A Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Purchased Under an Olive Tree in Sicily
Back in 1977, Santo and Frank Spadaro of Dominick’s European Car Repair (which we recently featured) traveled with their father from New York to obtain a pristine ’66 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 series 2 from where it rested underneath an olive tree in Messina, Sicily, for an unbelievable steal. The brothers are now the caretakers of this enviable beauty. Taking two-lane secondary roads such as via Aurelia and via Flaminia, they drove through Calabria and Rome until they ended in Savona. Calabria is in the deep south of Italy and Savona is in the north close to France almost so it’s quite a drive!
The car would make a trip to the Grand Prix and Mrs. Spadaro would pack the boys sandwiches. An hour and a half before the race would start, they would throw their sandwiches on the manifold until they were hot and ready. Needless to say, the car has been with the family through a multitude of sentimental moments.
The car was shipped over to New York where the Blu Sera paint remains in its original condition. In fact, the entire car is unrestored and runs smoothly. The family keeps the car in its original condition because they love things as they were. Not to say that they don’t love bright shiny paint and beaming chrome bumpers. However, according to Santo, “there is a little perversion going on when you look at a car and it is someone’s dream of what the car is.” In other words, a restored car looses its historical value. In the Spadaro’s opinion, restored cars are much less interesting.
This car has never had the heads removed and the transmission still runs through the gears well. The engine runs at full compression, making this car the antithesis of a typical Ferrari. Santo tells us that it rarely needs points, plugs, or to be cleaned and tuned. The big V12 Ferraris were the gold standard. These automobiles competed in long distance racing and they had to be somewhat sturdy. They weren’t falling apart in the middle of the race. They were stout, dependable, and didn’t overheat.
The car was used on the weekends to visit cousins in the countryside. Their father enjoyed the car regularly, and now it is the responsibility of their sons to care for the Ferrari. The history and memories imbedded within the car, from the paint, through the interior, and into the engine bay creates a value unlike any other. An unrestored automobile is similar to a living, breathing automotive journal.
Photography by Josh Clason for Petrolicious
