This $80,000,000 car was SEIZED by the FBI!

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Tom Yang from @tomyangnet tells the story of a time when his mentor nearly got the most valuable car in the world for free right before the FBI seized it.
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#VINwiki #Ferrari250GTO #CarStories

[@silverfin198]

Highest respect to Francois with his Fbi interaction. Just too bad he couldn't stash the car away from the government's greasy fingers

[@josephfitzgeraldnsw5794]

I’m glad the stores being exposed to the public and very clearly explains organized crime within our government. They literally killed a guy in a hotel room because he didn’t have information.

[@UberLummox]

Who's greasier, the Gvnmt. or a drug dealer. A toss-up, I'd say. But I only have vast experience from the latter.

[@nicholas_scott]

I was hoping that the mechanics lien could block the asset forfeiture…. But I have no idea if that’s even possible

[@docrybotycki5588]

If only. Imagine the stories that could be told... lol

[@bbotelhoHI]

@@UberLummox the US Government is the biggest drug dealer in the US

[@storytimewithunclekumaran5004]

What a respectful man to decline driving the car..Thats a stand-up person..

[@Ma660t5andw1ch]

His 3 reasons are all 100% valid though. 80% of the times I’ve seen classic racecars get sideways or shunt it’s other drivers in modern track cars trying to show them up.

[@robb6753]

I wouldn’t want to be responsible for a multi million dollar car either

[@codypk5111]

@@Ma660t5andw1chit’s the most dangerous part of driving a lot of rare but well known cars; I’d actually hate owning a skyline because everyone who recognized it would bother you about it; could never really enjoy it in peace even if you wanted to

[@c54now]

@@codypk5111 Absolutely correct. My car isn’t even that rare but people drive like we’re in a race whenever I’m out cruising around. And it’s always the regular commuter cars doing the most.

[@mattstevenson1334]

The owner also seems like a true gentleman if you read up on him.

[@frankcava8073]

In 1983 I and a friend were taking a ferry from Port Angeles Washing to Victoria BC. In the loading lot there was a guy with a 64 250 GTO. He was struggling with trying to keep the muffler from falling off. He said “Hey do you guys have a couple wire hangers?” We sure did. We gave him two hangers from the clothes we had hanging in the 1983 Mustang GT we were driving and this guy took them apart and used them to tie up the sagging muffler. He had said that he bought the car California and was driving it back to his home in BC. I wish I could find the pictures we took!

[@widsquard]

That funny I actually live about 2 hours prop Port Angeles.

[@NotUrDJ]

Makes you hate 80s mustang a lil less haha.

[@ForzaWiz11]

Crazy to think I got see the most valuable car in the world pretty much when ever I wanted. Preston henns 275 gtb. It stayed in his ft Lauderdale swap shop for years until he died. After his passing one time we were there some guys and his kids were there inspecting the cars mainly the 275. They were tryna figure out which ones they can sell. No idea who they were or their relations to him. We started talking and he told us a lot of stories about it how he used to daily drive it to high school when he was younger. Ferrari cheated so a lot of parts on the car were shrunken. Hinges bolts doors panels. U have to be carful clicking to the door shut. At the end of the conversation the guy told my dad to give him his phone & the guy took about 5 pictures of the inside of the car for us. Now the car is gone. Appeared in schmees video few months later in some other location.

[@NoNotThere]

Ford V Ferrari, you should've just shown him the wire, then told him he couldn't have it before you peeled out and oversteered into a street lamp.

[@jamesduhon8252]

@@NoNotThere 😂

[@felixkremer7773]

When I saw the price I immediately knew which car it was.

[@bombfog1]

He is one of my top 3 favorite VinWiki guests.

