In 1967 Ferrari produced one of its most beautifully designed competition cars with superb voluptuous curves and engineering. It was of course the 412P Berlinetta.
Two customer versions were sold by Ferrari, one to Colonel Ronnie Hoare’s Maranello Concessionaires. The car was driven by some impressive names including Richard Attwood, Piers Courage, Lucien Bianchi, Jo Siffert and privateer David Piper.
The car, chassis and engine numbers 0854, which is thought to be the only of its kind left to retain its original chassis, engine, gearbox and bodywork was sold at Bonhams recent Monterey Car Week Quail Auction for US$ 30,255,000 including premium.
The original alloy bodywork survived as David Piper had replaced it with moulded GRP, which was destroyed in a fire caused by a fuel leak, and the original alloy panels were then replaced during a nine-year restoration by the last owner who bought it in 2005.
The new owner now possesses one of the most coveted, highly regarded and beautiful pieces of motor racing history.
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Having been in private ownership for many years a unique Ferrari is due to be sold. It is a 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO, chassis 3765, and was the only example owned by the Scuderia factory team.
It is due for sale at RM Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Art Auction in New York on 13th November. What a brilliant event for the sale, as this car has often been described as a “work of art”! The pre-sale estimate is ‘in excess of US$ 60 million’, and although it is not likely to beat the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe sold by Mercedes at another RM Sotheby’s auction for €135 million to become the most expensive car, it must be a candidate for the second place, and possibly the most expensive Ferrari sold at auction.
Every serious collector will no doubt be queueing up to become the new owner!