Is this a Ferrari? Maserati? Cobra? Help us identify this Classic Car rescue! 

Your a good man Dennis, you talk to your employees and people with respect, you deserve the success you have. i enjoy your channel

The best channel to watch in a morning while having breakfast. Just love Dennis’s positivity to life.

Pretty KOOL looking Car Good luck

It looks like the remains of Joe Playan’s OSCA Spider(Oscelet, OSCA Chevrolet). The hood and hood scroop matchup, and there is a reference to him taking it to Hollywood Motors to stop the car from bouncing through the turns. They would have put a straight axle with a flattened Ford leaf on the front and probably opened the grill up to cool the small block chevy. Racing as Scuderia Excelsior (USA) 11/10/1959 at Riverside

Would be nice to see some of the cars he rescues ,once they are all fixed up

Turn it upside down. Matchbox usually tell you the make and model underneath. 😉

Of all your videos Dennis, this one deserves a sequel. Don't leave us in suspense guessing what it is!

What an awesome car!!! I can't believe the neighbor actually took the $100 for his help, that's how it is in CA?? Where I live, neighbors gladly do that stuff because...well, they're neighbors.

Chassis number 1185 would match with an OSCA frame. AC used a Alpha numeric chassis number. The tubular structure over the rear axle looks like part of the leaf spring mount of an early ACE. I'll probably repeating this video a hundred times. I love a good automotive mystery like this.

You should reach out to Huffaker Racing in Sonoma. They had connections to Kjell Qvale who imported British cars to San Francisco. British chassis, Italian body, American V8 screams 60s Huffaker built race car to me.

Is it weird that I started watching this show for the cool barn finds,and now I just look forward to the food.lol I wish Dennis was my Dad.

It is what is left over of a 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Spider. on the PEBBLE BEACH AUCTIONS 2012 one in mint condition was sold for $4,730,000 A lot of work needs to be done, it is true it should have been right hand steering, also the body was partially re-done but still it would be a nice project. CONGRATULATION on finding it

That car owner was super cool dude.

Man that flex tube exhaust held up with plumbers tape took me back to sophomore year in high school (1966)! The kind of work my buddies and I did when we were 15 and made 50 cents an hour at the gas station.

I was in Italy in 1990 I saw 1 that looks identical. I got told it was a 1950's OSCA X-race car. It had a 4 cylinder engine and if I remember it had a Alfa Romeo engine. Even had the bulge in the right inner wing but was left hand drive.

The car is very cool and with a nice paint job and a badass motor it could be an awesome little car. Very unique find! 👍👍🔥🔥🔥

by the chassis number it could be a modified OSCA MT4 TN 1500 S Morelli Spider

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH - 2: I hope to God you're reading these comments Dennis. For the past 4 or 5 hours, I've been digging through the internet looking for clues that I can match to your "mystery car". I can't be certain about the frame & chassis. In my opinion, there have been many changes done to the chassis & suspension during its' history. However, the frame itself seems to be basically unaltered; as I can see in your video. If I could actually see the frame myself, I'd be more certain. At this point, I can tell you with absolute certainty the trunk lid is Ferrari. Most likely a 1954 Ferrari 375; of which there were several versions. In my opinion, your "what's it?" car began life as a 1953 or 1954 Ferrari 375 MM. There were several race versions of this Ferrari. The photos I found on the internet of the 375 MM match the body of your car 95%. The rear fender-well openings of your car appear to have been ??modified?? at one point to accept larger and wider rear tires. Otherwise, those rear fenders are 95% Ferrari 375 MM. The front fenders of your car match those of a "race version" 1954 375 MM 99%. The hood and front-end are 99% certain to be Ferrari 375 MM. The "drop-down" doors of your car are 100% 1953//1954 375 MM. The tail-end is 99%. On the nose of your car, there is a Ferrari Badge. It's NOT original//NOT correct to the body. The "race form" of these Ferrari 375 MM varied greatly...body-wise; due to team preferences. It would be very difficult to find two exactly alike. Never-the-less, "IF" what you have is in fact a 1953, 1954 or 1955 Ferrari 375, it would be a VERY RARE & EXTREMELY VALUABLE car; in ANY condition. Restored, it would be "priceless". Mr. David Lee is an expert on Ferrari Cars & a friend of Jay Leno. He should be able to help you or put you in touch with someone who can ID your car; if it is in-fact a Ferrari. (body) ...which I now believe it is. This is his website: www.ferraricollectordavidlee.com/ I hope my efforts & this information are helpful to you & your team. Best Regards, Ben

How about a 1955 Almquist Sabre?