[@jackfloyd6114]

Absolutely. Great stories

[@PatrickEvabs]

Thank you for this Mr. Yang (Might be my favorite vw story yet). I too, know the feeling of saying “NO”. The year was 2006, I was 20 and took my (way out of my league, as my friends would point out) soon to be Girlfriend to the company Christmas party. The President had an F430, a Lotus Elise and a SPYKER C8 Spyder w/ matching luggage (you can guess which one he drove to the party). Mr. Pres, had had a few drinks/ was being kind, talking up my ‘potential’ and feeling generous; He advised my Lady friend ‘not to let me get away’, as he handed me the “key” (Looked more like a glass yo-yo than a key) and said “Go take her for a Spin!”… I about pissed myself at the opportunity:))) I took her outside… opened the C8 door for her and we sat inside for about 10 mins. (Sidenote, she was a huge car fan- Barrett Jackson would be a regular favorite for us later on) After which, I explained to her that I could NOT drive the owner of the company’s $650K CAR, because he had just bought it, and I wasn’t going to lose my job over a “whoopsie moment” in the hotel parking lot. So I fired it up, warmed it and reved in neutral… And passed on the chance to drive. Part of me still kicks myself till this day… but I think I showed my date a responsible side of me that she loved. I think I chose wisely… Almost 20 years later, she’s my wife. Over the last 5 years, I’ve rebuilt/ restored my ‘68 Camaro, and one day I’ll hand the key to our son. (He’s 2, so have some time). Good things come to those who wait, but they’re only the things left behind by those who hustle!! Keep up the great work Guys-

[@tomyangnet]

Great story. Sometimes a sense of reserve will bring good things! I've since had my fair share of Ferrari drives! thanks for sharing!

[@goldengooch1867]

9:22 RIP James McNiel. He and Sandra did classic car ownership the way it should be done.

[@ruipacheco2939]

I really like Tom's politeness and way of telling stories - If I'm not mistaken, Tom was the gentleman that worked with Letterman, but then decided to follow his passion for Ferrari, right? Being a professional musician that nowadays is into classic cars more than anything, really made me connect with his passion and understand his (bold) move. Please, have him more on VINwiki! Cheers from Portugal

[@tomyangnet]

Thanks for your kind words and I hope to get the chance to share some more fun stories in my journey with working on old Ferraris!

[@rogerbussiii]

Follow this guy! His story and how he got into cars is the best.. his knowledge of Ferrari are 2nd to none.. dude knows more about fixing Ferrari than Ferrari. Seriously.

[@camaroguy1969]

We are so lucky to have Tom share so much with us. So glad he is telling more of these stories here. I have followed his blog for years and can just eat up all the details and stories he shares. Thank you Tom and VinWiki!

[@Cadence1986]

The 250 GTO is probably the most beautiful car ever made.

[@tim300wsm]

Lister jag is much prettier

[@cpt_nordbart]

Merc 300 SL is more beautiful to me.

[@sebemmins1483]

Naaah 250 GT California SWB all day long.

[@christiandulaney1638]

Completely agree! I was surprised that no one selected the 250 GTO as their "price is no object" choice of cars for the Vinwiki series on "cars within a certain budget"

[@ajdahun]

Enzo(the man, not the car) was quoted as saying the E type was the most beautiful car ever made the first time he saw one. You gonna argue with Enzo?

[@Schlipperschlopper]

In France they now have a law called SCHLABOUBVE, from next year you can only drive 5000 KM with a combustion engine.

[@TheOriginalLugnuts]

I totally understand him declining to drive the car.

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

Me too! A quick mental tally of the consequences of crashing and I'd also have respectfully declined.

[@JoeGator23]

@@gerryjamesedwards1227 But this guy has the skill set to put it back together... I'd have driven it. He would have done fine for a near once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

[@l00katy0utb3]

@@JoeGator23 If he crashed it the labor cost would be on him since it was his fault. Regardless, smart move on his part respectfully declining.

[@UberLummox]

Very smart guy. Smarter than I woulda been.

[@gauravjoshi6310]

Just when I thought the Vinwiki stories are starting to even out. Ace is thrown on table. Hands down best story listened till this date this year

[@Atlas.X9X]

We want more Tom Yang.

[@davidnieuwenhuis8141]

Good story, this must have been late eighties. A friend of me actually went to see the GTO as he was a dealer buying classics in the US and sell them in Europe. He told me how he got contacted that there was a GTO for sale. When he got there, it was a huge warehouse on some high security spot, totally empty and only the GTO sitting there. I don't remember the asking price, he didn't buy it. Must have been this car.

