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05-04-07, 07:16 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23  | A day with Franco Sbarro
Hi guys
I thought I would share a day with Franco Sbarro with you, Franco is probably the worlds greatest car builder and has built many great replica cars. Some are that good that he has stepped over the line once or twice on identity issues and gained notoriety from these ill judged endeavours. However putting that aside I thought to restore a his credibility I would share some photos that I took whilst being with him at his Swiss facility.
regards
Chris.
Franco built several GT40s the one below is fitted with electric windows and custom leather interior.
Last edited by Chris Melia; 05-04-07 at 07:41 PM.
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05-04-07, 07:26 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Lola T70 by Sbarro
Last edited by Chris Melia; 05-04-07 at 07:38 PM.
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05-04-07, 07:40 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Bill D I Have No Life
Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Camarillo, CA
Posts: 2,355
Rep Power: 32 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
I would love to see one of his chassis. Any pics?
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Bill D
RCR GT40 Mk1 Gulf | |
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05-04-07, 08:12 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Franco showing me a spare Ford small block | |
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05-04-07, 08:15 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Hubless wheels on V12 mid engine car | |
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05-04-07, 08:20 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Franco builds lots of prototypes for big car companies. | |
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05-04-07, 08:24 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Sbarro T70 chassis (bottom pick) | |
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05-04-07, 08:43 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Top photo my wife with Sbarro child car. | |
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05-04-07, 08:46 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Porsche 907 bottom photo | |
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05-04-07, 08:54 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Ron Earp Site Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,844
Rep Power: 54  | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Those are some awesome cars and pictures, thanks for sharing them Chris. Really nice! | |
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05-04-07, 08:58 PM
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#11 (permalink)
| | Mark Worthington Bronze Supporter
Join Date: Dec 2001 GT40: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,784
Rep Power: 24 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Nice cars, yes, indeed.
But while you see fit to "put aside" some of his "ill judged endeavors," due to one or two "identity issues," I would be a little more direct and say his business practices rate him as a first-class scumbag. He actively went out of his way to deceive people for his own personal financial gain at the expense of those who were supposed to be his customers. That is unforgiveable. He's like a Swiss John Hennesey only with talent and better capitalization.
Jesus, Chris, you should start writing copy for the tobacco industry.
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Regards,
Mark
RF Chassis No. 36 still under construction
347, MoTeC EFI, pin drives, leather, etc. | |
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05-04-07, 09:19 PM
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#12 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Hi Ron
thanks for the positive comment, I thought it would give pleasure to our members to get a view inside Sbarro's works.
Hi Mark
I know he has been a bad boy in the past but this is about Franco Sbarro's skills as a prolific car builder designer and engineer, not a debate on passing judgement. On the day he was extremely pleasant and took us for lunch at his restaurant in the local town he even collected us from the railway station.
Like a lot of our Italian members Franco has a passion for what he does.
Have a nice day, I did
regards
Chris. | |
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05-04-07, 09:57 PM
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#13 (permalink)
| | Pete Lifetime Premier Supporter
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Brisbane, Austr GT40: GT40 Australia.
Posts: 2,829
Rep Power: 37 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Thanks for the terrific pics Chris.
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Cheers, Pete.
DRB chassis 48.
Queensland Australia. | |
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05-04-07, 10:19 PM
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#14 (permalink)
| | Bronze Supporter
Join Date: Dec 2002 GT40: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 212
Rep Power: 8 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Great pics, Chris. I was especially intrigued with the electric window treatment on the '40...
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"When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after, it's just waiting..." | |
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05-04-07, 10:32 PM
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#15 (permalink)
| | Big-Foot Gold Supporter
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN GT40: Replica
Posts: 1,230
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Holy smokes! Nice stuff!!! | |
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05-05-07, 01:45 AM
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#16 (permalink)
| | p thompson Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milland, West S GT40: None
Posts: 2,078
| Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Blimey Chris - when does he get time to sleep.. 
__________________ regards
Paul Thompson
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Too Many Hobbies  - Too Little Time  | |
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05-05-07, 02:40 AM
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#17 (permalink)
| | albanygt40 3 Tenths
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Albany West Aus GT40: Albany west Aus
Posts: 357
Rep Power: 6 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
Very nicely done Chris.
Anymore pics? As a car builder Franco does a very nice job, never knew this guy even existed.
Thanks.
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Looking for another GT40. | |
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05-05-07, 02:40 AM
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#18 (permalink)
| | simonjrwinter serial GT40 owner
Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Essex, UK GT40: GTD
Posts: 1,768
Rep Power: 24 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
WOW!!!!
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GTD with Southern GT rear end. Lowered engine and gearbox. 302, R21T gearbox with LSD. | |
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05-05-07, 04:08 AM
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#19 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths
Join Date: Sep 2001 GT40: England Suffolk
Posts: 1,644
Rep Power: 23 | Re: A day with Franco Sbarro
If you want to read more about Franco there is a book called Machinery in the blood by Daniel Heraud.
Regards
Chris. | |
