The story behind a Ferrari 330 GT barn find
by David Williamson – – –
Barn finds are always big news for motoring enthusiasts. A couple of years ago, twice Gold Star champion Spencer Martin suggested I join him on a visit to one of Sydney’s Ferrari service centres. Intrigued, I was told only that Spencer’s friend Frank had promised, “I want to share a special surprise with you, because I’ve discovered something magic”.
A few months earlier, someone had quietly mentioned to Frank that a 1967 Ferrari V12 330 GT, hidden away in a garage near Sydney for over 46 years, had been found. The car’s owner had died and his widow wished to sell the car. A startled Frank promptly drove to the outskirts of Sydney to look at the car.
Once there, he discovered the car had been bought in 1967, then used sparingly in the UK and Europe before coming to Australia in 1974. The car had long been stored in an old shed down at the bottom of a hill near the owner’s house. No tyre marks were visible on the grass track leading to the building, it was obvious nothing had been driven down there for many years.
As they opened the large garage doors, they were stunned to see the red car. It looked good – considering it had sat for 45 years. The owner had erected solid 100mm wooden posts around the car, to make any attempts at theft difficult. The lack of rust was quite apparent, the result of the smart owner having the barn completely insulated and then sealed up. Many layers of carpets covered the floor, which no doubt helped to absorb moisture over the years.
The Ferrari was covered with fine dust, the paint had deteriorated and was crazed. Once the doors were opened, the interior was seen to be in amazing condition, the upholstery looked as if the car had hardly been used.
Opening the boot produced another pleasant surprise. Inside lay a thick leather bag packed with paperwork. Every document relating to the car’s history had been carefully preserved. The owner’s letter to the Ferrari concessionaire in London enquiring about “possible purchase of one of their cars” was the first item. Then followed multiple receipts, Ferrari invoices, shipping documents, car ferry labels, tax bills, fuel dockets, and tools. As a result, the providence of the car was easily proven using the chassis number and other important identifying features.
A price was agreed on to the satisfaction of the late owner’s wife and the car was then collected by truck and taken to the Ferrari workshops in Roseville.
A gentle cleaning operation commenced, together with a complete check of the engine. Both rocker covers were removed to reveal the insides of both cam housings were clean. Distributor points, rotors and caps of the ignition system were checked, all lubricants and fluids were drained and replaced, together with new oil filters.
A tentative tap on the starter button proved the V12 still spun over, so 12 spark plugs were removed to check the state of the cylinder walls, using a small endoscopic microscope. The bores looked clean, so the engine was again cranked to get oil pressure. Once good pressure was achieved, new plugs were fitted. Fingers crossed, after a few squirts of ether, it was cranked for about 10 seconds. Suddenly, it roared into life.
The noise that thundered around Eastern Valley Way was probably the loud cheering coming from the mechanics … and Frank.
The interior is in amazing condition.
The car is as real and as natural as it should be. To do a glossy rebuild would lose the essence and character of the car – and you wouldn’t re-paint a Rembrandt.
