sale. Amongst this cars is the MB, Maserati 300S, Ferrari 250LM, Maserati Tipo 26, and -of course- some Bugatti like the "Tank", Royal etc.!

They already sold some minor important cars in the past - but all time on this planet is not enough to restore all of them. And most of their cars are in average to bad condition!

I like the ex-bak Dai-car more in this condition than over-restored like so many other Ferrari. But it would be great to do the mechanics of this great car!

 

Its a great collection but a shabby museum.
They could finance the needed upgrades by just selling of some of the duplicate models they have.
But it's not for me to tell them what to do.

 

Shabby museum? they could indeed make an effort to car maintenance, but where can you see so many different and historically significant models, with a very comfortable presentation for the public, space, lighting, staging...

https://picasaweb.google.com/100135472644301773345/CiteDeLAutomobileCollectionSchlumpf#

 

The collection is amazing in its size and scope but compared to other museums, auto and otherwise, its disappointing.
The bulk of the collection is in one, almost overwhelmingly, large room and would benefit from more informative signage and a comprehensive organizing principle.
That being said its a must see for any automobile nut. I routed my last European trip through Alsace specifically to visit the collection and wasn't disappointed that I did. It's just that such a fine collection deserves better curation and innovative presentation.

And the rest rooms are a bit of a disgrace.

 

My article on the museum is in the current issue of the Ferrari Market Letter.

As some have stated the Schlumpf (or whatever the government now calls it) generates mixed feelings, on the one hand it is very special to see original cars as opposed to overly restored shiny Concours cars and it will only get rarer. It is awe inspiring in fact.

Then you have the facilities and lack of budget which are obvious...the large room is so because it used to be a knitting and milling textile factory.

The one regret is that there is no guide book to buy, there were a couple of books in the past but they ran out. Like much in France that has anything to do with the government you would have to push a lot of bureaucracy to get anything done and there is just no budget for that.
It is quite miraculous that they managed to do a new entrance a few years ago but it is just a face lift reminiscent of a movie set, a facade (see photo). The offices where I visited the director -who confirmed that his hands are tied budget wise- are incredible time warps you half expect the Schlumpf brothers to appear, middle aged, discussing the purchase of yet another Bugatti!

BTW I love the Bao Dai car, it has incredible presence, aura

Best regards,

Marc
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

A docent program would go a long way to making the museum more visitor friendly.

 

I visited the museum for the first time in the mid-80s, when basically nothing existed beside the main building, the cars on the gravel and the streetlights. I think this was impressive to see just the cars lined up as they were intended by the Schlumpf brothers. Over the years they made a few modernisations like the room with the Royales or the side room with the racing Bugattis lined up. I think each of this "special corners" was a great addition although it already lost a little bit of the charme of the beginning. I like the way the cars are presented, especially in times when most of the other museum become more and more multimedia with screens everywhere. Certainly it is right that this is very much from the view of an enthusiast and the museum might be less attractive for "normal" visitors but I hope they can still keep some of the old athmosphere.
The bistro and the restrooms must be up-to-date as this has nothing to do with the museum itself but it can ruin a visit, especially when you are with a family.

 

+++1

 

Chacun a son gout.