Ferrari 330 1965 News

The Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Coupe was bought by the Beatle in 1965 and is expected to sell for between 120,000 euros ($A156,188) and  170,000 euros ($A221,267). Lennon's biographer, Philip Norman, described how car dealers descended on the singer's home when the news emerged that he had passed his test and offered him a "gleaming smorgasbord" of luxury cars. But it was the Ferrari that caught his eye, with Lennon paying STG2,000 for the car, It was soon joined by his trademark Rolls-Royce, complete with psychedelic paintwork, and a Mini. The car will be sold by auction house Bonhams at a sale in Paris on February 5.

While Ferrari’s entry in F1 is topical (see related stories) a significant example of past glory in other championships is to be auctioned at RM Auctions Ferrari Passione e Leggenda on May 16.One of only three original 330 P4s built, and second place finisher in the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours, chassis number 0858 will be auctioned at Modena in its final factory guise as a 350 Can-Am.This particular car is significant to Australian Ferrari cognescenti as it was raced at Surfers Paradise in 1968. The car also played a significant role in Ferrari’s 1967 World Manufacturers Championship for Sportcars win.  Rule changes at the end of the 1967 season made the P4s obsolete for the 1968 season and 0858 became one of two P4s to be modified to compete in the Can-Am Series in America. This was without success however as the 4.4 litre engine could not compete against the no holds barred big block engines of the likes of the McLarens.Sold at the end of the season to a privateer, the car went on to race in South Africa where it won five races in the Springbok Series. On retirement from racing it was sold to an enthusiast who has maintained ownership for the past 40 years with only rare public outings.The car will present a connundrum to some potential purchasers. The P4 is the Holy Grail for the very upper eschelon of collectors. It brought Enzo Ferrai one of his most prized moments - the 1-2-3 victory at Daytona in 1967 against the unlimited-budget Ford assualt on his dominance. An image of the victory has remained behind his desk since that time. With a second place at Le Mans, this example could be considered the second most desireable of the P4s. The eventual buyer is left with the decision as whether to keep its original factory-modified body and unrestored patina or restore it to 1967 Le Mans specification, which is undoutably the most desirable style.check out our gallery of studio shots from RM Auctions - Ferrari Passione e Leggenda...Other notable Ferrari for sale in Modena on the 16th include;Alain Prost’s 1990 Ferrari 641/2 F11957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (featured in the World’s Most Beautiful Car blog related link))1965 Ferrari 275GTB/C (raced in 1993 Targa Tasmania)1956 Maserati 250F Grand Prix Car1959 Ferrari 250Gt California (LWB) 

At the very upper end of the 1:18 scale diecast market there has been something of a war happening between the big two model makers - CMC of Germany and Exoto of America. First they both released versions of the Ferrari 500 F2, and both have followed up recently with their own versions of the Ferrari 156. Each manufacturer claims their version to be the most accurate and the most detailed. Parts count in the models exceeds 1400 and virtually none are plastic..Now however it looks like we are seeing a third player enter the market place; GMP, also of America. GMP have been building models for some years, however their focus previously was on models aimed towards their domestic market. With the P4 they have paid the not insignificant licencing fee to Mattel for the rights to build and sell a Ferrari model. Mattel are the global partner with Ferrari for their model line.GMP  has chosen well with the P4 for their first foray into the Ferrari arena. The P4 is considered by most entusiasts to be the most beautiful, desireable and valuable Ferrari. With one coming up for auction next week at RM Auctions - Ferrari Passione e Leggenda (make that a hyperlink on the name itself) we should see confirmation of that view.The model is very accurate and extremely detailed, (see gallery above for images of the Ferrari P4 model and real car). From the complete engine bay detail including the four perfectly formed ignition coils to the plumbing and wiring which look in proportion. This is the sort of detail that the cheaper manufacturers such as Mattel Elite never quite get right and spoils the illusion.Overall proportions and shape appear spot on and the level of detail in the cockpit and suspension is second to known, not even CMC or Exoto. I have only one very slight criticism and that is the front body section is a little tricky to fit out of the box. But that is very minor as the model is solid and well made and even though the fitting is fiddly it doesn't feel like you are going to break anything.If you are interested in getting into 1:18 scale models we recommend ModelCars Too in Sydney or Automodels online store.GMP are set to follow the P4 with a 312P - let this war continue.