The Palo Alto Concours: I came, I saw . . . - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 06-29-2007, 02:33 AM

. . I took pitchers.

What an embarrassment of riches. Well, I wasn't embarrassed, certainly. I would have liked it a whole lot more if I could have driven my choice of any 5 cars. Maybe in the next lifetime.

The million dollar barn find Ferrari was prominently featured -- it wasn't too far from the gate. I spotted the owner from the newspaper article and asked him if people had been begging him to pop the hood. He was keen to show off the car but didn't seem all that wild about showing the engine, saying, "well I guess so," kind of wearily. Oh well.

I took two photos but for some reason, the first one didn't record, it was a better shot than the one posted here but oh well. He shut the hood pretty quick and I didn't want to ask him again.

I'm not trying to diss the guy, he was cool, answered my questions like we were chewing the fat. He said the reason the original US owner sat it for so many years was a broken rear leaf spring. Amazing. Then again, lucky for us. Might have been wrapped around a tree or over-restored if he hadn't sat it. The new owner decided to keep it as close to 'as is' as possible. He said the engine needed the crank polished and new pistons but that was about it.

The article implied that it sat in the sun for decades after the original covering of some rugs and black plastic was removed. Not to impugn anyone's honesty, but I'm wondering if some of that was journalistic exaggeration. These two shots of the seats don't fit with that:

I wish I'd asked him if he's had the seats recovered but it doesn't look like he did. And if those had sat in the Arizona sun for 10 - 20 years, even 5, I can easily imagine that they'd be serious trash -- the kind of stuff that you rip by sitting on it.

I got there sorta late in the show -- the meet up failed to materialize -- and I was there when he started it and drove away. Damn, it sounded sweet. I'd asked him earlier if he drove it on the streets. He said "all the time." I said, "Brave man," and when he shrugged, I felt a bit sheepish and added, "Well why not -- life is short," to which he gave the sideways head cock, the you-betcha gesture.

That's him holding the spacious boot open.

As you can see, there was a similar model in the hardtop edition, kinda odd looking all in all. Nice, certainly, but I looked the more au natural red one a lot better.

There were over 100 Ferraris there. I saw not only my first 330 GTC (the Ferrari I lust for) but my first three.

cmac2012 · #2 06-29-2007, 02:39 AM

I hope I'm not posting too many pics here. I know the limit is 10 per post. Am I cheating if I go for more posts with more pics?

cmac2012 · #3 06-29-2007, 02:39 AM

There were at least four 275 GTBs as well:

cmac2012 · #4 06-29-2007, 02:43 AM

Sortal looks like my back yard:

Not to be outdone, couple a Maseratis:

Chris Bell · #5 06-29-2007, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I hope I'm not posting too many pics here. I know the limit is 10 per post. Am I cheating if I go for more posts with more pics?

No, please, post more.

cmac2012 · #6 06-29-2007, 02:57 AM

If you insist. Now I expect to see you at the next one, Chris. Oh my Ghod, I took in so much eye candy I got a sugar rush.

James Bond put in an appearance:

This is a police car I haven't seen in my rear view mirror, lights a flashin,' knock on wood. It's stationed in my neighborhood and provided by Carlsen Porsche, just about 100 yards away from my warehouse space.

cmac2012 · #7 06-29-2007, 03:10 AM

Another shot of that Maserati, which I thought was an especially cool car:

One of the early Lambos:

Not to mention more recent Lambos:

cmac2012 · #8 06-29-2007, 03:20 AM

And of course, Mercedes was represented but only a few:

Note the classy old matching suitcase behind the front seat in the Gullwing:

t walgamuth · #9 03-24-2019, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I hope I'm not posting too many pics here. I know the limit is 10 per post. Am I cheating if I go for more posts with more pics?

no.

t walgamuth · #10 03-24-2019, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I hope I'm not posting too many pics here. I know the limit is 10 per post. Am I cheating if I go for more posts with more pics?

I love that Barchetta (your first car pictured). It looks very original. The seat covers could be original or not. I love the looks of them. I admire the owner's decision to just use it. I can imagine he spent a good sum to get all the mechanicals working. If restored you'd not want to risk dings and such so it would probably become relegated to garage and trailer queen.

I used to have that 59 GT 250 pf coupe. I did pretty much all the work on it while I owned it. I had the engine apart, rebuilt the brakes and carburators, had the wheels rebuilt. The cars were built to run in the 24 race at lemans so all the parts are very high quality if they are important in a race. Door latch handles and such maybe not so much. Each individual part in a Ferrari is just like any other car. Levers and springs and bolts, etc. There are just a lot more of everything in a 12 cylinder car. They carry a lot of oil pressure, over 100 psi when cold and will keep going even if the bearings and such are worn.

I'd not run around with no air cleaner as he is though. I imagine he did not want the hood open because someone might think it was cute to drop something into the carbs.

POS · #11 06-29-2007, 08:52 AM

Wow. Houston has the Keels N Wheels Concours, but other than that we get nada. Cali has the best car shows.

Thanks for the pics - loved to see them.

The Swede · #12 06-29-2007, 09:35 AM

Awesome pics, thanks cmac!

POS · #13 06-30-2007, 08:34 AM

Geez, I wish I could drive to that show. All those cars and I couldn't care any less about the American-made stuff. Barrett-Jackson has absolutely killed that side of me.