The Ferrari Daytonas of Miami Vice


jurassic narc

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Just a note of explanation.  The Rowley doors are VERY expensive.  They are not the doors used on Car 4 as it sits, either.  Carl made his own version of the Daytona door, with a much bigger void where the striped material goes.  The Rowley door panels were more like the actual Ferrari doors.

 

And something that I have mentioned in the past, but to always remember is this:  Rowley, Roberts and McBurnie were not friends.  McBurnie made the original molds.  He had Roberts and Rowley as east coast distributors.  Then they took McBurnie's molds and made their own molds slightly modified.  McBurnie felt like they stabbed him in the back.  Rowley didn't get sued out of business like McBurnie and Roberts, so they both hated him.  And Carl got a lot of press by ending up with the MIAMI VICE cars, so everyone hated him.  None of them have anything good to say about the other, CD and I have spoken to all three.

 

So when you see the interior parts, and the exterior differences, that would be because they each had their own version of the Ferrari interior and body.

 

Hope that gives you a little better perspective on these cars.

 

 

Good summary and perspective about the 3 players and their relationships. Do you have, or do you know where I can find, any sites or published info that lays out the major differing characteristics of the cars made by these guys?

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Good summary and perspective about the 3 players and their relationships. Do you have, or do you know where I can find, any sites or published info that lays out the major differing characteristics of the cars made by these guys?

No clue.  Good luck finding anything in writing.  There is a book on the Daytona that has a chapter about the replicas, but the least I have seen a copy for is $400 on Ebay.

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ah I see, its just I'm the outsider here when it comes to the perspective, as I've never met these men in my life and its easy to get wrapped up in the enthausmn for the automobile, and its limitless potental considering the repicas base car, and then forget about the men involved and how they could have hated each other. 

 

hell it sounds like the history among the three men is as bad as the history between Enzo Ferrari and Ferrucio Lamborghini really, although to be fair Enzo Really shouldnt have been using the clutches off of one of Lamborghini's own tractors for his Ferrari 250 and then not telling him about it when he kept breaking them!

 

but it does sound just as complex really

 

Oh also I was taking a look at ferrari 308 drawing

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ferrari-308-GTS-EXOTIC-CAR-ART-PRINT-/111319711788?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19eb2c002c&nma=true&si=N7Qp7mrOoHUGXbjq%252BHH3LWR1bdE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

 

(which also included a drawing of a 1964 caddie just like tubbs, but its MIA right now.)

 

 

and I Came across this in the suggestions:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ferrari-Dino-Daytona-365GT-Chairs-and-Flares-Leather-Seat-Beautiful-No-Reserve-/231199443669?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d48f8ad5&vxp=mtr

 

and note the gap between the stitching of the daytona stripes and the outter rim and I think Car 3 and Car 4 had that as well with the modded 78 seats

 

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

So maybe this was used as the basis as the starting point of the seat, and then Markadian had his own headrest added on?

 

as it looks like from this drawing you posted here awhile back that the first seat is a drawing of a seat somewhat like that, minus the headrest

 

Eingefügtes Bild

although looking at it, it looks like maybe all he had to do was cut a small portion of the seat off when it came to the headrest to match the thickness of the outter rim of the daytona seat

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

and then go from there?

Edited by Kavinsky
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ah I see, its just I'm the outsider here when it comes to the perspective, as I've never met these men in my life and its easy to get wrapped up in the enthausmn for the automobile, and its limitless potental considering the repicas base car, and then forget about the men involved and how they could have hated each other. 

 

hell it sounds like the history among the three men is as bad as the history between Enzo Ferrari and Ferrucio Lamborghini really, although to be fair Enzo Really shouldnt have been using the clutches off of one of Lamborghini's own tractors for his Ferrari 250 and then not telling him about it when he kept breaking them!

 

but it does sound just as complex really

 

Oh also I was taking a look at ferrari 308 drawing

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ferrari-308-GTS-EXOTIC-CAR-ART-PRINT-/111319711788?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19eb2c002c&nma=true&si=N7Qp7mrOoHUGXbjq%252BHH3LWR1bdE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

 

(which also included a drawing of a 1964 caddie just like tubbs, but its MIA right now.)

