Help how to authinticate a rare vehicle

speedbiu wrote: The shifter hole for the Muncie is not centered in the floor

That's normal.

The shifter hole won't be centered because the shifter doesn't go into the top of the trans like it does on modern units.

The shifter mounts to the driver's side of the tailhousing on Saginaw, Borg-Warner and Muncie 3 and 4-speed transmissions.

I don't know what GM would have supplied for a shifter on that car, or if it has been changed over the years.

I'd bet that it would be an Inland Tool and Machine (ITM) or Hurst shifter.

If it's a Hurst, it should be a Competition Plus. If it's a stock, GM supplied Competition Plus, there will not be any stop bolts in the shifter body to prevent overshifting. If it's an aftermarket unit, it will have stop bolts.

Also, the stock GM Hurst units will have a round shaft with a flat spot in it with the Hurst name cast in. If it's an aftermarket unit, it will have a flat shifter shaft.

If it's an ITM, it will have a plain round shaft and ITM will be stamped in the shifter body side plate.

Shawn

The Firenza is the suspension 'donor' for the Jensen Healey, except for the engine mount brackets and RHD rack the front crossmember looks exactly like the ones in my J-H's.

There is a very active Firenza population down in Australia and New Zealand. You might see if someone down under has a link to more info.

mguar wrote: Long stories even when authenticated tend to diminish the value/marketability of a car. You can trace a particular car back to production but if there is a period where it disappeared from public view that decreases the market value of the car..

This is true.

I have a cousin who has a real Lotus 7 (pre Caterham). I've always wanted one and he has some interest in one of my Porsches. But...

...his car has one of those long stories attached to it. It's fully documented and authentic, but it's the kind of situation that you run into with old race cars. I know it's the real deal but it's something that would come up if you ever decided to sell it. You don't need any impediments to what should be a smooth transaction. And I'm a believer in full disclosure when I sell something.

2012 challenge car?

Good luck in your search. Regardless of the history or pedigree, it is a really cool car. Please keep updating the thread with your progress.

Occasionally there are race cars that despite all the changes are still extremely valuable, mostly due to the people who drove them. The 'Sprinzel Sebring Sprite' is one of those. http://sebringsprite.com/pmo200.html It was flattened in a barn collapse and was restored. Some accounts say there really wasn't much useable recovered except the VIN and commission number plates.

Hi all, came across your interesting forum whilst Googling about this car which has some controversy surrounding it. From what we understand the original was strippped on arrival in UK around 1990. From what I saw just prior it to leaving ZA its unlikely the same shell.

The rear suspension is completely something else. One wonders why such a sorted and perfect condition aspect of such a car would be altered as such? Interior also different.

Few years ago somebody brought one of the three track cars back from the dead. It turned out to be a big scam in the process people have become more aware.

Good luck with your research. Just be cautious though there is much confusing information going round in South Africa. These cars raced 40 years ago. For those that know all three track originals seem to be acounted for. But who knows really?

Thanks Speedbiu, if its the original car then somebody went out of their way to destroy a fully sorted and restored original car overnight. You know the seller was not paid for the original car which was stripped on arrival in the UK? If that's original then there may be issues. Just be cautious as far as informatiion out of Africa, it should be properly checked.

In reply to speedbiu:

the flares are not original and the interior certainly is not I dont know where the suspension or brake set op came from. Ed Hubbard was my partner in Rhodesia and was arrested and deported for fraud. The car has not been paid for and subsequently is in the process of litigation it is stolen property

speedbiu, I have Basil van Rooyen's email if you need it.

Basil met up with the owner of a Firenza V8 in the UK just last year.

In reply to Kram:

We are in contact with Geoff Mortimer,Basil Van Rooyen, and Anton Rollino about the restoration of the car.Due to the availability of parts here in the Stated its better the restoration takes place here.Were going to have Mortimer and Van Rooyen over see the the project to assure its correct.Thanks for your interest if you shoot me your email I'll gladly keep you up to date with the restoration.

In reply to speedbiu: Yes its me send me your email and a name you seem to know me and you also know the Can Am is stolen property Basil had dinner with myself and Mick when he was here in the UK

wow this thread took a turn. keep us posted speedbiu!

so.. stolen by SA law.. but legally owned here in US.. this is interesting

In reply to speedbiu:If You Cant get your facts right it is better to stay silent the written word once documented cannot be retracted I dont even claim it to be my car knowing ED well that vin plate could have come from anywhere that I will claim as mine and the engine an box which is here D

Mawson didn't buy anything from Hubbard.Floor not correct. Where and when was this raced to look like this? Refering the the structural changes not the storage dirt.

Someone came to me and asked me to intervene. Since things have gotten a bit touchy, perhaps it's best to take this one to e-mail instead of continuing on a public forum.

Thank you.

PS: After some follow-up with the involved parties, we have locked this thread. No, no one is in trouble.