Equipment
Borrani wire wheels with partially painted rims and tainted spokes and hubs, Michelin Pilote X 6.00x16 tires, air conditioning, covered headlights, Michelin headlights and grille-mounted fog lights, velocity stacks, cold air box.
Condition
#1 Concours
World-class. Could compete in the world’s best Concours d'Elegance events.
Built as chassis 0805GT but given the number of an earlier Tour de France of its first owner, Pierre Noblet, who raced it with good results. Crashed in the mid-60's, damaging both sides of the body. Eventually sold still damaged to Wayne Sparling in 1975 who built the present body, then drove it a lot. Dented, scuffed bright trim. Dull, dented bumpers. Painted door window frames. Musty smelling interior. Odd-shaped nose and indifferent paint.
Market commentary
The next owner of Wayne Sparling's TdF will be faced with an interesting situation. In its present configuration it has history that a restoration would obscure, but it doesn't look much like it did when Pierre Noblet raced it. It should be one of the more reliable TdFs after years of Sparling's attention. Wrapped up and neatly tied, the pros and cons of this TdF probably mean the next owner will promptly send it to Maranello for a new body and full restoration under Ferrari's supervision. Unless the market turns upside down in the next few years what will come out the other end of that process will be a Red Book Certified car that will be worth eight figures. It is a long, involved process that carries no small amount of risk, entails a material investment of time and attention, and involves inevitable considerations of opportunity cost while it is in process. In that complicated equation the reported high bid here is not unreasonable.