330 GT Registry

LOST&FOUND MICHAEL WARE’S CLASSIC DISCOVERIES

LUXEMBOURG’S BEST-KEPT SECRET

Regular correspondent Mario Laguna has long known the legend of a hidden Ferrari in Luxembourg, but for many years it seemed to be little more than a rumour. “Only a few believed it wasn’t a fairy-tale,” said Laguna, “but some recalled seeing a metallic-grey 330GT 2+2 in daily use from the mid-’70s until it suddenly disappeared in the ‘80s.”

Laguna’s friend Thierry Hilger fulfilled a dream and found that very Ferrari, which has joined his collection alongside an Aston DB2 and Lotus Elan: “Thierry knew that a few fellow countrymen were on the hunt for the Ferrari, too. The car had been stored in an underground garage in Kirchberg, Luxembourg for 28 years, and no one had been able to see it.”

The Ferrari’s first owner was Franco Busnelli of Milan, who registered it in Italy on 3 March’67. Rodolfo Zilli, an Italian working in Luxembourg, imported it in 1975. Zilli put 149,000km on his beloved 330GT, travelling to and from Italy as well as using the Ferrari around town. The car was well maintained until 1982, when it was put away-in the garage, having only travelled 150km since its previous service.
When Zilli passed away in June 2010, aged 85, his widow wanted to make space in the garage. Hilger heard that the car had become available and quickly arranged to meet Mrs Zilli to do a deal. He put in some fresh fuel and a new battery when he got home on 6 October, and the engine fired immediately.

“Thierry hesitated between preservation or restoration of his chassis number 9443,” said Laguna, “but thought such a car deserved to be returned to pristine condition and entrusted the job to Carrosserie Roemen, which had restored his DB2. Despite the positive first impressions, the firm found some corrosion and needed to replace several chassis tubes, yet the car is in sound overall condition and will be resprayed in its original grey.”

Classic Sports Car November 2011