[@CrackedCandy]

Love it when Tom is here. Very down to earth.

[@christiandulaney1638]

This guy is an absolute stud! Wealth of knowledge, and the ego and good sense to decline a very generous offer

[@artmchugh5644]

" but you will be DEAD !!!" I gotta write this down!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@nexrace]

I wouldn't try that with the FBI kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKTNhqSOjNtgsKs

[@stephenfabiano1242]

I meet Francois Sicard at his home/shop in Connecticut, back in 1984, to purchase OEM Fuel & Oil lines, we needed to restore a 1957 500TRC. I remember asking Francois, why there where so many Ferrari's parked in the woods around his home? Francois said, "they No Pay...I push them out there"! We tried not to laugh, bc he was very serious! After that he took us into his parts area under the house, to get the leather wrapped lines we needed. As we walked back to shop area, I asked him about the 250 Series I Pinn Cabriolet, that had no Headlight covers? Francois, walked away quickly and returned with an Original Set of OEM Ferrai headlight Covers, still with Ferrari Red Printed Factory Tape around the both. Francois said, here these pieces of Crap, is what the Factory used. I was definitely schocked to see the lenses were not very smooth or clear! So, I asked him if he would allow me to make him a new set? His only question was, how soon could I get to him...so responded about 2 weeks. Francois said, Ok! So, 2 weeks later I returned to his shop, and although he was not there, he told me to leave them, with the invoice, in a 246 GTS out in the woods!? I almost cried, when I opened the car door and the whole interior was covered in green/black mold! Obviously, this was one of his Non-Paying customers..oh boy!? Later the next day François called me, to thank me for making the Clear Lenses and how excited he was at the Quality of the Lenses I had made. I was extremely proud, that he was impressed with my work. After, we finished the 500TRC and Flatbedded it to JFK Airport, for shippment to Italy, and the reinactment of the 1957 Milla Miglia. The same Owner, after returning from Italy, had purchased a GTO #3589 and a M-B Gullwing for us to restore in our shop on Long Island. The owner Frank Gallegy, had also requested Iness Ireland, to come too our shop and review the aluninum body of #3589, thatvwe had stripped of paint. Iness was shocked that "Body Filler" was still on the rear fender were he had hit a sign post in one of his races. And, we had also found the Original color of the GTO, under the windshield gaskets, after very carefully removing the windshield. This further documented that #3589 was original, and confirned it was sold by Ferrari to Rosebud Racing, and it matched there Livery Colors. That were "Dark Blue" w/ White Paint around the Front nose. Unfortunately, the informed us he had a New Buyer, that was willing to pay double what Frank had paid for #3589. What we did know was, that Frank had purchased #3589 for $1.1M as is, and that included the M-B Gullwing, a 275GTB & a Lotus 11. With those two cars being given to the Middleman/Broker for getting the Deal done with the GTO. The last we heard of GTO #3589, was it went to Switzerland, to Ferrari Collector who had the original body removed and placed on a Pedastel for show & an all new Aluminum Body was Fabricated for #3589. I have seen pictures of that display and the Restored/Rebodied #3589 at Ferrari events, and it certainly looks spectacular!❤

[@xnadave]

20+ years ago, I was in my early twenties, I went off track while driving a friend's (then-new) 360 CS. That's not remotely in the same league as this story, but the car was worth only slightly less than my house at the time. These days, I'd also respectfully say "Thanks! But no." Great story - I'd love to see more from this presenter.

[@fredericrike5974]

Tom, my dad got that one spot on- he said "Son, if you can't afford to insure the thing, don't buy it or drive it". This was about a year into his first Rolls, I think.

[@ThrawnFett123]

Been here a long time. This guy seems like the next Doug. An absolute wealth of untapped stories that he can deliver even better when he is comfortable. Like with rabbit, I want to hear them all

[@NinjaKittyBonks]

FANTASTIC call on the reasons to decline driving that car on the track. We have all seen / heard the stories of famous last words... "Of course. Don't worry, I got this!"