 

 

and I Came across this in the suggestions:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ferrari-Dino-Daytona-365GT-Chairs-and-Flares-Leather-Seat-Beautiful-No-Reserve-/231199443669?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d48f8ad5&vxp=mtr

 

and note the gap between the stitching of the daytona stripes and the outter rim and I think Car 3 and Car 4 had that as well with the modded 78 seats

 

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

So maybe this was used as the basis as the starting point of the seat, and then Markadian had his own headrest added on?

 

as it looks like from this drawing you posted here awhile back that the first seat is a drawing of a seat somewhat like that, minus the headrest

 

Eingefügtes Bild

although looking at it, it looks like maybe all he had to do was cut a small portion of the seat off when it came to the headrest to match the thickness of the outter rim of the daytona seat

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

and then go from there?

I know the idea might be these guys got together and drank coffee and talked cars, but that wasn't what I got at all when you talk to them.  Having spent my adult life dealing with crooks who wanted to bad mouth their cohorts, I had no problem just rolling with the flow.  I got an ear full from each of them about how big a crook the others were.  Probably the same thing Mardikian would say if I could track him down.

 

The seat diagrams came out after MIAMI VICE was on the air for a while, so I think the second drawing is of that seat.  Althought Mardikian and McBurnie used three different upholsterers for the four cars, so that could have been the seat configuration on one of the originals.  The first drawing is of the Daytona replica seat that was made to fit the Corvette floor pan.  I recall the head rest came from a barber chair and was covered in matching material.  I don't recall if the seat frame was from something standard or a custom job.  Most of the later kits included the option of a "Ferrari" type seat, console and dash.  Each company had their own version (which were pretty much molded off the real Daytona parts, but reworked to fit the Vette).

 

As far as the seats in the pilot car, I think you are on the right track with the remolding of the 78 Vette seat, but there just aren't any good pictures out there.  I want to say that I saw something at some point which made me think that the "head rest" area was above the standard 78 Vette seat back, but I can't find any pictures to back that up.

 

I really wish all these men weren't mad at each other, including Cichetti, so that you could pick their brains more on how all of this came about.  But when you engage them in conversation it usually ends up in a rant about how the other parties involved screwed them over somehow.

 

On a side note, I mentioned that the build book by McBurnie came out after the show had been on the air.  The page he has on the MIAMI VICE cars is interesting because he says that the cars have had new exhaust added and that at least one car had a manual transmission.  I had never heard anything like that before, and then I realized that McBurnie didn't have any contact with the show production.  He heard the sound effects, and saw Don acting like he was shifting and assumed these changes had been made.  Just one more example of how this story gets muddied up!

Edited by jurassic narc
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BTW, on a side note, my car is in the body shop.  The conversion to the Fiat/Alfa/Ferrari door handles has been painful.  The latch doesn't have enough pull to activate the door latch consistently.  It appears that McBurnie may have used a different latch that the 82 model.  I have the mirrors ready to install as soon as the body work is complete, and have a couple of mechanical issues that need to be addressed before I can get the car out on the road.  Probably looking at another month, but since we had freezing temps here in the last week that isn't too bad.

 

I have modified the door panels to match the line of the doors, and they will have more of a Car 1 look.  I also have a way to hook an ipod into the radio so I can have several hours of VICE music.  Hoping to get all of this done and on the road by the end of May!

 

JN

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best I can tell with the seats is that the top seems to be level, judging by the one aft photo we have of car four.

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

 

and it looks like that maybe he added onto the headrest of the 78 seat a little, but not to an extreme amount which makes sense,

 

As otherwise you wouldnt be able to rest your back into the spine of the seat, and you'd just end up punching the headrest trying to lay flat on your back.

 

best guess, the new headrest probably either fully replaces the mid section of the seat, lining up with the cut diagram I made and sits a quarter of an inch higher than the rest of the seat horizontally, as any further and it would probably cause discomfort., or its put ontop of it at about roughly the same height

 

plus with the production schedule of TV shows back there, recreating a seat like that for the other car would require time, undestanding and hold up production of a show that was just getting of the ground and recently greenlit.

