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Ferrari Find in Florida Flea Market


Drive -In Entrance

Drive -In Entrance

Swap Shop Main Entrance under the tiger's head

Swap Shop Main Entrance under the tiger's head

Ferrari F50 s/n 103496

Ferrari F50 s/n 103496

Ferrari F50 s/n 103496

Ferrari F50 s/n 103496

Swap Shop

Swap Shop

Ferrari 512 BB Spider Conversion s/n 31975

Ferrari 512 BB Spider Conversion s/n 31975

Le Mans 24h 1965: "Beurlys" and Willy Mairesse finished 3rd with the 275GTB-C s/n 6885 that was entred by Ecurie Francorchamps. To cut the hole in the front was affected by overheating problems ... Schlegelmilch Photography

Le Mans 24h 1965: "Beurlys" and Willy Mairesse finished 3rd with the 275GTB-C s/n 6885 that was entred by Ecurie Francorchamps. To cut the hole in the front was affected by overheating problems ... Schlegelmilch Photography

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885 and GTO

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885 and GTO

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale s/n 06885

 

During a previous visit to Florida, a friend who lives there suggested that I make some time during the next trip to visit a flea market with him! I said "a flea market?" To which he replied "Yes, I think you’ll find it interesting, there’s a Ferrari on display in a glass case".

So on a trip this March I left a morning free to meet up with him, so that he could show me this gem in a sea of mediocrity. After meeting at his place in Coconut Creek just north-west of Fort Lauderdale, he drove me to see "the find". We arrived at a large undulating parking area, apparently the undulations were specifically built in as it was for a drive-in movie area, with a large well worn sign proclaiming $wap Shop. There was also a sign with a T-Bird insignia (as in Ford Thunderbird), this rang a bell, the T-Bird Swap Shop racing team from the seventies and eighties, that ran Ferrari 365 GTB/4C, BB512/LM and Porsche 935 models, at Le Mans and in other endurance races.

Entering through the main entrance, the first thing that greets you on the left side is a large glass showcase, or small glazed room, containing a yellow 275 GTB and some racing memorabilia. However, this is not any old yellow 275 GTB, but the example that won the GT class and finished 3rd overall at Le Mans in 1965, 275 GTB/C "Speciale", chassis # 06885. The last time I saw this car was amidst the splendour of the Garage Francorchamps 40th anniversary celebrations at the Cinquintenaire in Brussels, how its surroundings have changed!

Moving on to wander through the various booths and stalls, selling almost every conceivable item to varying degrees of kitchness and use, we came across a central stage area, where a daily circus performance is given. Across the other side of this we could just make out the shapes of more cars, situated between this and the cafeteria area. Making our way round, we found another five Ferraris and a Dodge Viper, crammed between waist high mobile barriers and the circus auditorium. Amongst these were an original "Daytona" spider, a new 550 barchetta, and the F5O raced in the FOC Pirelli Maranello Challenge series in the United Kingdom. Surely one of the most bizarre venues for a Ferrari display?

If you want to check out the display yourself whilst in Florida, the $wap Shop is open daily including holidays, and the address is as follows –

Fort Lauderdale $wap Shop
3291 West Sunrise Boulevard (Between I-95 and the Turnpike)
Fort Lauderdale
Florida

Ferraris On Display

Model Colour Chassis #

275 GTB/C "Speciale" Yellow/Blk 06885
365 GTB/4S Spider Red/Blk 14539
BB 512 Spider Conv’ Red/Blk 31975
F 50 Rosso Barchetta 103496 (031/349)
F355 F1 Spider Yellow/Blk -
550 Barchetta PF Red/Blk 124164 (186/448)

 

Keith Bluemel