250 GTO Owners Thread

[Zerrari GTO]

WOW! I don't know how I missed those pics.

 

Con Brio, that is one well executed and great looking interior. Do you have more pics of the exterior and engine as well?

[Con Brio]

Mudjr & Zerrari GTO,

Thank you for the positive feedback. My apologies for not attaching more pics to my replies (there are a few more in my album). Once the hood is painted it will be complete. Then I'll work on getting more posted.

On the topic of the hood (Vela Rossa style)...I sent an e-mail to John Washington re: "The hood hinge that seperated". An inspection of mine does not show any signs of seperation or fatigue and John has re-assured me it appears to be an isolated incident.

[Guest dsail56]

FYI anyone looking for tail lights can find some at Moss motors:

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=28937

or Victoria British:http://www.victoriabritish.com/icatalog/mg/0044.asp

I also found some emblems at:http://www.italianreplicacarclub.co.uk/2402/frames.php

I've been planing on using the glass bullet lights from early Austin Healy 3000

1 reason I already have them in my parts bin.

[mudjr12]

Thanks dsail56, I am looking for the front side marker lights and the chrome bezzles that go around the front headlights. I have shot out a few emails to those links and hope for some good feedback.

[SpeedRacer]

mudjr12 - The price will scare you but you can get the front side marker lights (and a lot of other Ferrari stuff) here http://www.ferraripartsexchange.com/sidemarkers.htm and sometimes here http://www.allferrariparts.com/home.html

 

When you said "..chrome bezzles that go around the front headlights" do you mean the headlights or the headlight covers?

[mudjr12]

Thanks SR, $140 is cheaper than I thought. Still seems like a wad of cash for a plastic light, but I guess nobody said our hobbies would be cheap. I am looking for the chrome that goes around the headlight covers. I saw earlier posts on how to fabricate, but I would rather buy already complete if available.

[zaddict]

Hey everyone my name is Chris and I am the proud owner of a VR project:icon54: I have been tracking down one elusive VR here in Oklahoma since 2000. I finally found it about a year ago. The owner call me a couple months ago saying that he has lost enterest in the project and the wife wanted to park in the garage again. So to make a long story short, the project is in my shop! It already has the body mods done, and a chomolly tube frame done. I don't have pix yet but hopefully soon. Next thing to do is figure out what I want for a drivetrain.....so many possiblities. I know that I will be counting on all the great minds here to complete this project. So I will thank you all in advance:biggrin:!

 

On another note I got a call from a guy about an hour away that is looking for a good body to build a VR. I have one he may be interested in. So at least there will be someone fairly close to bounce ideas off of locally.

 

I can't beleive that someday I will be able to cruise around in one the best looking cars ever made. I think the s30 is sexy, but with the VR kit it is drop dead georgous.

 

If you can't tell I'm a little excited:burnout:

[highly]

Hey there Chris! That sounds like an extremely cool setup...complete with tube frame? Wow. I'll have to check it out if I get out there to look at that chassis, though with the Flintstone comment it makes it a tough sell. I have my eye on this one at the moment: eBay. Talked with the guy today and it has a clean chassis and is complete minus the headlight covers. I'll try throwing my budget at it and see how it fares. With a little luck it will save me a bit of work.

Anyway, let's see some pics of your new find!

[Con Brio]

Hey Zaddict (a.k.a. Chris), Welcome to the forum!!

And congrats on the purchase.

Keep us posted of your progress and get some pics up. Can't wait to see it.

[Zerrari GTO]

We had a couple of warm days here in Oswego, NY. Got the itch to start working on the VR again. I am too the point where I am ready to put the latches in the hood, I have Chrome pin latches, but they don't pull the sides of the hood close to car. I see that the old GTO's used straps, anyone got any ideas?? TIA.

 

DJ

 

Have you had any progress fitting the bonnet on your car?

It looks as though mine will need some work too. The sides are sticking out a bit and it looks as though some work will be needed to make it fit properly -every F#@&*'in panel on my kit except the windshield cap has needed to be cut and refit so far . I started with a nice straight donner so I've been pretty disapointed with how the parts have lined up. If I can't get things the way I want them, I may consider a front end from one of the other GTO kits.