[@Mrpancake72]

This guy is an amazing guest. I feel like I could listen to him for hours.

[@markwoodger2]

I agree, a pleasure to listen to.

[@SoundChaserStudios]

Wow so interesting to hear this story. As a child my dad was best friends with luigi chinetti jr. in fact they designed a few custom rebody designs (275 p and sdhooting brake) I spent those years in the back of Chinetti's hanging out with Francois and Roger handing them tools as they worked on the cars. Thanks for sharing!

[@machintelligence]

I hope he got paid for the amount of the lien. Mechanic's liens are hard to extinguish.

[@bertholdschwarz9637]

Total respect for Tom............true professional.......

[@kellyscars]

There's only one car worth that much!

[@jonathanjones4566]

Just think, the 250GT beat everything, except the Daytona Coupe, and there are only six of those!

[@swami15]

Awesome story, and what a respectable, dignified gentleman!

[@mikeplacentra9342]

Great to hear from a guy that was right there working on these legends. Great storyteller, too!

[@peterb3842]

Tom is a true legend.

[@jamessutherland5107]

Likely the IRS wanted their 35% luxury tax on it.

[@AlecioG]

I would argue that actually the '54 Maserati A6GCS Berlinetta is just a touch prettier than the 250

[@superjonboy873]

Too Bad Francois didn't immediately put aechanics lien on the car!!

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

Excellent story Tom....!!!! Thank you...............................!

[@noonehere1793]

Respect…..it would take great restraint to turn that down. My personal rule at least with planes is “if i can’t afford to buy it i won’t fly it” my worst was turning down an option to fly a newly restored P-51 mustang….I have stick time in the Mustang but i just could not risk it and that is when i developed my rule!

[@kafisher44]

Awesome story! Tom is such a great guy, so knowledgable and passionate about Ferraris.

[@billcunningham8485]

Geez who is Tom Yang? Super knowledgable guy - great stories. Subscribed to his YT channel.

[@konradgreen2567]

At last, a proper video, not the stupid shorts crap. If we wanted shorts, we'd be on TikTok! Thanks 👍

[@avmelidor]

Great story. I've had the privilege of seeing a few of these albeit from afar

[@joeserdynski1045]

Thanks ! ! ! Yep, grew up in the 60 and 70's, it was the icon ! ! !

[@violinmiata]

I’d love to hear Tom and Ficarra talk Ferrari in an extended Vinwiki.

[@spaceghostmiid]

7:37 can confirm, i know someone who had a gto, he grew up around the time that car was the poster car, and now he has enough money to outbid anyone he wants on his childhood dream cars. so that's exactly what he does.

[@johnlorusso1835]

Wow! This car was kept at a car dealership up the street from me before the govt sold her!!!

[@jimz68]

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be offered a ride in GTO #3943 at Sears Point. My first thought was " and I thought these things sounded great from the OUTSIDE". From the inside.........Oh My !!!

[@nunyabeeswax8485]

If François had properly filed the mechanic's lien, as advised to, he would've recouped payment for all his work when the thugs auctioned off the car.

[@wctownsend]

Great to see Mr. Yang on this channel, I have been a big fan for YEARS and followed his blog from restoring his 330 til now. Such an awesome guy!

[@jjhpor]

I disagree that the 250LM wasn't driven on the street. I saw a 250LM that was street driven at Riverside Raceway in about 1967 or 68. An Asian guy about 40 drove into the parking lot, he and his kid got out of the car and opened the front trunk to remove something (lunch, binoculars?) by turning a tiny knob on the lid and lifting it by the knob. The knob has three "lightening" holes drilled into it. There was no upholstery in the trunk, just bare aluminum and the bare steering shaft went through the clear space with a green woman's scarf wrapped around the shaft. That was about 56 years ago. Do you think it impressed me?

[@dukedub]

There’s a right hand drive 250 gto in Washington state, curious if that’s the same car. Last I saw in 2016/17 it was painted white. Beautiful car

[@christophersmith7676]

Ha! That's the very same car that was being kept at my Dad's shop in '87 until it was auctioned off. I have a picture of Dad standing next to it with the US Marshals sign in the window. Crazy memories!