I agree with Rooster Dave. It is unquestionably an Osca racer that I probably saw at the old Marlborough raceway ( now abandoned) in the early 1960’s

Damn Dennis I live half a mile away I would of pulled that car out of the garage with my truck, I work in a restoration shop and I can tell you there's lots of old cars in people's garages in San Francisco! Fun fact, with these hills in San Francisco you can only get 18-20 thousand miles on your brakes.been driving these hills for 50 years,thanks!

Straight axle with leaf spring front end were used on AC cars. It might have started out as an AC Ace, but little doubt it has been real shelled with something different. In the UK, it’s known as Triggers Broom.

There was a fellow in Portland Oregon named Don Chervy, that back in the 1960s had an early genuine Ferrari similar to this one....Because it became non competitive in SCCA and ICSSA racing with the original 4 cyl. Ferrari, by the time I met him in 1969, he had installed a small block Chevrolet engine. I saw him now and then through the 70s, still enthusiastically club racing his SBV Ferrarri. I saw him last in the late 1990s at a car show, where he was exhibiting his B Sports Racing from later times. He told me he had sold the Ferrari to a collector for a whopping big sum, and that he still had the old 1960s title, as the car was sold on a 'Bill of Sale' as a non street registered race car. He went in to say the new owner was going to try to find one of the original type Ferrari 4 cyl engines for it, and good luck for that! I heard that Don had passed away not long after. He was a colorful fellow, a friend to many, an he truly loved the sports car racing. This car is similar in shape and scale to many others of its era, including Don's Ferrari. It would be interesting to find out whatever happened to it. This car will also have a tale to be told. SCCA has a lot of race records available now. It would be possible to trace by driver name, the events it was entered into, and how it placed. This chassis does appear to have characteristics similar to the A-C, which was in production well before Shelby began buying them as engineless vehicles to finish as Cobras. Many small volume builders across Europe used the large round tube as a basis for ladder frames though, so that is not unique to A-C. The Arnolt Bristol was another UK built car of that period that employed similar frame construction. As we entered into the 1960s, small tube 'space frame' structures began to dominate, thanks to lower weight and vastly superior stiffness. They remained the standard until the advent of folded sheet metal 'monocoque' structures that emerged in the mid 60s, and remained the standard until composite fiber structures were perfected.

I wonder how the guy licensed and titled it, if he didn't even know what it was. I think you're on the right track. I was thinking like a late 50's AC Ace - Bristol that has been re-bodied and heavily modified. The 1185 chassis number is in the same range as the ones they were using in the late 50's...starting with either an AEX, or a BEX. Very interesting find.

When the original leaf spring front end was mentioned, I started getting "Bristol" vibes. Good luck with the identification. 👍

Dennis: Is it insured, James? James: No, but it's transferred to your name. 😄

Very cool looking car, and it definitely has that classic European look about it, and that front end, was made for a V12

Outstanding! Grandmas house was on 22nd Avenue in SF. Same house/garage configuration on the same slope. Thanks for digging up the memory, Dennis!

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH: Honestly Dennis, You certainly have a valuable piece of racing history. Its' "monetary value" is anyones' guess at this time. I believe the frame is "most likely" an OSCA; an AC chassis. Keep in mind...as it passed through owners...personal mods were made. Also, the engine block, heads, intake & carb may be rare pieces & valuable as well. As you can see, the body is too professionally done in aluminum to be a "backyard special". Although rough now, it was cutting edge for its' glory days; likely mid '50s to mid '60s. I'm sending you links to RU-vid Videos. I hope they will give you a few sources to help your investigation & eventually positively ID this rare gem. This car most likely campaigned at circuits in California & road courses in nearby states. If you can locate a few "old-timers" who raced at or otherwise were connected with those tracks they'll be a wealth of information. Jay Leno knows more "old-timers" than anyone & he's fairly accessible. His car muesum//Big Dog Garage is in Burbank; near the airport...give him a call. Ernie Nagamatsu would also be an excellent source. (see links 1 & 3 below) The people who posted RU-vid links 4 & 5 may be a good source of information as well. Best regards & Good Luck, Ben RU-vid Links: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zBs6O_D1D3k.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tZVZNDIbu10.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WotPAUEVDtU.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dQj9KIxe64Q.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zKPedvq9KF0.html

Dennis, I really enjoy your videos. You are so knowledgeable, a true gentleman and you treat people with respect. Will keep tuning in to find out what this car is!