[Con Brio]

Mine was bad too guys. I purchased the car already complete and the bonnet alone has without a doubt received the most attention during the rebuild (My car is a cross between an old Alpha kit and a newer VR front end). It's the only part of the car that is not finished. Still need to do final fit and then paint. I've had to modify the hood bracket. The "H" design was too weak and had too much flex for my liking. I re-designed it to be an "X". Offering much more strength. The back edge along the winsheild varied in thickness and needed to be trimmed then contoured to better fit the shape of the car. The underside just in front of the wheels also required trimming to avoid contact between the tires and just match up the two sides (a cardboard template worked great). And then I filled and block sanded, again and again and again... Other modifications, but not neccesary, include "D" holes for airscoops, raised centre to accommidate a higher intake madifold (Edelbrock Pro Flo EFI), mounting brackets for the hood latches (KingAir engine cowl latches). I also cleaned up the underside with two coats of undercoating and an aluminum heat shield for the engine compartment (too prevent the heat from warping the fiber glass and damaging the paint).

[Zerrari GTO]

Mine was bad too guys. I purchased the car already complete and the bonnet alone has without a doubt received the most attention during the rebuild (My car is a cross between an old Alpha kit and a newer VR front end). It's the only part of the car that is not finished. Still need to do final fit and then paint. I've had to modify the hood bracket. The "H" design was too weak and had too much flex for my liking. I re-designed it to be an "X". Offering much more strength. The back edge along the winsheild varied in thickness and needed to be trimmed then contoured to better fit the shape of the car. The underside just in front of the wheels also required trimming to avoid contact between the tires and just match up the two sides (a cardboard template worked great). And then I filled and block sanded, again and again and again... Other modifications, but not neccesary, include "D" holes for airscoops, raised centre to accommidate a higher intake madifold (Edelbrock Pro Flo EFI), mounting brackets for the hood latches (KingAir engine cowl latches). I also cleaned up the underside with two coats of undercoating and an aluminum heat shield for the engine compartment (too prevent the heat from warping the fiber glass and damaging the paint).

 

Thanks for the feedback and the pics. I need all the inspiration I can get...been getting a bit frustrated at my lack of progress lately.

[Guest bippu Z]

this is WAAAY late into this thread but... which one of the 250 GTO kits is the most complete? i've been skimming the posts here and it seems like a few of them are missing pieces.. im surely not a body work specialist, and i know 0 terminology. so please enlighten a kid with some money to spend on his 260z !

[TomoHawk]

the Alpha kits were the most complete, but those aren't made any more. You got the complete body kit, and all the (RIGHT)  lights & trim things you need to finish the car, Everything but the glue, bondo, primer & paint.

Edited March 25, 2015 by TomoHawk

[Zerrari GTO]

Hey Con Brio...off the subject, but is that a 71-72' Vette in the background of one of your photos?

[Guest bippu Z]

Well, that's too bad the Alphas aren't made anymore... What about the kits that are still being made today? There's the Velo Rossa and, I think, 2 others that I can't remember.

[Con Brio]

Hey Con Brio...off the subject, but is that a 71-72' Vette in the background of one of your photos?

 

Hey Zerrari...

It's a '72 LT1. Thanks for noticing.

But with only 285 HP (stock) it's no match for the 250 GTO (400 HP+)

[Duke]

Hello All,

 

Been a while.

 

Just finished the suspension and coil-overs on my car. Also have the rims and Hoosier tires mounted.

 

Unfortunately (fortunately?) I have several other project cars competing for attention, hence the slow progress. Here's a preview... including my planned paint scheme.

[Boy from Oz]

I have put the following together from a bit of research on the web. The text is mostly as stated on the web sites referenced and I cannot vouch for its accuracy. If people would like to add or correct any of the contents please feel free to do so:

 

In 1978, Eagle Manufacturing Corp was established by Barry Goldstein (nee Merlin Coffano) to produce prototypes cars inspired by designs like the Ferrari Dino 246 GTS and later the Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche Speedster, Cobra.

 

Eagle’s first prototype (named Eagle GT1 then GT2) on a VW chassis was based on the Dino design and first sold to friends and associates and in 1980 Barry went public with the Eagle GT1.

 

Over a 3+ year span, Barry created as many as 6 sets of moulds with different variations for the Eagle GT1, GT2, and GT. Some of the variations included modified bumpers from a ’67 Corvette Coupe, windshield swap from a TR7, a convertible top from the TR7, and numerous nose and rear end changes. During this time, Eagle Company employed 3-7 employees, depending on winter or summer months and, according to Barry, Eagle Manufacturing produced between 35-40 cars a year.