 

 

and nothing kills enthuasmn for something quite like waiting for it after getting a great taste of it, plus the other car had to be aquired and repainted black after the deal with the real one dropped through, and they didnt redo car 1's interior to look like car 4 either, they just went with it and left the chrome on till S2.

 

as they wanted to make sure the show made a mark before their shot disapeared in the friday night dead spot, which was a distinct possibility all shows faced back then and now, after all how many programs by now have been killed just six episodes in?

 

I must wonder though, the steering wheel doesnt appear to be the momo in that shot, was that put on for the pilot or afterwards?

 

with the alfa door handles, what about the C2 door handle parts? as I think that was vertically mounted, rather than horizontally like on the C3, maybe Markadian and mcburnie used part of that?

Edited by Kavinsky
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best I can tell with the seats is that the top seems to be level, judging by the one aft photo we have of car four.

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

 

and it looks like that maybe he added onto the headrest of the 78 seat a little, but not to an extreme amount which makes sense,

 

As otherwise you wouldnt be able to rest your back into the spine of the seat, and you'd just end up punching the headrest trying to lay flat on your back.

 

best guess, the new headrest probably either fully replaces the mid section of the seat, lining up with the cut diagram I made and sits a quarter of an inch higher than the rest of the seat horizontally, as any further and it would probably cause discomfort., or its put ontop of it at about roughly the same height

 

plus with the production schedule of TV shows back there, recreating a seat like that for the other car would require time, undestanding and hold up production of a show that was just getting of the ground and recently greenlit.

 

 

and nothing kills enthuasmn for something quite like waiting for it after getting a great taste of it, plus the other car had to be aquired and repainted black after the deal with the real one dropped through, and they didnt redo car 1's interior to look like car 4 either, they just went with it and left the chrome on till S2.

 

as they wanted to make sure the show made a mark before their shot disapeared in the friday night dead spot, which was a distinct possibility all shows faced back then and now, after all how many programs by now have been killed just six episodes in?

 

I must wonder though, the steering wheel doesnt appear to be the momo in that shot, was that put on for the pilot or afterwards?

 

with the alfa door handles, what about the C2 door handle parts? as I think that was vertically mounted, rather than horizontally like on the C3, maybe Markadian and mcburnie used part of that?

On the cars being made to look more alike inside, one of the things you will notice about Car 1 is that they put a sort of cap over the standard 78 Vette dash.  Aside from the fact the car is built on the frame of a 76, the most noticable thing is the lip of the dash cap looks like it's almost 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick.  Take a look in TALE OF THE GOAT where Crockett gets out to look for the tracker on the ground.  Also in YANKEE DOLLAR when Crockett is in traffic beside the other stewardess (the title they went by in the 80s).  It looks like it might be rubber, but in the Florida heat (and sitting on the dash) it might be leather and backing.

 

You also notice when he picks up the car in WHATEVER WORKS at the end, the dash is not as sloped around the vents.  When I first saw that I was using that dash as a refernce to do mine.  I late figured out that I was looking at the second car and as I learned more I understand why they look different.  You also notice it in the behind the scenes shot from NO EXIT of Crockett in the car with a tshirt and his shoulder rig on.

 

About the door handles, I have a very talented guy working on that.  I try to just let him alone.  It is possible that the latch mechanism is different, but the problem is the short throw of the door handle and the need for a long throw on the latch, which is pretty much the same as all the 65-82 cars.  I know how McBurnie did it, but it is a small working space and the tolerances are tight.  It would probably be a lot easier to do on the front end rather than retro fitting.

 

But if it didn't spend it on the car I would just be using that money to carry me into my retirement years, and who needs to live a long time?!

 

JN

Edited by jurassic narc
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best I can tell with the seats is that the top seems to be level, judging by the one aft photo we have of car four.

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

 

and it looks like that maybe he added onto the headrest of the 78 seat a little, but not to an extreme amount which makes sense,

 

As otherwise you wouldnt be able to rest your back into the spine of the seat, and you'd just end up punching the headrest trying to lay flat on your back.

 

best guess, the new headrest probably either fully replaces the mid section of the seat, lining up with the cut diagram I made and sits a quarter of an inch higher than the rest of the seat horizontally, as any further and it would probably cause discomfort., or its put ontop of it at about roughly the same height

 

plus with the production schedule of TV shows back there, recreating a seat like that for the other car would require time, undestanding and hold up production of a show that was just getting of the ground and recently greenlit.

