The Ferrari Daytonas of Miami Vice

[CameraDaytona]

Hmm might have a lead, apparently the T rutlands guy spun off from FAF and took all of the parts with him

 

https://ferrarichat.com/forum/south-central-usa-tn-ms-al-ga/371652-remembering-faf.html

 

and typing in that number pulled up these

 

http://www.trutlands.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=2263&osCsid=luk06lom5oao727ou554d5k377

 

one car cover for a Berlineta Boxer 365/512 BB, the precessor to the Testarossa before they gave a wide rear end via the dual radiators to help cooling, of which as a note of trivia Don Drove in the 1985 Pepsi Ad.

 

I bet you found the same cover I have - the description sounds the same.  But $195 is a lot for a car cover.  I would think a Corvette cover would work fine.

[jurassic narc]

I bet you found the same cover I have - the description sounds the same.  But $195 is a lot for a car cover.  I would think a Corvette cover would work fine.

TRutlands has outlets on both coasts.  I have used the one in Atlanta for parts on occasion.  They carry a very full line, and have been cooperative--but I never told them I was buying parts for a replicar.  TRutlands is where I got the correct bulb holders for the taillights so you don't end up with the phantom tail light effect you see in season one.

 

And my experience with car covers is that the fit is just short of being one size fits all.  I then to think, like CameraDaytona, a good Corvette cover would work.  I bought a cheap Ferrari Daytona cover, and it fits, but it would also fit a medium size storage building with a little tugging.

[Kavinsky]

Yeah that is alot of money for a car cover, but atleast we found it. and It does make curious though did Carl or his brother source some other parts from them back in the day when vice was running

 

and the car cover was one of them?

[jurassic narc]

Yeah that is alot of money for a car cover, but atleast we found it. and It does make curious though did Carl or his brother source some other parts from them back in the day when vice was running

 

and the car cover was one of them?

I know Carl used TRutlands, as they were in Atlanta and he referred me to them.  I feel sure that the camera car has some TRutlands parts from when Carl refurbished it between Season 1 and Season 2.  They were and are the greatest Ferrari Parts warehouse on the east coast.

 

McBurnie probably had his own source on the west coast.  Now TRutlands has a place there, but not back then.

 

The car cover could have come from Carl or one of the other owners who had the car before CameraDaytona.  The car was not far from Atlanta at that time, and the owner could have easily given the measurements to FAF.  

 

Somewhere around 1986-87 Ferrari got upset with the American parts businesses selling parts to people to make replicas.  So the parts houses had to get a correct Ferrari serial number to order parts.  In other words you would have to come up with a correct VIN for a Daytona to get things like tail and headlight lenses.  And there was no internet to search out a correct and valid number.

[CameraDaytona]

Yeah that is alot of money for a car cover, but atleast we found it. and It does make curious though did Carl or his brother source some other parts from them back in the day when vice was running

 

and the car cover was one of them?

I don't know, but I would guess that the car cover was added by one of the two owners before I got it.  The owner that I got it from bought a "real" Ferrari 348 (from FAF - we lived in Georgia at the time) after he sold me the Daytona, (so he probably bought the cover).  I drove the 348 - it drove well, but it was too small for me.  When I drove it, the top was out and I was looking at the windshield header.  It would have been really tight if the top were on.

[Kavinsky]

lol funny timing actually, I follow a channel called the smoking tire and they just did a Bit on a modified Ferrari 348 Challenge

 

 

with twin turbo's of all things, as apparently Car and Driver, the same people who basically tricked my father into thinking the 914 was a sorted and good car blackballed the cars performance just because a turbocharged GMC was faster to 0 to 60

 

although what they failed to mention was that, that pickup truck, a GMC syclone, could only do that and nothing else, and the truck was too light and too fragile for serious hauling, and its not exactly going to crack 120 either.

 

also for reference, my father bought the 914 just on their recomendation in 1969, and the list of things that went wrong with it are as follows:

 

Fuel injection conked out twice

Oil leak

Broken windows from shutting the door normally, atleast two or three times

Baffles for the air cooled engine jammed in the closed position twice, causing a breakdown from overheating once in germany on a backroad, once in MA, on the highway

 

Gearbox was vague and imprecise, the kiss of death with a sports car.

 

and it got so bad here in MA that they stopped honoring the warranty, so car of the year 1970, yeah, my ass,

 

to be fair though the car was apparently finally sorted in 1973, about 4 years too late for my father though

 

but I guess it was just good timing when carl got the parts for the cars ahead of time and they wouldnt check up for the serial number for a car cover.

