Tag: ferrari

Classic Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Restoration part 6

Stephen classic car restoration

ferrari 365 gtc/4 restoration

The plan for 2013 was to replace the boot lid and start to make good the bodywork. Contact was made with HMG paints in Manchester who analysed some of the paint from the car in their laboratory and mixed an exact copy mix which they supplied in both a touch up canister and in a tin suitable for spraying.

The summer of 2013 turned into a nightmare. The car started to use water and soon it was noticed that the oil and water were getting mixed.

ferrari 365 restoration oil & water mix

Little compression on the cylinders, the future looked bleak. The mechanic said that it must be the head gaskets but wouldn’t predict which bank was involved. Other sages said that it could be the combined oil/water pump or the head gaskets or a cracked block.

Ferrari-Oil-Water-Mix

A decision was taken to take out the engine, rebuild as required and fit a new clutch at the same time. My mechanic was already committed for the following year but he kindly put me in the direction of a Ferrari and race preparation garage in Holmes Chapel who directed me to a specialist classic repair place nearby. When first visiting there, they were finishing off a full restoration on a 365 2+2.

 

Here are links to the articles in this series:

 

Part 6 -Bodywork, oil & water issues

Part 5 – Replacement door sills and exhaust

Part 4 – Alternator, driving on the roads

Part 3 – Engine, front wing, braking system, MOT

Part 2 – Car history

Part 1 – Introduction

Classic Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Restoration part 2 – Car history

Stephen classic car restoration

aubrey_ferrari_restoration

Here is a brief history of our Ferrari 365 GTC/4 that will be undergoing renovation.

Our barn find was originally ordered on the Ferrari factory by the UK agents Maranello Concessionaires in October 1971.  The purchaser was Gerald Ronson – who at the time, amongst his many business interests was chairman of H.R. Owen Ltd.  The sales contact at Maranello  was Mike Salmon, the well known racing driver who drove on many occasions at Le Mans and other important sportscar events. Mike Salmon raced many iconic cars including Aston Martin DB4, Jaguar D-type & XK120, Ford GT40, Ferrari 250GTO & 250LM.

The 365 GTC/4 took longer than expected to arrive in the UK, but chassis / engine No. 15131 was eventually delivered in June 1972. The car was painted Rosso Nearco 2.664.032 It, with leather upholstery in Beige VM 3218 and fitted with Beige carpets. The price paid by Mr Ronson, a good Ferrari customer, was £7,850 less 12.1/2% discount plus purchase tax of £1,964.37 making a total of £8,529.01 . A delivery charge from Egham to London was an additional cost which did not go down well with the purchaser. In response the supplier advised that they had to charge £2 per hour for delivery and the time involved was 3 hours. Incidentally, Maranello Concessionaires paid Ferrari only £4,710 free Italian Border for the car.

The car was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971. It was a 2+2 (very small rear seats) designed by Pininfarina with a 5 speed box.. The engine type was F101AC with 4390cc  V12 capable of producing 340 bhp @ 6200 rpm. 6 Weber 38DC0E 2 barrel carburettors are fitted. Top speed is 163mph at 6850rpm.

The production run ended in 1972  and by then  505 units were built of which only 50 were RHD.

Aubrey Garton bought the car in 1977 and the car remains in his family and is now owned by his son Tim. Tim Garton is a Director of  www.thomassmithfasteners.com  who supply the classic car industry with BA, BSF, BSW, UNF, UNC, & Metric Fasteners, Bolts & Nuts in all Head Shapes, Material Grades  and Material Types.

Here are links to the articles in this series:

Part 6 -Bodywork, oil & water issues

Part 5 – Replacement door sills and exhaust

Part 4 – Alternator, driving on the roads

Part 3 – Engine, front wing, braking system, MOT

Part 2 – Car history

Part 1 – Introduction