[@rrmerlin3402]

My buddy tells the story of when he was invited to drive a 1959 250 Testarosa in the Colorado Grand. At the start he was talking to to a fellow and said " I'm a little nervous to drive this million dollar car " .The Fellow said " see that guy and that guy and that guy ( Ya ) they would pay him 50 million right now " GULP .

[@2000NissanMaximaSE]

As a kid and to this day my ultimate dream car has to be the 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO. That car is the best car and I would give up my Lamborghini murcilago

[@thomasmccabe4649]

I remember going to see this car in New Haven with a friend who was interested in it bidding on it at the auction by the Marshall Service.

[@froey198033]

As soon as that guy said he was leaving for a little while I would've hid the GTO immediately.

[@NoorMarwahGK]

Hello! I subbed, Im so surprised i met you at school on career day :) I love these stories please upload more :D

[@gsxerwhite]

I saw one in a John Candy movie and it instantly became my favorite Ferrari, which WAS the F-40.

[@scottwhitmire6613]

Waz the parking lot empty? Best to you Scott🏁

[@jamesgambony5870]

I totally understand Tom's hesitation to drive the car on the track, 30 years ago a coworker gave me the chance to drive her car on the Pacific Coast Highway north of San Francisco. I took photos instead. I really didn't want to chance any damage. It wasn't an expensive car, but it wasn't my car.

[@chrisloukes424]

Great story, well told by a very engaging chap who obviously knows what he's talking about.

[@jasoncrinklaw4255]

PERHAPS I would have accepted some wheel time had the track been COMPLETELY deserted & we were on our own with no one whizzing by…but even then i would have dawdled around like a granny that forgot where she put her glasses, driving it at 4 or 5/10ths.

[@michaelbonade4667]

Tom is tops....another great one from him

[@ICKY427]

i used to prefer the 275gtb to the gto ever since gone in 60 seconds, but the last few years i've changed my mind. granted they're both magnificent.

[@lyonsson6480]

Maybe the short nose GTB but not the long nose.

[@michaelsorrentino9279]

Great story teller !!!

[@EVGUY13245]

Let this be a reminder that $9,000 in the 60's equals $90,000 today.

[@K_M_M_G]

I had the chance to see this car in the summer of 2014 in Boston. At the time it had the number 11 on it and the cobra was also there with the number 10 on it. I had no idea I was looking at a $50MM+ vehicle at the time. I still have the photos, I believe KTR in Ayer owned it

[@rustyturner431]

FYI... GTO prices in the 1960-70s were a lot lower than mentioned. I know, as I was offered Henry Manney's car for $5000 in the early-1970s. Henry just wanted something he could use more, and I had a 4-headlight 330 2+2. We talked about a swap, but my wife at the time loved the 330 and was decidedly underwhelmed when we drove the GTO. It was loud, and it banged and rattled and was generally ill tempered at low speeds. Mind you, we went out for an early morning run (about 3:00am) and the car changed personality completely above 100mph. But Katheryn was adamant, and I didn't have the $5000 to simply purchase the car. I actually tried talking to my banker: it was a short conversation and he looked at me differently for a LONG time afterwards. Bette Davis was right, "Getting old ain't for pussies..." (yes, the stuedio cleaned up the quote) as it someitmes makes your memory your worst enemy!

[@tomyangnet]

$8000 was still a lot of money back then, probably enough to buy a moderate house or a substantial down payment, but ask yourself if you had bought it, how long would you have been able to keep it instead of cashing it in?; when you doubled your money? Quintupled your money? How about 50 times what you paid for it? Only one person I know waited to cash his in for about 8,000 times what he originally paid for his car, and that was the one I rode in at Monticello!

[@jschro4247]

Nick Mason paid around $65k for his in ‘76ish and I remember them listed in R&T in the high teens in early 70’s. So yes, Tom is absolutely spot on.