I keep fingers crossed and hope you found a spectacular car to restore. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I think you need to get Wayne Carini to help work this out. He had an Osca that had similar styling cues to this..

Good thing a Green 68 Fastback mustang didn't come over that hill while it was blocked : } Good choice of surf music!!!

Love the video and love the car - whatever it is. Maybe mid 50's AC ace given the healy diff and other chassis bits, but there's been a lot of cutting and welding done underneath. Thanks Dennis.

I used to stay at that Fairmont Knob Hill over 20 years ago. There was, and still is a great restaurant as you walk down the hill, I think heading east - Rue Lepic is a wonderful family owned and operated French restaurant with a very unassuming exterior. Be sure to check it out the next time you find yourself in the area! Very interesting episode Dennis!

It reminds me of a British Sports car {Healy, Sprite /MG } Thus AC Cobra comes to mind But This car is really beat up like a prototype might be from mulit testing /rallys and possibly a former car that was raced but not in a sanctioned event . Lets just say a Cobra ? Thanks Dennis always an enjoyable video { Love To Dinner Out, Best Part } You are a great Host , Ed

your a class act man ,,i love the way this guy does his thing ,,,seems like a super cool dude

Too cool!!! Can’t wait to see you guys clean this thing up!!🔥💪🏼💪🏼 let’s go!!

3:47 I used to live one block behind where he's standing on Pine St. Rolls Royce, MBZ Pagodas all the time. Scottie Pippen Horace Grant and Craig Hodges walked right past me. I was thinking pretty highly of myself... "What's up Fellas".. It was Pippen's Rookie year. Had Mike been with them it would've dawned on me who they were! Maybe got in a Game of HORSE at the Chinatown Rec Center by the Cable Car Museum.

After hours of research, I think it's either a home-built or a Lister. Almost every Lister built has a removable panel where the rear license plate would go... I have not ever seen that on any other maker's bodies.

Wow! I grew up in San Francisco (Sunset District) and our street was similar to that street. One car garages are very common due to the age of the homes. Our house was built in 1946. Most families were lucky to have one car. LOVE Coffee Walk. Without a doubt it is the best channel on YT. I do not own a Jeep and most likely never will, but this content is amazing. Keep up the good work Dennis & crew.

You need to do a follow up video on this car. What have you concluded in the last 9 months?

it actually looks a lot like an OSCA MT4, but I can't help but think it may be the bodywork of one tossed onto another chassis. Certainly compared to the era, the rear wheels and tires are much larger than you would expect, so there certainly has been some modifications to both the drive line and the bodywork.

Definitely Looks like a Bitsa, or as we say around these parts a Bitsa slungtogether

Great video... very interesting car. Can't wait to find out what exactly it is. By the way welcome to San Francisco my hometown... Believe me fruit salads and coffee definitely do not cost $43 everywhere in the city... Hope you enjoyed your stay. 👍

Really hope you can get to the bottom of that fine piece of history. Wish I had a boss as cool as Dennis seems like a upstanding guy. Outstanding lol

Car looks like(maybe too nice) a "Max's Ol Yeller" ..Very famous, Max G****ski (sp.?), one man, gentleman sportsman privateer, bon vivant, like Cunningham, Lance Revelow built race cars,..Raced, all the European imported exotic race cars, at Laguna Seca and other race tracks around California, from the late fifties, to early sixties..Lets hope, you have a "Holy Grail" ...Subbed, and always thumbs up!

Very interesting looking car, I'm going to hurry to find out what you find out 😉 great video as always 👍☮️

We know for sure it was a factory car for some car company, an early AC ACE or Bristol, the grille and fenders are different, same as a 1948 to 50 Ferrari 166 MM similar but different. It will be cool to find out! Possibly the holy grail, thanks Dennis! It’s closer to a Meteor SR1 , but those were fibreglass bodies.

