Photos: Driven to perfection
Charles Betz’s son Brooke, holding the original tri-fold brochure that came with the car, estimated his dad and Fred Peters, background, put $400,000 into the Ferrari’s engine alone, and at least $1 million in other parts. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Car collectors Charles Betz and Fred Peters spent 46 years restoring a 1954 Ferrari 375MM Spider convertible. Ferrari made only 14 of the 375MM Spiders, and two are known to have been destroyed.
The dashboard of the 1954 Ferrari 375MM owned by Charles Betz and Fred Peters. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
The 375MM’s engine. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
The 375MM’s center console. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
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Charles Betz is reflected in the 375MM’s original color red paint, next to the Pinin Farina side badge. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Roman numerals indicate the shifting pattern on the 375MM. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Lead wire wrapped around the spokes is original to the way wheel weights were fashioned on the 1954 Ferrari 375MM. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Charles Betz, front, and Fred Peters, with their 1954 Ferrari 375MM in Orange. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
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Charles Betz’s son Brooke, who now does much of the work on the partners’ cars, drives the 375MM in Orange in August. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Brooke Betz, left, Charles Betz and Fred Peters next to the 375MM in Orange. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Charles Betz watches his son Brooke remove the 375MM’s hood. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
In their garage workshop in Orange, Fred Peters, left, and Charles Betz carefully replace the hood of their 1954 Ferrari 375MM. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
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Charles Betz secures the leather hood buckle on the 375MM. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
In their garage workshop in Orange, Charles Betz, left, and Fred Peters express their friendship and admiration for their 1954 Ferrari 375MM. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)