 

Eagle Manufacturing also created a prototype car inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO on a Datsun 240/260 Z. As many as 7 cars were sold as Eagle GTOs from late 1982 to early 1983. Sometime in late 1983, Eagle dealer Joe Alphabet purchased from Eagle Manufacturing the moulds and marketing of the Eagle GTO.

 

Alphabet was well known in Southern California as a dealer of used, exotic Italian machinery. Apparently due to pressure from Ferrari, he decided to sell his replica car business to stay in their good graces and maintain a good working relationship. Alpha Design & Engineering closed the doors on manufacturing the Alpha 1 in 1989.

 

Alphabet sold his business to Tom McBurnie. McBurnie Coachcraft produced a Corvette-based Daytona Spyder replica and the McBurnie ‘California 250 GTO’ became a complimentary product. However, again legal troubles with Ferrari and other problems would eventually drive McBurnie out of business for a period of time. He now operates as Thunder Ranch.

 

Jim Simpson, formerly of Blue Ray GT Engineering was the next builder of GTO replicas. In addition to his extensive experience with restoration of esoteric (I think the writer meant 'exotic') sports cars, Jim brought a keen eye for detail to the production of his Rhino GTs. However, his desire to do more original design work led him to sell his tooling to Bill Cummings at Stable Autoworks in Dallas, Texas. Bill called his version the F-250. He built several cars before suffering an untimely death in November 1999 at the age of 42. Jeff Krekeler purchased the assets of Stable and operated it out of Missouri.

 

About the same time as Jim Simpson was beginning his stint with the Rhino, John Washington of VR Engineering (a division of John's company Reaction Research) in Phoenix, Arizona began producing the Velo Rossa Spyder. While none of the Z-based cars could be considered true replicas of the GTO, because of dimensional differences, the Velo Rossa was a radical departure and virtually an original design. It was a roadster, with a trunk and a one-piece tilt-up front end (bonnet). The removal of the roof eliminated one of the strong design clues that gave away the fact that the underlying chassis was that of a Z car. If Ferrari had followed the path of rival Jaguar and produced a roadster or convertible version of the GTO, this is what it might have looked like.

 

Possibly the best kit was developed by Tom Edwards of Scorpion Z cars. In January 2003 the following was posted on the HybridZ website; “my name is tom today i was told that my SCORPION GTZ was a topic of some discussion among some of you gto enthusiast,i own the silver and red horn striped car that has been in a few articles on the web ,this car is not a Puckertt at all ,i custom built a one off car using the front nose of a RHINO GT and my own hand built backend ,a simpson design dash,the most accurate dash i will say ,and then when the car was finished i built molds so i can start my own company selling the bodies and all the accessories to build a awesome car . i 'am not trying to advertise my company i just want everyone to know the proper information about my car. it is a "SCORPIONZCARS GTZ" that i built on a 1974 260z,425 hp chevy motor,t-5 trany,almost everything in it has been cusomizedâ€. Production of Scorpion GTZ kits was taken over by Oliver Meulbrouck at OM Sportscars Ltd in England in 2006.

 

There have been a number of "one-off" GTO replicas produced, mostly on Datsun Z platforms. There have also been a number of replicas built on tube frames (Marauder), one on a 944 Porsche, and a cottage industry existed for a time producing GTO replicas made from modified 250 GTs, i.e. real Ferrari's re-bodied as GTOs! There has even been one such re-bodied Ferrari built as a convertible.

 

Regarding Puckett - “Charlie Puckett was at one time employed by Tom McBurnie.He ran a few ads and came to only one show (of which I am aware) with several unfinished cars. His kits required a frame stretch and were longer between the firewall and the front wheels to make up the difference in wheelbase between the Z and the original GTO. I think he has been out of business for many years. In fact, I think I saw recently on another Hybrid forum an phone number from a classified ad some member posted for tooling for sale that sounded suspiciously like the Puckett stuffâ€. (John Washington, HybridZ Jan 03 - Puckett GTO)

 

The only USA kits I can find advertised these days are the Spyder from VR Engineering, with a suggestion that the coupe is also available, and the Thunder Ranch coupe. However I suspect that it's a bit like OZ, with quite a few pirated moulds lying around the place.

 

Bibliography

 

http://www.reactionresearch.com/gtorr/index.html

 

http://www.eaglegt.com/index.php?section=eaglegto

 

http://www.zparts.com/history/articles/kit_history/articles/

 

If anyone has any other links to information could you post them.

[Duke]

Nice history Boy from Oz

 

I've yet to determine who was the manufacturer of my kit. Can you identify it from the front end?

 

Duke