1957 OSCA MT4 TN 1500 S Morelli Spider

Was at a C&C in Portola Valley ,Ca. yesterday, 4-9-22) there was a coupe version of this car there (all original), 1952 OSCA

I grew up in SF, know exactly where that house is it! Bitchin find!!

Dennis, will be great to find a chassis number on it. Hopefully something with history. Cool find for sure.

cant wait to see what you do with it, an amazing find Dennis

Intriguing car! It would seem like one of those homebuilt specials like Old Yeller 2, but much more refined in design and execution. The body probably is adapted to the chassis and the chassis is likely the key to figuring out its origins. It will be exciting to find out what this bit of auto archaeology turns out to be.

Your videos have some of the best video on RU-vid. The sound is unbelievable. My tv stays on about 15 volume for every RU-vid video except yours. I have to drop it to 10. Great production/editing work 👍👍

Love! Those San Francisco hills. I've driven them in a 74 LTD. You can't see the road ahead at the intersection.

RamblinAround is on the right track! AC Ace Bristol would be my guess too. The grill and the fact the owner said it may have been a RHD car. The huge gap between the radiator and the fan boss suggests it came with a 6. The knock offs in the back compartment. All the clues are pointing to Blighty!

@7:50 the seller said the original front suspension was leaf with a straight axle and the previous owner had put a Volvo front suspension on it. Those numbers you found may have nothing to do with this car and even worse, removed the little identity it had to begin with. (If that really happened) it is a pretty cool car whatever it’s history.

San Franciscan: maybe convert it to electric. Texan: crickets.

It's "A brilliant red Barchetta from a better, vanished time"!

Class act, men with manners seems to be a dying breed. Much respect for the way you present yourself to others with respect and manners.

These are the sort of cars I'd love to see restored on this channel as a build series, I love the coffee walk, I just think that something bigger or project based would get this channel up there and out there and also just to see a car like this be built and the technical stuff behind it would be fascinating

Seeing how it’s in CA the area where Hot Rodding was almost invented back in the late 40-50’s, there is really no telling what it could be. The fact that it looks factory could be a testament to how well some of the Older builders were. Remember Carol Shelby developed his company around some of these original garage builders. They could put something together better then a lot of the factory teams did.

More great content. Thank you Dennis.

lol... I know that house, drive by it every day. I live just up the street. I would have never guessed he had that car sitting in his garage.

Thats a Collins roadster. Super rare. 1 of 1.

It looks like a very modified AC Ace which has had the body changed at the front fenders and the engine swapped.

Reminds me of an early fifties Bristol, especially with his mentioning the original Trans leaf suspension.. in the end though it could be a never completely finished kit car of the early to mid sixties. I remember some weird stuff coming out at around the same time as the original Meyers dune buggy began to take California by storm.

Similar or maybe a Ferrari 212 spider.wire wheel knock ofs in trunk also indicative of wire wheels.but then again OSCA also on the same lines.still a 1 of a kind find.Well done Dennis.awesome channel.awesome person and personality.always respectful.binge watch these for hours!thank you Sir.all the way from South Africa. Ps.the added food stops.."Outstanding"!👌

Can't wait for the details on this one. Looks like a one off for sure. ✌️😎

Looks like a kit car to me.

Dennis I´d love to see all the cars you buy fully repaired ......at least one......please . greetings from Ecuador ,South America. I love your channel.

Just found this Chanel today but I’m hooked. Love cars and Dennis is awesome.

I was waiting to see if Dennis bought that guy a beer for helping- instead he offers him a couple of hondos for lunch. Dennis seems to be an alright dude- very likeable. This is some damn good content from you guys. Officially subscribed.

i do not know what car it is, but it is beautiful, and even will look better if restored... greetings from germany

Dennis, I am not sure but I think it might be a Bocar. They were made by Bob Carnes in Denver around the late 1950s until the early. 1960s. It may be an x7 which was near the end of production. Check history at the Denver library. I wish you the best of luck! I don't know if Bob is still alive but will try to find out. ver

Love the car Can't wait to hear what it is 👍

I think its a 1957-58 OSCA Maserati sport tipo 372/F2. I found some schematics of the car online and from the video you provided, it matches up. The fenders have been modified though. I think front of the car has been literally "chopped" off. Also, it looks as though the rear end has been chopped off, either that or this is some kind of prototype of the car. As someone stated in the comments, chassis #1185 was raced in the mille miglia in 1957, and was a dnf. Maybe someone wrecked it and the factory modified it and sold it?

