Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Crushed Cars

[Hans E. Hansen (FList]

Oh, and PS:

I don't know that GM crushed any significant number of cars.  They
have an extensive collection (not open to the public) of show cars
and significant production cars.  A small number of these have been
sold at auction in recent years.

All significant Corvettes still exist:  CERV I, CERV II, Mako Shark I,
Mako Shark II, 2 Rotor, 3 Rotor, etc.

GM routinely destroyed preproduction pilot cars, as they were
simply experiments to make sure the assembly line worked, parts
fit, and the workers could assemble them.  Often options would
be mixed and matched on the same car.  I arranged the donation
of 2 of these cars to our local community college auto mechanics
dept.  One of them had different interior front and rear, another
had power windows and locks on one side and manual on the
other.  Just trying 'stuff' out.  The serial #s on these cars were
defaced, and after the school was done playing with them, they
were to be destroyed.

Hans.

On 2/29/08, Hans E. Hansen <FList [at] hanshansen.org> wrote:
> Bill:
>
> You don't have it quite right.  You're referring to the Grand Sports.
> Penske was involved in their long controversial history, as were
> others.  The story goes that 5 were built, and then GM brass
> ordered them destroyed after they enacted a ban on racing.  They
> disappeared for a while, were presumed destroyed, but now all
> of them are accounted for.
>
> A couple of years ago, clear evidence of a 6th Grand Sport surfaced.
> Even Penske recalled a 6th car, and there is a photo of 6 cars
> lined up.  The newest version of the story goes that the GM
> employee ordered to destroy them set fire to one of the cars
> and perhaps some other lesser cars.  He pointed to the burnt
> mess as evidence that he carried out orders.  It was probably
> him that smuggled the 5 remaining cars out.
>
> Hans.
>
> On 2/28/08, red5hilser [at] aol.com <red5hilser [at] aol.com> wrote:
> > Hey Larry: The Chevrolet Division of GM did the same thing to all the 
> > Corvette race cars that they had loaned to Roger Penske for the season back 
> > in 'the days.' Only thing was, that the GM employee in charge of the 
> > crushing, being the car-nut that he was, misplaced one. It's still out 
> > there somewhere. I read about it in R&T years ago. I think they were raced 
> > in the old Trans-Am series.
> >
> > And as far as the long-gone 1961 156 shark noses, Phil Hill drove an exact 
> > replica (except for the nose badge) that Chris Rhea had built for his 
> > documentary film in Wolfgang von Tripps. After about 20 minutes of track 
> > time, Phil came in and said that it was very apparent?that it was?nothing 
> > like the original factory?156. Unlike the Team cars, this one was well 
> > built and?didn't have?the rather shoddy construction or?feel of Enzo's 
> > machines.
> >
> > IMHO, the only reason that Hill won the WDC was that the V-6 Ferrari engine 
> > had a 40-50 horsepower advantage over the Brits. Not withstanding that his 
> > only rival, Tripps was killed in the last, and deciding race held at Monza
> > On real drivers courses, the 156 didn't do too well, with Stirling Moss 
> > winning at Monte Carlo, and I think, the old Nurburgring. Somebody out 
> > there will have to check for?me on the latter.
> >
> > Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: LarryT
> > Subject: [Ferrari] Crushed Cars
> >
> >
> >
> > Howdy -
> >
> >    I assume everyone knows that Enzo had some of his race cars (like the
> > shark nosed F1 cars that took Phil Hill to become World Champion) crushed
> > after they became obsolete.  Just heard the 1st 2 prototypes of the XKE were
> > also crushed.
> >
> >    I'm wondering why they crushed them?  Protecting secrets? eccentric?
> > some other reason?
> >
> > Larry T (66 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D)
> > www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts
> > Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil
> > PORSCHE POSTERS!  youroil.net
> > Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
> > http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/red5hilser%40aol.com
> >
> > Sponsored by BidNip.com eBay Auction Sniper
> > http://www.BidNip.com/
> > and F1 Headlines
> > http://www.F1Headlines.com/
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
> > http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/flist%40hanshansen.org
> >
> > Sponsored by BidNip.com eBay Auction Sniper
> > http://www.BidNip.com/
> > and F1 Headlines
> > http://www.F1Headlines.com/
> >
>