From the description of an auction house:
Ferris de Joux Maserati Special Chassis no. 7/98Engine no. 83/5B Registration no. Bbj-504 Artist, designer, engineer. Ferris de Joux was one of New Zealand's most talented automotive designers. He has appeared regularly in motoring magazines over the years beginning with Motorman and Sports Car World in the 1970s. His first car was a 1936 Austin Seven Ruby and though quite tidy, was not exotic enough for Ferris so he removed the body and designed and built an all enveloping fibreglass body - said to be the first such body built in New Zealand.He went on to build a more aerodynamic body for the English Buckler sports car. The result was the classic Buckler look that continues today. One of the first cars to use this body was the Ivy Stephenson Buckler.Then there was a Holden Special followed by the Ferrari Special, which Jack Brabham thought was the best non factory built car he had ever seen, and offered Ferris a job which he declined as he was happy pursuing his passion for cars in New Zealand. Ferris bought the famous 4.5 Litre V12 Ferrari in which Jose Gonzales won the 1951 British Grand Prix at Silverstone - less engine and rev counter for 300 pounds from local racer Ron Roycroft. He converted the Gp car into a Gran Turismo that looked like a genuine factory built Ferrari road car. It was an exquisitely proportioned car and Ferris used it daily for the next four and a half years then sold it. It was eventually restored back to a single seater by a Christchurch classic car enthusiast and is now owned by Bernie Ecclestone.In the late 60s Ferris designed a special fibreglass body to fit a Mini Cooper. This became known as the de Joux Mini Gt. He designed and built the boy moulds and developed his own method of attaching the body to the mini floorpan. This was a pretty little Gt which used Mini parts and became a favourite with racing competitors. In 1985 before moving into his second house (both of which he designed and built) Ferris bought the remains of a 1964 Formula One Brp chassis and damaged V8 Brm engine, and over the phone to England, a Brm transaxle. Ferris made a list of missing parts and went off to England to find them. Soon after completion the Brp was sold to English collector Anthony Mayman.It was in 1996 that Ferris spotted the 3.5 litre Maserati engine under a bench in the workshop of Ferrari/Maserati specialist Allan Cattle. He gathered up a trailer load of Maserati parts then took a trip to Eurospares in England to buy all the missing bits and then started on what was to be his final major creation.The car was built around a 1958 3500GT Maserati engine and took 36 months to build and was completed in 2002. It covered a mere 470 miles and is - as all de Joux cars - absolutely stunning. This car was built in the style of Maserati of the 1937/39 era and as such has a pointed tail with a smallish cockpit and a long louvered bonnet. It is not a replica, not a copy, but has a family resemblance to the original Italian car.The big handsome engine has 3500cc, 6 cylinders, with a 12 plug head giving 220 bhp, has cast aluminium cam covers bearing the Maserati logo and has three twin choke 40DCOE Weber carburettors.It has a five speed all synchromesh close ratio gearbox and a limited slip diff (3.54 ratio)The suspension, torsion bars all round is similar to that used by C Type Jaguars.The front lower wishbones and torsion bars were bought from Invercargill based C Type replica builder David Brown and the rear torsion bars are from a Volkswagen.The brakes are from a Mark VII Jaguar and fitted with heavy aluminium finned covers. Ferris made a pattern and had the blanks cast and fins machined into them, then shrunk onto the cast iron drums. The finned alloy drums are very visable and dramatic lookingSpecifications include:-Radiator from a Mark VII Jaguar and the pedal box is a Jaguar/Fiat composite.Riveted alloy petrol tankWheels are 16x5 inch for the front and 16x5.5 for the rear with steel rim 84 spoke 52mm centre lock Borranis.Tyres 550 and 600 Englebert racing and highwayWhite faced matching Jaeger instruments by Vintage Restoration in England.The body was designed by Ferris who made the mudguards and radiator surround from fibreglass. He also fabricated all the interior panelling. Coach builder Max Mumby made the hand beaten external body panels in aluminium from a buck made by FerrisOn the road,we are informed, the car sits flat and corners like a modern sports car but gives the wind in your face, elbows out, smile from ear to ear thoroughbred vintage sportscar feel.Ferris de Joux's ability to create such things of beauty from just a few sketches was truly amazing.
