My first automotive love was hotrods.  I still love them.  Rather that trying to restore to original, you get to make your own statement.  My next project will probably be something along this line.  When I was 14, my parents bought an MG TF for my sister with the understanding it would be mine when I got a license.  The MG lead to my meeting Larry Taylor, a newly
arrived import parts house owner, machinist, and Ferrari guy.  To see some of his work look at Joel Finns book on the 250 TR.  Larry did the restoration of Joel's car.  Some friends and I got to know Larry and he took us under his wing. We learned not so much how to do things but the approach to doing things such as understanding what you are doing and why.  Some of his
philosophy (treat the customer right and he will keep you in business-for example) is still with me today even though I am in a completely different business.

Larry had a GTE shipped to him for an engine rebuild.  I was allowed to watch and participate in the rebuild.  I was hooked.  I vowed to someday own a Ferrari (or two).  Later Ferrari exposure came in the form of a 166MM roadster and a 195 Inter coupe.  The roadster was a complete restoration project and I again got to help (not as much as I would have liked as I was at the University of the Pacific studying at the time)  Larry moved to Connecticut taking the cars with him but leaving a lot of experience with me.  The 166 was later sold to Ed Gilbertson and recently to a collector in Mexico.  If you were at Concorso last year, you saw it in its improper colors (originally black with green leather).  If you look in the last Cavallino (I think) you will see a large ad for the 195 (known lovingly as the "blue goose" though I don't remember why).

All through school I had a picture of a Lusso on my desk for inspiration.  After graduation and employment, the quest started.  I found someone with both a Lusso and a 330GT for sale in San Francisco.  I wanted a Lusso.  I never went to the Bay Area to look at the cars but several months later, an ad showed up for the same 2 cars in Oregon.  I called and made arrangements to go north with a friend to see them.  The 330 was 7800 and the Lusso was 12000.  I could write one check but not the other.  The price was reasonable, there were some things that would need attention such as brakes (they barely worked) and the overdrive (didn't work as well as the brakes).  I went back a week later and collected the car and set about driving it home with slightly improved brakes.  And so the adventure began.....
Tim

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