 

 

and nothing kills enthuasmn for something quite like waiting for it after getting a great taste of it, plus the other car had to be aquired and repainted black after the deal with the real one dropped through, and they didnt redo car 1's interior to look like car 4 either, they just went with it and left the chrome on till S2.

 

as they wanted to make sure the show made a mark before their shot disapeared in the friday night dead spot, which was a distinct possibility all shows faced back then and now, after all how many programs by now have been killed just six episodes in?

 

I must wonder though, the steering wheel doesnt appear to be the momo in that shot, was that put on for the pilot or afterwards?

 

with the alfa door handles, what about the C2 door handle parts? as I think that was vertically mounted, rather than horizontally like on the C3, maybe Markadian and mcburnie used part of that?

About the steering wheel, I can' recall a shot from the pilot where you can see it.  It is for sure a Momo by NO EXIT.  Maybe sooner.  I can't really recall the first time you can see the steering wheel.  I know you see the gauge area in COOL RUNNING.

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I think at the earliest the steering wheel is seen in Heart of darkness, as theres a scene in that episode where their in the parking lot with Archy right before the limo scene and you can see the steering wheel of the car in the background, and I swear I can see the white lettering on it

 

its right at the end, although alternatively in this scene where you get a brief glimps of it it seems a little different at 0:05

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqQUkiFNVT4

 

so it could have been like the Bren ten where the episode was shot out of order. So the bren ten shows up in a Parakrized form for the end shootout (that was probably filmed first) at 0:09

 

 

and then in the rest of the episode its in the Hard Chrome and Polished frame look for the rest of the episode

 

 

 

Hmm I do remember in Glades that the dash looked rather square during the close up at 2:14 here

 

 

hell you can even seen what looks to be a fastener for it in that shot for car 1 here

 

and with the money ah well, it could be worse, it could be going into road construction and plowing via the state and sales tax here, where it looks like they hit the roads with mortars and snow plows just to redestroy them by spring, then rebuild them in novemeber by the first freeze.

 

I swear these guys have the worlds greatest Con going on here, the perfect job security

 

and to think that if we didnt have a sales and state tax, along with a constant tax on new cars based on the new car value and not the deprecation, people could save anywhere from 8 to 15 grand a year just on that alone, a used or new rolex a year, literally.

 

 

 

FYI the reason why I say that is as the Omega is dust, main spring is probably busted along with the winder, and I need a new watch, as the replacement 70 dollar quartz one just leaves me cold, and I'm thinking of going for a black and red GMT similar to magnums as my one watch.

 

 

like the guy had on behind me at kittery trading post about a week or so ago, athough I really dont care for the new ones look.

 

ah well 1 more year and some more work on the home and I'll be out of here.

 

I need to go further south where the Drinks are cold and the roads are smooth, and the temp never goes above 125, and generally stays stable.

 

which has happened in MA in july, 2 years ago FYI, along with snow 2 nights ago, less than 12 hours after a 65 degree day, and I hope to god the poor hummingbirds didnt get frozen by it.

 

Edited by Kavinsky
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FYI the reason why I say that is as the Omega is dust, main spring is probably busted along with the winder, and I need a new watch, as the replacement 70 dollar quartz one just leaves me cold, and I'm thinking of going for a black and red GMT similar to magnums as my one watch.

 

 

I have a gold and steel Sumarinier that is over 20 years old.  I paid $2,000 and the current value for the watch, used, is $6,500.  If I wanted to sell it I could probably get over 8 with the box and paperwork.  It is a good investment.  

 

ANd I think your right, that is the MOMO steering wheel. Looks like the cars stayed pretty much the same until they added the tow bars to the front of Car 1.  Then at the end of Season 1 they were converted to look more alike. And the logos were moved between the headlights where they should have been.