Resembles an Allard K3, but I think the drop doors, tube chassis, and scalloped fender are really gonna be keys to deciphering this car's story. Somebody out there knows THIS car - can't wait to hear the Paul Harvey "rest of the story".

It is a CoberAsserArri which was originally developed under the research and develop arm of the Rolls Canarrrly Corporation.

Awesome car, Dennis!😀👍

Being you found this is San Francisco, I would bet it has something to do with Huffaker Racing.

I am shocked you didn’t get a ticket while parked in the street like that! Glad it went well.

It's like you caught a big unknown fish cool!

Love the outstanding welds

Looking at the tubing on the chassis I’d like to think it started life as a AC Ace . Unlikely to be a cobra BUT ………….

ask WAYNE CARINI ! Cool car. It will make a great street/track car. Did the europeans generally use tubing that big ? A couple of pic's of a real cobra chassis would be nice

As always, wicked cool story and ride! Next time you're in the Bay area...and feeling seafoody, head over to Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay (don't bring the truck/trailer). Best New England seafood outside of New England! Says this guy from Boston. Look forward to seeing what you do with this new ride.

It's called a prawn/shrimp,cocktail. Been around for decades. This is just another spin on the same dish. Was originally an ente.

Denis was like let’s get it out of here before someone knows what it is 😂 😂

I think Its a Frankenstein . It has enlarged front fenders like a 56 osca m4. And cobra reminiscent grill. Hwadlamps are really close to grill. Maybe a high end kit/ race car. Pride myself for vehicle recognition and I have no clue.

LOL you left the splitter guards on LOL

I`m in Australia, ex Uk, been a follower since your early association days with R.R.. Your antics remind me of my friend David Howes `Howes Motors Jeep...Eaton Bray Near Dunstable Uk. Sadly lost contact with him when we came to Oz in `87.. I enjoy your show, cheers

When Dennis first walks up and taps the car (6:54) and plays the drum break from Phil Collins In The Air tonight 😂

I couldn't tell you what kind of car it is but, the way the front end was welded to frame tubes was scary. There was some back yard fabrication and welding going on there. You might want to repair that before putting it on the road. Besides that, it's a very unique and interesting car.

Hey Dennis really enjoying your show ,got to say I like the way you get things done ,only just seen your u tube so got a lot of them to look at Watching from Adelaide Sth Australia Cheers Kym

Chassis produced in Brooklands, (AC 100 Series). This chassis was produced for the 100th Anniversary of AC Cars. A planned run of only 10 cars. The chassis used a CRS chassis (with 4in main tubes and a double roll bar) with leaf spring suspension from a MK II FIA. Cars made in Frimley works, (COB 5000 Series).

Reminds me of a TVR Griffith with a Ferrari grill.

A couple of points and apologies for beginning with a history lesson, but OSCA was founded by the actual Maserati brothers, not some ex-employees. Oddly the Maserati car company wasn't wholly owned by the brothers and when the company landed on hard times in the end of the 1950s, the Maserati brothers relinquished control of the Maserati brand over to the financiers. For this car, I suspect it's not an OSCA, for the simple reason it's too large. OSCAs were powered by engines, generally, between 1,000 and 2,000cc and this car looks too large and heavy for that design starting point. Yes, wheel hubs can be updated over time, but the fact these very large, American size wheel/tire 5 bolt combos look correct on the car, makes me think it was designed and built for an American V8. Forget the decal and red paint, lots of American sports cars cribbed Ferrari styling as that was the state of the art. There's a funny combination of Ferrari 340MM headlights awkwardly too close to the grill, and pontoon-fendered TestaRossa indents that really suggests early American sports racing special. I have a copy of "American Road Race Specials 1934-70" that doesn't have this particular car photographed, but it does have tons of other one-off specials that seriously "borrow" from Ferrari styling. Everyone from Cunningham, to Max Balchowski did it. Plus this car being found in central California: the hub of late-50s to early 60s construction of these one-off road racing specials makes sense. Best of luck in the search.