[@Zoomlens]

Manney’s GTO was offered to everybody in 1966, when he advertised it for $6000 in R&T classifieds. In the 1970s, it was owned by a noted Ferrari collector in Greenwich, and maintained by Francois Sicard. I knew the owner’s brother, and he got me into a club meet at Watkins Glen, and I had a ride in it, as well as a ride in the TR-59 that won LeMans in 1960. Manney’s $6000 GTO made news when reports that it had been sold for $52 million were going around.

[@davehartsock5382]

That ad at 3:03 for that 1963 GTO for $8500! If only!

[@JohnS-il1dr]

Lol right. Thats 75k in todays dollars and that gets you a 2021 F150 with 8k miles in comparison.

[@casualobserver77]

Love all 250 gto content I can get!

[@-ExperienceWithMe-]

To this day I'll never understand why rich people keep paying this much for old ass cars. I'm assuming maybe just for a profit down the road

[@pas-kv8ud]

I don’t want to borrow my neighbours tractor incase I break it. I would imagine damaging a 250 GTO would be slightly worse than that. lol.

[@insanity2amillion]

To buy it just as a car to drive, totally a smuggler

[@jerrystephenson1172]

One question came to me while watching. If the car is owned currently, how did he buy it? A govt. auction? If so then did Francois ever recoup his money owed?

[@mafatchu569]

Isn't the title off by 78.4 million? The 80 mill is in the one news article about the amount of drugs the guy was moving but the car itself was 1.6 mill ...no? What did I miss here.

[@abigalanderson7494]

Don't answer questions without a lawyer.

[@bdjm8595]

Great story!

[@nathanielbailey108]

A 250 GTO AND a comp cobra? My two dream cars in one garage? Ugh how dare you tell me that.

[@UberLummox]

This guy is smart. Way smarter than I woulda been.

[@upptowne]

great story!!!

[@jasonb4988]

There is one in S. Fla, it is spectacular ..

[@OnlyTheFinest125]

Happy Friday!

[@sfish6]

Between this guy and curated I love these cold war era car stories

[@michaelbonade4667]

This French Mechanic is my Personal Hero

[@michaelbonade4667]

Get off of MY PROPERTY!......ur wit the GOVERNMENT?!?......even better....get of my property and go to hell...then get a REAL JOB

[@jjohnson893]

Letting you know that hearing about caramel for the first time was actually really nice. Very cool product. Wanted to make sure you knew.

[@jt.8144]

Time to give that car back to The Bueller family.

[@michaels.ramsey7803]

Should have got that lien as soon as that dude got sketchy.

[@stevankirby5982]

Once the completion of the time machine is done, I'll be going back to this sale.

[@thec130side]

Drive it 10 yards.

[@jakespeed63]

Back in the 80’s, Cleveland had only one place to get your Ferrari “properly” serviced or buy parts. Naturally a little tiny inner city shop run by a ornery Italian man. Back then I bet all these guys knew one another. JT: Orlando FLA

[@zeusfitter007]

Cornelius Would Be Proud.🙌🏼

[@crazybastid85]

Btw this guy is the nicest person, I love watching the videos of the old Ferrari's he gets in and tunes up.

[@christopherkelly577]

He should have hid the car. 70 million lost to the machine.

[@CanonicalBomb]

Imagine being the guy who bought the Ferrari that was seized by the FBI, Now that is a Conversation Starter

[@vannianouris2434]

Great story.

[@dundun8640]

I call bs on the threatening the life of a federal agent.

[@robertreynolds9607]

You made the right decision. I would have done the same, even loving these cars as much as I do. Too much liability. I really enjoyed this video. Very interesting 👌

[@matthew58ify]

A great video. My favorite car of all time…a true piece of mechanical art.

[@willardpritchard5186]

As Clint Eastwood said, "a man's got to know his limitations." Probably the best decision you made if you weren't feeling it 100 percent confident when it came to driving that car under those circumstances. As much as I would love to drive that car, I think I would have regrettably declined as well. :(

[@OGMoneyLoc]

Don’t let this distract you from the fact that Hector is going to be running three Honda civics with spoon engines, and on top of that, he just went into Harry’s and bought three t66 turbos with nos, and a motec exhaust system.