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Eh honeslty I dont know, as I kinda got my heart set on a GMT piece at present, and I've been really fickle about a possible one off replacement for that thing, as I've literally looked at all possibilities really and gone back and forth constantly

 

you know do I want to go for an 861/1861 omega chronograph, the herratage black bay thats rigged up like a james bond era submariner, do I just want to go for a steel version of the old watch that may have a latter movement thats probably not 321 movement based like on the moonwatch

 

http://www.chrono24.com/en/omega/gents-vintage-seamaster-deville-steel-automatic-on-strap--id2730445.htm

 

this says 565 instead of 562 like the one for it

 

http://www.chrono24.com/en/omega/seamaster-deville-watch--id2221565.htm

 

mind you its not as nice as that one and doesnt have a display back.

 

so it wont break down after being serviced and wont be as fickle to set right as that thing, its all just a big headache.

 

so I think what I should do is first get the thing fixed, shift it and then think it over and go from there, so if you find someone whos interested in it in the meantime, dont hold it on account of me, go for it.

 

and I'll just think it over in the meantime as I'm just thinking aloud, and it was a hand me down from my old man.

 

so its got history and pull with me but mind you its history seems to be as checkered as the Porsche 914 he had that never worked for more than 6 months at a time. hell maybe the sooner I get it fixed and shifted the better ill feel about replacing it like he did with that thing.

 

As he traded that 1968 Porsche 914, with an oil leak, overheating caused by the Baffles for the air cooled engine seizeing up leaving him stranded more than once, and 2 or 3 broken windows and fuel injection problems that he also imported from german to the US

 

for a 1972 ford LTD that outside of having a headgasket go on the day he was to sell it in 1979 and switching the firestone tires, yes it had THOSE firestones on it to a different set of tires, it was more or less trouble free car.

 

and also it got so bad the dealship here in MA would groan when that 914 came in, thats how bad that bloody thing was, and this omega might have the same damn kindred spirit for all I know.

Edited by Kavinsky
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Black, it was the standard color for those GM motors back then.

 

 

Thanks!  However aren't the GM motors back in '81 painted blue? 

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That I dont know, but I seem to remember something about Pontiacs having blue engines, or was that olds?

Edited by Kavinsky
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My car is out of the shop today and has Fiat/Alfa/Ferrari door handles.  I have begun the install of the Vitaloni Tornado remote mirrors.  It took me only a few seconds to figure out why those mirrors were replaced with the manual mirrors.  THe remote heads stand proud and tall.  

 

Take a look at the stunt man in no exit hanging on the door.  I think it took just a few weeks to damage the remote mirrors and to replace them with the manual Jr Tornados.  Probably done on the set or nearby, as the change out required no additional wiring.  WOuld have taken less than 10 minutes to make the swap.  Will be a couple of days before I can get them wired up.  I am looking forward to getting my intoerior back together and getting the car on the road.

 

Soon as everything is finished I'll post some photos.

 

JN

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Off topic: DYK, www.nbc.com/classic-tv/miami-vice/video is playing the old MV episodes. (Sorry didn't know how to make this a live link.)

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Just read this entire thread, tons of great information!!!!

 

Can someone school me on the rear fender flares of the different replicas out there.  From all of the pictures I have seen, they seem to vary pretty significantly from kit to kit (even on different replicas that people say are made by Mcburnie).   Perhaps some of this is due to camera angles/tire size... but even still, I dont think it would make THAT much of a difference on some of the pictures I have seen.

Hoping to see some pictures as well (and what is most accurate on the real MV Daytona's)...when trying to find a replica out there to match as far as accuracy goes on the body.    

 

Thank you!

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Theres about 3 makers

 

Mcburnie/markadian: The original maker, 4 cars made in 1981 as a one off gig to try and start up sort of their own person car brand using a C3 Corvette as the basis with a custom interior using the 1978 revised interior as its basis, made by another man Mark Chinetti for only the first 4 cars

 

under the heading of Markadian, the car importer, the same people who chopped and redid a countach for Rod Stuart, sadly ruining a Forest Green LP 400 in the process.

 

Car sold under name Markadian 350 GTS

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

 

Jurrasics Photo FYI

 

Eingefügtes Bild

 

Markadian Marking on Trunk In Gold, both Car 2 and 4 respectively, Both had 1981 C3's as their basecar to my knowledge.

