The Soul of the Classics

Whether you're talking about the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO driven to victory at Sebring by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien or a 1957 Chevy Bel Air that has been lovingly owned, passed down from Father to Son for generations, these vehicles are so much more than machines. They are time capsules transporting us back to eras gone by. While each model is its own unique piece of Automotive history, each chassis has its own tale to tell. Preserving their histories is imperative to the future of classic cars.

In 1972 my dad, Mike Sheehan, started European Auto Sales and Restoration. From the start he would compile the histories of every car, starting with keeping the paperwork in folders and over time creating a database tracking the stories of each car. Today we have a massive database built over the last 52 years, ensuring that their stories do not get lost with time.

Whether it is knowing the original color combination of a Ferrari 246 GTS or tracking down the original engine for a 250 GT/L, our database has helped to preserve the stories, keeping them alive for generations to come.

Every classic car is a representation of the innovation and craftsmanship of the builders of that era, with each chassis telling its own captivating tale. This 1970 Ferrari 512 S was sold new to Chinetti as a NART car and raced in NART colors. In 1970 Dan Gurney raced this 512 S in the Daytona 24 hours and the roof contour had to be changed ("bubbled") to accommodate Gurney driving.

In 1971 this 512 M had a severe accident during the 1971 Sebring 12 hour race. The car was reconstructed incorporating some modifications which included removing the roof panel making it a 'M' spyder, door hinges changed to 'M' hinging, full width rear wing, etc.

in 1975 this 512 S went to a long term owner who loaned the car to Marauder Co. for an attempt to have the 512 body replicated. While the car was apart the owner convinced USAC Racing that the 512S motor was a "stock Block" and they put together an Indy car with a 5 litre stock block engine and raced at a few events. After the body was returned from the replica shop and the engine returned from the Indy car, the pieces of the car sat in a barn in Florida for many years.

In 1991 my dad purchased this 512S and restored it at his shop, European Auto Restoration, bringing it back to life. It then went to a collector who still owns it to this day