Vehicle Description
1961 Ferrari 250 PF Cabriolet This 1961 Ferrari 250 PF Cabriolet
s/n 2343 GT is an amazingly well-documented, user-friendly and
event-friendly Enzo-Era, drop-top Ferrari. On 14 June, 1990 Ferrari
250 PF Cab s/n 2343 GT was sold as an in-process restoration by RM
Classic Car Investments of Chatham, Ontario, Canada, to Lee Brown,
owner of Precision Auto Body, a very high-end repair and
restoration shop in Reseda, California, and was owned by Lee Brown
for the next thirty-three years. As part of the purchase price RM
included an all-new tan leather interior, a re-chrome of the soft
top framework and a new canvas soft-top with liner. RM also did
further post-sale restoration work in 1990-1991 including new floor
pans and rocker panels, (common areas of rust in early 250s) which
was billed over eleven separate monthly invoices. The eleven
invoices total $89,997.37, a huge billing in 1991 when labor was
billed at $43.00 per hour. Once with Mr. Brown the engine rebuild
was sublet to Don Rudd?s Maranello Auto Parts in Tucker, GA; the
chrome work was sublet to Van Nuys Plating in Van Nuys CA; the
complete front and rear suspension was rebuilt, with most of the
parts coming from Maranello Auto Parts in Tucker, GA and Partsource
in Camden, Maine; the brake system was rebuilt with most of the
parts ordered from GT Car Parts, Phoenix, AZ; the wire wheels were
rebuilt by Valley Wire Wheel in Van Nuys, CA; a new grille,
original Marchal headlamps with new buckets and many trim pieces
were ordered from Re-Originals in Goodrich, TX; and the list goes
on and on We have about one-hundred and twenty pages of parts
receipts and service listings, far too many to document, although
they do offer a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who have
been in the business for many decades, listing both shops long gone
and those still with us. The earliest invoice begin with Bill Rudd
Motors, then in Scottsdale, AZ and then several dozen invoices from
his son, Don Rudd at Maranello Auto Parts in Tucker, GA. Other
parts invoices came from Bob Smith Enterprises in Gainesville, TX;
Lyle Tanner Enterprises, Rockwall, TX; Newco Products in Reseda,
CA; White Post Restorations, White Post VA; this author?s former
parts and restoration business, European Auto Restoration in Costa
Mesa, CA and most recently GTO Engineering in Los Angeles. As shown
in our video, the engine starts instantly, with virtually no smoke
whatsoever. The carburation and ignition systems are in beautiful
harmony, and the engine pulls cleanly and crisply from idle to
redline, producing excellent power and oil pressure throughout the
rev band. The transmission shifts well with good synchronization,
both warm and cold. The clutch is well adjusted with good uptake,
and the factory installed overdrive unit works beautifully. The
brake pedal is high, effective, and confidence inspiring. The
steering is responsive and suspension tight and cohesive. The water
and oil temperature gauges, oil pressure, speedometer, tachometer,
and clock are all operational, as is the fuel gauge. As part of the
pre-sale inspection we?ve done a compression test with all
cylinders in the 175-190 lb range, photos available. The 250 GT
Series II Cabriolet was unveiled to the public at the Paris Auto
Salon on 01-11 Oct. 1959 as a drop-top follow-up to the handsome
250 GT Coupe, which had been introduced a year earlier at the Milan
Auto show. Because of the ever-increasing cost of racing, Ferrari
needed to sell more road-going models to help subsidize his
ever-expanding racing program. While road-going Ferrari?s had been
offered in the early-mid 1950s, each was essentially built-to-suit
for each individual customer, keeping volume low and costs high,
rendering them minimally profitable. The Series II Cabriolet became
Ferrari?s first commercially-successful, production-based
convertible, serving as a showcase of Ferrari?s race tested
technology, while increasing income to support racing. The PF Cab
offered generous space for both passengers and luggage and, at a
glance, seemed to be somewhat longer than the coupe, thanks to a
stylish kick-up just behind the doors and the elegant rear fenders,
although the cabriolet and coupe actually shared nearly identical
overall dimensions. Mechanically, the Series II 250 GT Cabriolet
was a considerable improvement over the earlier cars, with the
addition of the updated and more powerful 3.0-liter,
Colombo-derived V-12 Tipo 128 F engine. This engine was fitted with
outside-plug cylinder heads and twin distributors, good for 240 hp,
while an overdrive transmission allowed effortless high-speed
cruising. The Series II PF Coupe and Cab were the first production
Ferraris fitted with race-bred four-wheel disc brakes, while
telescopic shock absorbers and handsome 16-inch Borrani wire wheels
helped handling. The result was an elegant, understated, luxurious
and, for it?s time, a very quick Ferrari, with acceleration to 60
mph achieved in less than seven seconds, en route to a top speed
close to 140 mph, making the 250 PF Cab the drop-top Super-Car of
it?s time. 250 PF Cab s/n 2343 GT has a well documented history
from new, going from Luigi Chinetti motors to the Carrier? air
conditioning family in Connecticut in 1961 before going to a Dr.
Petracini in Bedford, New York in 1966. In 1969 s/n 2343 GT was
owned by Gary Bonner, New York, a songwriter who wrote the song So
Happy Together before going to John Tennant III of Castle Rock,
Colorado. In 1984 s/n 2343 GT went on to the ownership of Robert
Mabit of Vercheres, Quebec, Canada and then, in 1986, to Wally
Stonehouse of Toronto, Ontario. In 1990 s/n 2343 GT went to RM
Classic Car Investments and was then sold to Lee R. Brown of
Reseda, California. While the engine and suspension were rebuilt
and the body was prepared for paint, the restoration was never
completed and s/n 2343 GT went into long-term storage in the
owner?s hangar at the Van Nuys airport. Most recently 250 PF Cab
s/n 2343 GT was taken to Fast Cars Ltd, in Redondo Beach to be
inventoried, their invoice was $4,375.00, before coming to
Ferraris-Online in March. 250 PF Cab s/n 2343 GT is matching
chassis and engine numbers, of course, and it will be easy to get a
Ferrari Classiche red book once painted and assembled. The 109th of
just 200 Series II Cabriolets constructed, s/n 2343 GT was finished
from new in the desirable color combination of Nocciola, MM 16259,
(gold/brown metallic) with a 3218 naturale (light tan) leather
interior and was fitted from new with a very rare Factory hardtop.
Today 250 PF Cab. s/n 2343 GT starts easily, runs great, drives
well, goes through the gears smoothly and brakes straight thanks to
the engine, trans, suspension and brake rebuilds. All body panels
and the major chrome work have been fitted to the car and all of
the gaps are as-new. The factory correct wood rimmed steering wheel
is beautifully refinished, and the gauges show none of the hazing
common to weathered Ferrari instruments of the era. The engine bay
features the original and rebuilt Bendix brake booster, yellow fuel
lines, the correct fuel filter bowl, air cleaner and ignition
coils. We believe that 250 PF Cab. s/n 2343 GT is largely complete,
has both the hard and soft tops, comes with its original leather
tool bag with its tools, jack and lube gun and needs only paint and
final assembly, we have an estimate of $18,500 to finish the paint
work in the original Nocciola, MM 16259, (gold/brown metallic) or
any color of the buyer?s choosing. Re-assembly can be billed on an
hourly basis and we can help to coordinate any level of restoration
the new owner might want. With new paint, carpets, a new rubber kit
and some small parts, plus assembly, 250 PF Cab s/n 2343 GT would
be ready to grace the lawn at Cavallino or ...for more information
please contact the seller.