 

Some of the First 4 cars may or may not have had a turbo on them, Car 2 and 4, the 4th being the Vice Car used for the pilot and the rest of the run is an 1981 and might have had a turbo on it initally.

 

Second car aquired after pilot, 76 car, car 1 of that run, taken down and scrapped late S2, was originally going to be replaced by a new car for S3 and Car 4 probably modded to look like it, given its rough early history pre daytona body.

 

unknown at time until later.

 

instead used as Temp Testbed for Testarossa replica ment to serve as the stuntcar for the two real testarossas in S3, then abandoned and scrapped for Detomaso Pantera by Carl Roberts.

 

Carl Roberts was brought in in S1 to fix the Daytona replicas and became the custodian to them more or less.

 

Distinguishing features: Alfa Romeo Door handles, Full on flares front and rear, Sloping Grill, Headlights of later ones, right before they went out of production were one square unit on either side with a little door for them, earlier ones were 2x2s on either side with a look much more consistent to the original car.

 

all cars in 1981 had the 2x2 look, up until 1987.

 

http://corvette.canney.net/webvettes/customized/c0050/index.html

 

Heavily modded Mcburnie

 

http://corvette.canney.net/webvettes/customized/c0058/index.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fodder/1364591436

 

and Unlike GM, they Realized the Value of having a trunk on a sportscar

 

Sonny Burnett's Car is one of these.

 

 

Carl Roberts:

http://corvette.canney.net/webvettes/customized/c0069/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl8yCKacoz4&feature=player_embedded

 

DF: Flares retain most of the mcburnie shape at the top, but thinned down to slope into the body, Door handles are Mazda's instead of alfa's,

 

Grills are flat and consistant with the actual daytona grills, possibly using rowley grill units (some of the mcburnies have been changed over to these as well, along with door handles that are like the ones on the actual car on the latter ones)

 

Battery moved from interior behind the seats to the enginebay

 

and these cars are using interior parts made by Carls shop, Car 4 was retained by him after its retirement in S3 and sold to two private owners afterwards

 

Jurrasic's is a Carl Roberts car.

 

 

Rowley out of Rowley MA:

 

http://corvette.canney.net/webvettes/customized/c0072/index.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/photos-automobiles/3033789029

 

DF: one of the only people not to get sued by Ferrari in 1989, as he told people not to put the ferrari markings on them, ironically his cars tend to be much more accurate to the actual car.

 

although Carl and in a way Markadian/Mcburnie were connected to the show and probably in ferrari's Crosshairs as their cars were used on the show, Rowley wasnt in any way or another.

 

He also used parts of C4 Corvettes on one of them to improve upon the C3 chasis, which makes sense given the C4 is a modernized C3, namely steering box and ratio on atleast one.

 

 

and the last two started out as sellers of Mcburnie cars and then decided to do their own thing, prompting ill will and hate towards each other.

 

 

 

Car specification varies between the automobiles, given the kind of customization the C3 Stingray had done to it in its 20 year run

 

http://corvette.canney.net/webvettes/customized/c0014/index.html

 

of Note the Mcburnies have Electric cooling fans or did from the getgo, not fans that run off of the clutch like on cars from the 1968 onwards era.

 

Recomended mods, Move the battery, put in a battery disconnect, and possibly replace the brakes with units off of C4 vette or have them overhauled for modern spec, given unknown variance in their state. although its unknown if having a 1975 onwards Vette as the base car removes the early issues with disc brakes:

 

 

but this is the reason why you hear about muscle cars and cars of that era having new modern replacement brakes on them and why they stuck to the disc drum setup back then, as its not like now where having all around disc brakes has no trade off like it sounds like it did back then.

 

also on pre 1975 cars, a gas tank with a bladder wouldnt be a bad safety investment, along with possibly this:

 

http://vetteworksonline.net/6873%20harness%20bar.htm

 

given that the car sits on a ladder chasis with a long lineage back to 1962, and that extra stiffness apparently can make a big difference in the handling of the car.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-tech-performance/2232257-chassis-stiffening-on-c3-vert.html

 

 

 

and also have the ladder chasis checked over for its overal structural integrity, as these are now 30 + year old cars now and replace the radiator and cooling fans for modern units, along with a fire extinguisher.