 

although they did have that yellow one in S2, so they could have used the serial number of that to get around it.

Edited June 16, 2014 by Kavinsky

[jurassic narc]

Discovered these pictures of the first Mardikian car (Car 1-the Stunt Car).  Photos appear in Pat Braden and Gerald Roush's classic book on the Daytona.  Mentions that the car used a variation of the Corvette door handle on the outside.  McBurnie was not able to make this work in a satisfactory method, and reverted to the Ferrari 400 model door handles used on the final product.

 

The book also mentions that McBurnie used the headlight frames and buckets from a Maxda RX-3.

Edited July 26, 2014 by jurassic narc

[Kavinsky]

You know I had to actually look up what an RX 3 was when I read this, but my main question is why did markadian even think to use parts off of a Roatary Mazda that they stopped making because of the emmisions crap back then in 1974 I think?

 

did he have one lying around in the yard? and was there any other mazda parts used on them, and is there any connection to this in Carl Roberts using Mazda door handles on his cars latter on?

 

I mean it just seems like such a strange choice:

 

 

unless the assembly just weirldly clicked in

 

 

plus I guess that begs the question, did he used the plastic or the aluminumn ones they apparently had on them back then

 

 

Plus does this mean that this is a photo of Car 1 right after its completion but before they changed the door handles?

 

and would a similar vein apply to the photo of car 4 here?

 

Edited July 27, 2014 by Kavinsky

[jurassic narc]

You know I had to actually look up what an RX 3 was when I read this, but my main question is why did markadian even think to use parts off of a Roatary Mazda that they stopped making because of the emmisions crap back then in 1974 I think?

 

did he have one lying around in the yard? and was there any other mazda parts used on them, and is there any connection to this in Carl Roberts using Mazda door handles on his cars latter on?

 

I mean it just seems like such a strange choice:

 

 

unless the assembly just weirldly clicked in

 

 

plus I guess that begs the question, did he used the plastic or the aluminumn ones they apparently had on them back then

 

 

Plus does this mean that this is a photo of Car 1 right after its completion but before they changed the door handles?

 

and would a similar vein apply to the photo of car 4 here?

 

I think McBurnie wanted to use the rounded headlights initially.  The book on the Daytona was written before the first car was completed.  I know that Car 4 has a sort of bracing that is tied to the front frame and it is marked in Oriental characters.  I think car one may have been born with rounded lights, but Mardikian may have mandated the change to the 4x6 lights to better use the headlight space.  A logical conclusion since he wanted to improve on the Ferrari design.

 

ANd I think the picture of the red car is in fact Car One with the original round headlights.  WOuld love to see the interior up close!

[Kavinsky]

 

Indeed and I wish we had a photo of this car from the front, as the grill on car one there is flat and square, vs Car 4 which is wide and arched like on a 365 BB

 

and I keep thinking this is Car 3, I mean look at the way the dash contorts, that looks just like car 4, its even tucked under at the passenger side, just like it, although it looks blackish, not redish here, so maybe the dash pad was redone?

 

and if we could see the front we could confirm that is car 3 given the photo of the front you had, as it had the arched grill and square headlights on it just like car 4 before the smoked plexy, actually that photo you had of it showed it had no light amplifiers on it.

 

and I guess that begs the question, what is the grill off of on car 1? another part from a different car? was it also a corvette part reworked and mounted on it?

Edited July 28, 2014 by Kavinsky

[reholmes]

 

 

My car has a small (donut) spare that fits nicely in the trunk - but does use up a lot of the room in the trunk.

 

 

What kind of wheel are you using--do you have knock-offs? What are the over-all dimensions of the spare--I have a sound system on the forward wall that may be taking up trunk room.

 

Thanks,

[Pritt]

Found this vid at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY8X18VqFHk

[Sonny-Burnett]

Found this vid at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY8X18VqFHk

 

This is the Volo museum car in Volo Il (up north in my state) that has been discussed in this thread. They claim to have acquired one of the show cars. However the S/N of the chassis doesn't match up to Universal records of the two cars used in the show.

I believe it was mentioned in this thread that there is a possibility that the body could be from car 2 but since the body does not have a S/N, there is no way to confirm.

Interesting that he says they did just a "cosmetic restoration" keeping as much original as possible. The badge hole thing seems fishy to me as well. If the badge had been moved by the show producers from upper level to lower...then the original holes would have been repaired. Here they are visible and on display as some sort of provenance. Seems to me as though they should not be visible if the body was really that of  car 2.  

