Some cars are worth more for the memories than the money. That was the case with a dusty 1968 Ferrari 330 left behind by a grandfather who loved cars, and the detail crew who posts as @WDDetailing took on the job of bringing it back.
The crew had detailed another of his Ferraris before he passed away. Now his granddaughter wanted this one cleaned in his honor. “At auction, this car could be worth up to $1 million,” the host says at the start.
She explains that her grandfather helped raise her and her sister, and that car shows were some of their best days together. When asked what it would mean to see the car cleaned up, her answer is simple: “The world.”
Careful Work On A 1968 Ferrari 330
The car was loaded into a trailer and taken to the shop. A lead hammer was lying on the floor, and the crew explains it is used to remove the single knock-off nut on each wheel without damaging it.
The wire wheels came off first. They masked the greased spline hubs, scrubbed every spoke and polished the metal to bring back the shine.
Since they didn’t know which panels were original and which were repainted, they skipped their usual alkaline pre-wash. Instead, they went straight to a gentle pressure wash. They also found the fuel door release hidden in the trunk.
A V12 Cleaned With Steam
Under the hood is a V12. A researcher on the crew says it is only about four liters but makes 300 horsepower, and he says the car cost about $14,000 to $15,000 new.
Rather than spray water on such a rare engine, they pulled the airbox off the three carburetors and cleaned it with steam, which evaporates quickly.
In the trunk, they found the jack and the tool roll. It was missing only the hammer, and the crew says these kits alone can sell for thousands.
Inside, A Time Capsule
The center console was full of mold and mildew, so masks went on. Overhead, the vinyl headliner had stitched padding, so they cleaned it section by section. Next, the old floor mats were blown out with air and extracted instead of scrubbed, since replacements are almost impossible to find.
Under sheepskin covers, the black leather seats turned out to be in far better shape than they expected. Outside, the paint showed signs of an old repaint, so they only polished lightly instead of sanding.
What To Do With A Loved One’s Classic Car
This story is a good reminder for families who inherit a special car:
- Don’t rush a cleanup with harsh chemicals. Old paint, leather and trim need gentle products.
- Look for original extras such as tool kits, manuals and jacks, and keep them with the car.
- Use steam or a damp cloth on rare engines, not a heavy pressure wash.
- Have an expert check the car before you decide to sell, restore or keep it.
- Most of all, drive it and share it, the way the original owner did.
Where The 1968 Ferrari 330 Stands
At the reveal, the granddaughter admits she is nervous. Then the garage door opens on a gleaming car. Asked what her grandfather would say, she answers, “I think he would use the words, ‘It’s marvelous.’”
The crew asked viewers to help name the car. The host offered one idea, and Josephine, after her grandfather, came up as well. Her message to everyone watching was to stick with the hobby. “Don’t give up on it. Stick with it. Do it with your family,” she says at 24:47.
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