I just happened to read this fascinating article on Jalopnik and thought I'd bring it here : http://jalopnik.com/...million-ferrari
Stolen $15M Ferrari 330 LMB?
Started by
Slowinfastout
, Aug 29 2012 22:53
7 replies to this topic
#1
Slowinfastout
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Posted 29 August 2012 - 22:53
Hey guys, I rarely post here because I don't feel I can add anything of interest, but I'm a regular lurker enjoying the insightful (and more mature) stuff happening in this section of the forums
I just happened to read this fascinating article on Jalopnik and thought I'd bring it here : http://jalopnik.com/...million-ferrari
I just happened to read this fascinating article on Jalopnik and thought I'd bring it here : http://jalopnik.com/...million-ferrari
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#2
David Birchall
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Posted 30 August 2012 - 00:49
Interesting story, although I didn't read the whole thing.
A LMB is not worth close to fifteen mil as far as I am aware.
A LMB is not worth close to fifteen mil as far as I am aware.
#3
kayemod
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Posted 30 August 2012 - 09:00
Interesting story, although I didn't read the whole thing.
A LMB is not worth close to fifteen mil as far as I am aware.
The way some auctions have gone recently, I can see if realising something close to that. Look at what that Mirage went for recently, and we aren't even sure exactly what that car is. It's a lesser car is many respects certainly, but at least we know that the 330 is completely genuine, even if ownership isn't. Given a choice of the two I think I'd go for the Ferrari, but I'm only dreaming of course.
#4
Tmeranda
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Posted 30 August 2012 - 15:26
Hey guys, I rarely post here because I don't feel I can add anything of interest, but I'm a regular lurker enjoying the insightful (and more mature) stuff happening in this section of the forums
I just happened to read this fascinating article on Jalopnik and thought I'd bring it here : http://jalopnik.com/...million-ferrari
Caavallino estimated them at $12-$15MM.
#5
Cynic2
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Posted 30 August 2012 - 15:50
First, at this point, a 330 LMB could well go for $15M. This one (4619) is certainly the least of the four, but in the current market that price is not at all unlikely. Remember that most of the "big" Ferraris are traded privately, not at auction, and the prices are rarely reported, or at least rarely reported accurately.
I lived in Atlanta during the period of this story, was involved with Ferraris, and know a bit of the history of this car. I registered a Ferrari 275 GTS in Georgia in 1979, and had the opportunity to look at the DMV's printout on Ferraris (the clerk was trying to figure a value for taxes on my car). Interestingly, there were two 330 LMBs shown; one had the chassis number 4619, the other was listed with a chassis number of "330 LMB." (And the documenation shown in the Jalopnik story is stamped TRI330LM, which is another, unrelated car entirely, and a car Fong never owned.)
Could Don Fong have sold the same car to two people, under two different chassis numbers? Let's just say it wouldn't have been the first time (How about taking a car left for repairs, using it as collateral with a bank who seized it, and then trying to give it to your lawyer in payment for his fee?) Fong stories are legion in Atlanta among the Ferrari crowd from that era, with good reason.
Those who want to look further into Mr. Fong's background might obtain copies of The Atlanta Constitution, the afternoon Atlanta paper, from April 6, 1978. On the front page, above the fold, is a story titled "Donald Fong Finagles Ferraris" with a color photo of Mr. Fong and a Ferrari. It was a major and lengthy story in that issue, and was continued the following day (April 7), although this time below the fold on Page 1. Part II was titled "Car Man Fong: 'I Was Fighting For My Life'."
There probably is a scam here, but perhaps not the one reported . . . .
Cynic
I lived in Atlanta during the period of this story, was involved with Ferraris, and know a bit of the history of this car. I registered a Ferrari 275 GTS in Georgia in 1979, and had the opportunity to look at the DMV's printout on Ferraris (the clerk was trying to figure a value for taxes on my car). Interestingly, there were two 330 LMBs shown; one had the chassis number 4619, the other was listed with a chassis number of "330 LMB." (And the documenation shown in the Jalopnik story is stamped TRI330LM, which is another, unrelated car entirely, and a car Fong never owned.)
Could Don Fong have sold the same car to two people, under two different chassis numbers? Let's just say it wouldn't have been the first time (How about taking a car left for repairs, using it as collateral with a bank who seized it, and then trying to give it to your lawyer in payment for his fee?) Fong stories are legion in Atlanta among the Ferrari crowd from that era, with good reason.
Those who want to look further into Mr. Fong's background might obtain copies of The Atlanta Constitution, the afternoon Atlanta paper, from April 6, 1978. On the front page, above the fold, is a story titled "Donald Fong Finagles Ferraris" with a color photo of Mr. Fong and a Ferrari. It was a major and lengthy story in that issue, and was continued the following day (April 7), although this time below the fold on Page 1. Part II was titled "Car Man Fong: 'I Was Fighting For My Life'."
There probably is a scam here, but perhaps not the one reported . . . .
Cynic
Edited by Cynic2, 30 August 2012 - 15:52.
#6
fromage
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Posted 24 January 2013 - 21:29
It's going on 6 months since the Jalopnik story about stolen Ferrari 330 LMB ser 4619. strange that no one has seen or anything reported about the car...the story went viral world wide on the internet after Jalopnik reported it... yet no one has generated any leads to the car, I think I saw there might be a reward for information leading to the car... still it's surprising with that kind of attention no one has seen it or made a comment... nothing but dead silence
... the custodians are not coming forward to defend their postion, so they must know they are holding a hot car and keeping it under deep cover... it's surprising that someone hasn't made any comment about where the car may be or who is holding it...
... the custodians are not coming forward to defend their postion, so they must know they are holding a hot car and keeping it under deep cover... it's surprising that someone hasn't made any comment about where the car may be or who is holding it...
Edited by fromage, 24 January 2013 - 21:31.
#8
arttidesco
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Posted 25 January 2013 - 05:51
It's going on 6 months since the Jalopnik story about stolen Ferrari 330 LMB ser 4619. strange that no one has seen or anything reported about the car...the story went viral world wide on the internet after Jalopnik reported it... yet no one has generated any leads to the car, I think I saw there might be a reward for information leading to the car... still it's surprising with that kind of attention no one has seen it or made a comment... nothing but dead silence
... the custodians are not coming forward to defend their postion, so they must know they are holding a hot car and keeping it under deep cover... it's surprising that someone hasn't made any comment about where the car may be or who is holding it...
IIRC there is a law in the UK that makes it a crime to handle stolen goods, if the same applies in the US where the car appears to have last been seen, I guess whom ever has the keys is keeping an extremely low profile.
Without a satelite tracker on it, finding a particular rare Ferrari is akin to looking for a microbe in a haystack I imagine, even if someone is flashing cash for information.
Neither the owner who claims it was stolen nor the current owner have come out as squeaky clean angels so is it really any surprise most people have absorbed the information and simply moved on ?