And if he had really done his homework he would have known that the dash and gauges of car 2 were from a Vette, and he would not have changed them for the faux Ferrari look which is clearly not the look of either show car. If the Vette dash was there and was restored I would have maybe been a bit more persuaded as to the body and interior only. So I can only assume that the original dash and gauge work was the faux Ferrari look that he restored.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Sonny-Burnett

[Pritt]

I know S-B. There are a lot of things they don't match with the real deal. And two holes in the front can make my son - he is 4 years old

Edited August 2, 2014 by Pritt

[Kavinsky]

about the only thing on that car that might be worth keeping is the zenith wire wheel caps, as those are as rare as hens teeth.

[Pritt]

The search is over! For 8 years i have been searching for a nice Daytona Replica. To find one in Switzerland is very difficult.

 

Since today, i am the owner of this dreamcar.

 

 

 

 

Does anyone have a idea, what make that could be. The battery is behind the driverseat. The gastank is in the trunk.

It's a Rowley GTC???

Edited August 4, 2014 by Pritt

[jurassic narc]

The search is over! For 8 years i have been searching for a nice Daytona Replica. To find one in Switzerland is very difficult.

 

Since today, i am the owner of this dreamcar.

 

 

 

 

Does anyone have a idea, what make that could be. The battery is behind the driverseat. The gastank is in the trunk.

It's a Rowley GTC???

Congratulations.  I think you will love it.  THe interior looks like a Rowley, but it is hard to be sure.  Is the gas tank in the trunk, or under the trunk?

Edited August 4, 2014 by jurassic narc

[Kavinsky]

Jesus that is a really nice piece of work, and great now I'm full of questions lol

 

Gated shifter too, yeash, I gotta ask, whats the gearbox on it?  as it looks like its a 6 speed with a manual lockout

 

and what are the rims and tire combo its got going?

Edited August 5, 2014 by Kavinsky

[Pritt]

J-N, the gas tank is in the trunk

 

Question: did McBurnie build the front fenders like my car has?

 

Kavinsky, i still do not know, what make the rims are.

Tire size front: 205/70/15

Tire size back: 235/60/15

 

Yes, it looks like a 6 speed, but its just a 4 speed manual. Base engine with a Holley Carb. 250hp

Donor vehicule is a 77 Vette.

 

 

The front looks as if the builder was been in hurry (with this little plexis) The way they are fixed is not really nice. No comparison to the rest of the car

 

I think, i will rebuild  someday the front with the Rowley-Plexi (is it still available?)

 

Are the sunvisors stock Vette?

 

 

 

Take a look of the gauges of this car: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replica-Kit-Makes-Other-Daytona-1974-FERRARI-DAYTONA-ROADSTR-MIAMI-VICE-QUALITY-CUSTOM-BUILD-REPLICA-/281400732434?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4184ca6b12&item=281400732434&pt=US_Cars_Trucks Original Ferrari gauges!

They would be perfect for my car

 

I know, my car is not MV like. But for a replica, i like it more like that - as close as possible to the original

 

Sorry about my english, i think, it sounds bad for you  

Edited August 5, 2014 by Pritt

[Kavinsky]

judging by what I know of the rowleys and their flares I'd say your car is one of them, as the rowleys are trimmed down at the front and start midway up, and the back ones start up from the bottom but in a very thin way, as to be symetrical with the end of the fronts.

 

With the sunvisors I think the sunvisors are stock 1977 - onward models, as for pre 1976 I think they were actually screwed to the leather, rather than mounted to the locks for the roof like they are on yours

 

http://corvette.canney.net/webvettes/1974/1974h/index.html

 

with the headlights, I'm not sure if Rowley has that kind of stuff anymore, but Jurrasic did make a custom one based off of the Rowley plexy for his car. also Jurrasics Carl Roberts car used to be red just like yours

 

and if you need any reference shots or a place to go to get ideas for your car, I've been using this for awhile, the daytona replicas are under the big changes section

 

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

 

and if you need any parts or need any info I'll keep an eye out for what you need, as stuff has an odd way of finding me it seems.