 

and also have the wiring and the fuses checked over by a trustworthy expert if anyone has messed with the stereo system, as sometimes people spice and cut things in and overload the circuts in these things over the years.

 

hence the battery disconnect thing, and make sure the former owner wasnt a drag racer, as the Max RPM of Big Block Vettes back in the day was setup too high and wrong and caused more than a few blown valves and rods.

 

under waranty no less, so looking for an auto without a shift kit right off the bat wouldnt be a bad idea.

 

and that should cover all the basic bases of vintage motoring.

Edited by Kavinsky
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Short hijack to this thread (although I do feel it's relevant), I need to buy a cover for my Daytona.  Most of the higher end cover manufacturers make VERY specific covers for cars, so much that an aftermarket spoiler means it won't work.  I honestly don't know if I should buy a cover for a C3 Corvette convertible or a Ferrari Daytona.  I'm told by the help at AutoAnything that Covercraft will make adjustments (often for free) if a cover won't fit...and I seem to remember on a forum before that someone said the Ferrari-specific cover would just run a little large on a McBurnie Daytona.  Have you guys bought covers and/or what are your opinions on this?  I currently have a "semi-custom" cover I bought a few years ago that fits well but is from one of the many pseudo-scammer car cover sites online...after 3 years it's completely useless.  I am looking at side-by-side pics of a 71 Corvette and it looks like there's more rear overhang on the Vette and more front overhang on the Daytona.

 

Thanks,

 

Brian W

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I believe camera daytona said he was using a Corvette C4 Cover for Car 4, which comes complete with space for the mirrors.

 

Which would work for you given you have the C4 mirrors on your car too, and I believe that was also one of the reasons why I was curious if anyone had used a C4 windshield on a C3 vette as well.

 

given that alot of mechanical parts are interchangable on either car and the C4 is like the C3 to the C2, a Rebodied car using alot of the same running gear.

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Thanks!  However aren't the GM motors back in '81 painted blue? 

GM painted all their blocks orange.

The blue blocks were the Pontiac engines even thought they were almost the same such as the small block 350 Chev, Pontiac or Oldsmobile.

They were actually a slight turquoise colour where as Ford actually had the true blue engines blocks of the day.

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Hi-   I am a new member to this site after just finding out about it.  Like all of you I am a HUGE Miami Vice fan......it has always been my favorite show.  Anyway, since college 25 years ago I always loved Crockett's Daytona.  I am not sure where else to post this question (would have liked to start a new link but don't know how) so I will post it here.

 

 

Where is the best place to find a "most accurate" replica of the MV car?? Is there a consensus on what that car would be?  I am not interested in a car that is "similar" to the MV Daytona....only a near 100% replica with a quality and high HP engine will do.  Not interested in buying a bucket of problems.  Also only am interested in cars with full documentation of it's build and who did it.  Also, the cars prior history mechanically needs to be documented.  I read this full thread but seem to be even more confused after reading as to the players in this industry. 

 

I fully understand that this kind of car will not sell cheaply.

 

  I am just looking for guidance of where to start and who I can and can't trust. 

 

 

 

And by the way, 'Camera Daytona' if you ever sell please add my name to the list of SERIOUS buyers!

 

Thanks!!

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Here are the pics of my car taken by the PO https://mcburniedaytonaspyder.shutterfly.com/pictures/8 , and the description he posted on eBay. I bought the car about two years ago. It's not for sale, but thought it would provide one data point for you. He was a member of this forum.

 

 

VIN:  1G1A78769H5424184 (revinned in AZ)

Year: 1980  

Number of Cylinders:   8

Make: Ferrari 

Transmission:   Automatic

Model:   Other

Body Type:   Convertible

Trim: Leather

Warranty:   Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty

Engine:   8  

Vehicle Title:   Clear

Drive Type:   2 wheel drive

Options:   Cassette Player, Leather Seats, Convertible

Mileage:   4,600

Power Options:   Air Conditioning, Power Locks, Power Windows

Sub Model:   California Daytona Spyder

Exterior Color:   Black

Number of doors:   2

Interior Color:   Tan      

 

 

 

 

The ultimate in a Miami Vice Collectible.  It is estimated that McBurnie made less than 50 cars before the lawsuit brought by Ferrari stopped production and put him out of business.

