2023-06-10 11:07:00
The Ferrari factory team is back in the top endurance category this year, with two bright scarlet 499P hypercars starting at Le Mans from the front row.
But these are not the only cars built in Maranello that are attracting general attention these days. Auction house RM Sotheby’s is holding an auction in Le Mans for a unique Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Competizione with a very interesting history.
In 1971, the era of monstrous sports prototypes with 5-liter engines was ending in endurance racing, and on June 12, the Ferrari 512 cars left the start at Le Mans for the last time. But then the victory did not go to them, but to the Porsche 917, and no one won the race other than Helmut Marko together with Gijs van Lennep. The second place was taken by the crew in the same car, and two Ferrari 512s took 3rd and 4th places.
The Ferrari that is up for auction finished fifth, although it’s not a prototype, but a front-engined sports car. But, of course, not quite ordinary, since the car has undergone thorough factory training.
By order of the North American Racing team, Italian specialists made a number of alterations, some related to the 4.4-liter V12 power unit and transmission, some chassis, some bodies. Piloted at Le Mans by Americans Bob Grossman and Luigi Chinetti Jr., the car performed well, gradually rising to higher positions and eventually finishing fifth, although it lost to the winners of 83 laps.
Nevertheless, it was a success, and it was no coincidence that at the end of the race the crew received a congratulatory telegram personally from Enzo Ferrari.
Then the car participated in various American endurance races, and then for several decades remained across the Atlantic in private collections and only relatively recently returned to Europe. Last year, her current owner decided to completely restore her and return her to the original condition in which she entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971.
This work was successfully done in Italy, and in the warehouses in Maranello there were even some original parts released more than half a century ago.
And now this car with chassis number 12467 is up for auction. The estimated price is only given to those who show serious interest in the unique Ferrari, although there is no doubt that the new owner will have to pay a seven-figure sum for it.
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