Edited August 5, 2014 by Kavinsky

[Kavinsky]

Hey guys I was just checking up on anything related to the countach and came across this:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-NEW-Vitaloni-L-H-Side-Door-Mirror-Pronto-/390901996917?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ALamborghini|Model%3ACountach&hash=item5b03931d75&vxp=mtr

 

and did we miss something? as I havent heard about these pronto mirrors until now, and it seems like it should be a misnomber considering the Countach came with Turbo Mirrors.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Kavinsky

[jurassic narc]

Hey guys I was just checking up on anything related to the countach and came across this:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-NEW-Vitaloni-L-H-Side-Door-Mirror-Pronto-/390901996917?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ALamborghini|Model%3ACountach&hash=item5b03931d75&vxp=mtr

 

and did we miss something? as I havent heard about these pronto mirrors until now, and it seems like it should be a misnomber considering the Countach came with Turbo Mirrors.

Pronto mirrors look very much like the Tornados, but are all plastic and smaller.  That was what I had on my car originally.  The difference (other than size) is the accordion plastic between the base and the mirror.

[jurassic narc]

J-N, the gas tank is in the trunk

 

Question: did McBurnie build the front fenders like my car has?

 

Kavinsky, i still do not know, what make the rims are.

Tire size front: 205/70/15

Tire size back: 235/60/15

 

Yes, it looks like a 6 speed, but its just a 4 speed manual. Base engine with a Holley Carb. 250hp

Donor vehicule is a 77 Vette.

 

 

The front looks as if the builder was been in hurry (with this little plexis) The way they are fixed is not really nice. No comparison to the rest of the car

 

I think, i will rebuild  someday the front with the Rowley-Plexi (is it still available?)

 

Are the sunvisors stock Vette?

 

 

 

Take a look of the gauges of this car: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replica-Kit-Makes-Other-Daytona-1974-FERRARI-DAYTONA-ROADSTR-MIAMI-VICE-QUALITY-CUSTOM-BUILD-REPLICA-/281400732434?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4184ca6b12&item=281400732434&pt=US_Cars_Trucks Original Ferrari gauges!

They would be perfect for my car

 

I know, my car is not MV like. But for a replica, i like it more like that - as close as possible to the original

 

Sorry about my english, i think, it sounds bad for you  

The sun visors on your car are from a 78-82 Corvette.  Not sure if these were used on late 77, but that is possible.

 

Those are not McBurnie inner fenders.  If the gas tank is not below the trunk, but rather inside the trunk, then the body may have been a Rowley built by someone else.  Some US body shops built the cars from the original kits.  All the cars Rowley built (that I have seen online or on EBay) have been built with the lowered gas tank.

 

Any way you look at it, the car looks well built.  Last time I spoke to the man at Rowley they still sold the plexiglass.  I bought one from him.  I would call rather than trying to email (although for you it may be cheaper to try email first).  The inset nose emblem is one indicator of a Rowley car, by the way.

[Kavinsky]

also I've been doing some research about the tires and the backspacing and I came across this and its examples everyone

 

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/car-article/Vintage+Wheel+and+Tire+Fitment-78685.xhtml

 

and also the corvette topic on the matter, as it seems like apparently stock backspacing kind of maxes out at 3.75 without modification

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-tech-performance/473166-c3-corvette-rear-wheel-backspacing-is-5-in-to-6-in-possible.html

 

personally I'm starting to think a 16 inch rim, 245 with 50% tire height seems to be the best all arounder looking at the photos

 

and a 235 with 50's on the front would be damn near as high as the 245's according to the caculations too, 4.7 and 4.8 inches front and rear respectively.

 

or a 225/55. which seems to be something the guy who made your new car knew pritt.

 

and My god that boss 429 is a beast with the 17's, along with the 67 Mustang and the 50's, but something about the 245 50's just looks right.

 

hmm maybe that's the countach and viper man in me coming out, as both of those cars had kind of low profile but not riding on rims like tires on them.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Kavinsky

[Kavinsky]

You know I just noticed something interesting, I was watching a video of a Trimph Spitfire mk 2 (of which theres a latter mark 4 parked down from the local toyshop) vs an austin healy and well it looks like its the perfect difference between the carl roberts windshield trim and the stock one:

 

here at 2:54

 

 

 

 

its almost a perfect contrast really.

 

also I cant help but note looking at the austin healy's interior, that it seems like theres just something about squaring off the edges where the top half of the windshield meets the lower that gives it a nicer look that the slightly rounded matting edge of most american cars

 

 

and the Trimph

 

 

vs the vette at 2:07, where the corner is slightly rounded

 

 

and I guess this works as it makes it look as squared off as it is on the outside.

Edited August 12, 2014 by Kavinsky