 

I am selling one of those cars.  The car itself is built on a 1981 Corvette chassis (SORRY THE VIN # WOULDN'T REGISTER BUT SEE PLATE)..and is powered by a 1987 corvette TPI engine.  Completion date December 1987.  In 1984, a new series, Miami Vice, needed a fast exotic car for its star, undercover agent Sonny Burnett a/k/a Sonny Crocket played by Don Johnson.  The producers turned to Ferrari and the 365 Daytona Spyder convertible.  Only 165 Daytonas were made in a convertible form, the most recent selling for $1.8 million.  Ferrari would not give a car to the producers to use.  They wanted the series to buy one like Magnum PI had done with the 308.  However, a large importer of grey market cars by the name of Mardikian had a better idea.  He knew of Tom McBurnie who took a corvette c3 chassis (originally a 1978) and using original 365 panels made a copy.  There were 5 cars made for Miami Vice.  They differ from mine mostly in the interior, where they were more like a corvette interior.  As the series took off, so did the demand for the cars.  McBurnie started manufacturing them at his factory in California.  Car makers Carl Roberts and Rowley splashed off there own copies after working with McBurnie.  Ferrari became incensed and soon sued McBurnie ( Ferrari S.P.A. v. McBurnie, 11 U.S.P.Q.2d 1843, 1846-47)and won, stopping operations cold.

 

I bought this car from the original owner, a Pontiac car dealer who bought one "with all the bells and whistles" because he was going to become a McBurnie dealer.  By the time the car was done in December 1987, McBurnie was knee deep in legal action with Ferrari.  This gentleman took delivery and drove a short while, but it is frowned upon to own a Pontiac dealership and drive a Ferrari.  So, it was placed in storage.  I acquired the car after it sat for MANY years.  The odometer shows 4400 miles.  It still had on it the original Pirelli tires and except for the back two, (we will get to that later) they were like new.  I replaced the tires due to dry rot, not wear, with Yokahama, which have less than 300 miles on them (I still have the original Pirelli tires for inspection or included).  The interior is ALL LEATHER and it has many unique features.  The engine is a TUNE PORT INJECTED 1987, much more powerful than the 1978-1982 engines that most of the McBurnies came with.  It can EASILY break loose the back tires, as evidenced by the old Pirelli tires.  The car has power steering, power brakes, power windows, power door locks, power antenna and COLD AIR CONDITIONING.  The driver’s seat was specially designed for a taller man.  I am 5'10" and have no issues even with the top up.  It has a state of the art sound system for 1987 big subwoofers hidden in the trunk.  YES, a full trunk encased in wood and carpeted.  The car can be serviced at any Chevrolet dealer.  The newly rebuilt transmission is the TH700R4

 

I had a auto service station that specializes in hi end cars go through the brake system including replacing some of the brake calipers due to them leaking from all the years of sitting (a common issue with corvettes), they also changed the fluids, tested the systems drained the tanks and adjusted the engine spent over 3K with them to shake off the years of sitting.  I have the original bumpers but the chrome was peeling from age.  So I bought a new polished aluminum set for the front and back along with new rubber.  The top is good.  It has a small dime size wear hole on the drivers side but not noticeable.  In the last year I replaced the radiator (new not rebuilt $600) because it had a slight leak.  I also had to have the TH700R4 transmission rebuilt ($2700) (only 4000 miles but guy said if it sat for 15 years that would cause it to fail prematurely) I intended on keeping the car but with a marriage to pay for and getting a house to start a family, I am forced to set priorities.  I will be happy to answer any questions.  

 

I tried to keep as many original parts as possible It has great patina, it is over 24 years old but the paint looks great, some small scratches, some parts such as the tires and brakes had to be replaced for safety reasons.  This is a great chance to pick up a FACTORY built car, not something an amateur put together.  It has REAL knock off rims, not look alikes and a Ferrari? roll-up suede tool kit with a lead hammer for the rims.  I have an extensive collection of articles and pictures of the different McBurnies.  I do not have receipts from the original owner because as he said “It has 4100 miles, what the hell would I have needed to be fixed?â€

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