VIN: the works / Luigi Chinetti Ferrari 196 SP chassis 0804
History of chassis 0804
Chassis 0804 was one of four new mid-engined SP cars assembled for the 1962 season. In addition, Ferrari rebuilt their two SP cars from 1961 to the lastest ‘lowline’ body style giving the Scuderia half a dozen of these machines at their disposal.
To compliment the SP models, Ferrari also campaigned a single 330 TRI/LM which was a last-of-the-line front V12-engined machine.
By contrast, the SP models used a variety of V6 and V8 engines.
Chassis 0804 was fitted with a two-litre V6 for the duration of its career.
The little 196 SP made its debut for Scuderia Ferrari at round five of the 1962 World Sportscar Championship: the Targa Florio.
Ferrari had originally expected that three of the SP cars would contest the Sicilian race, however, one was wrecked in practice which left just two cars for the gruelling event. Nevertheless, the Italian team took a famous one-two finish as the 246 SP of Olivier Gendebien, Willy Mairesse and Ricardo Rodriguez led home Giancarlo Baghetti and Lorenzo Bandini in 0804 (which won the under two-litre class).
Baghetti and Bandini were back behind the wheel of 0804 three weeks later for round seven of the championship: the Nurburgring 1000km.
The four car Scuderia Ferrari team also comprised a 246 SP, a 268 SP and a brand new 330 LM.
Unfortunately, 0804 was retired in the pits just passed quarter distance with a cracked sump.
Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien went on to win in the 246 SP sister car.
For the rest of 1962, chassis 0804 was campaigned under a quasi-works Scuderia Sant'Ambroeus entry in the European Mountain Championship. Scuderia Sant'Ambroeus was run by Ferrari racing director, Eugenio Dragoni, and 0804 was driven by works hillclimb specialist, Ludovico Scarfiotti.
Although Scarfiotti missed the first and last events of the ‘62 season, four wins and one second place finish meant he comprehensively outperformed the works Porsche squad on his way to the 1962 title.
After a refresh back at the factory, chassis 0804 was sold to Ferrari’s US distributor, Luigi Chinetti.
Chinetti wanted the car for his North American Racing Team (NART) and entered 0804 for three end-of-season Nassau Speed Week races in the Bahamas.
Driving for NART, John Fulp won the Governor’s Trophy Preliminary, finished fourth overall (second in class) in the Governor’s Trophy main event, and posted a DNF in the Nassau Trophy.
Chinetti subsequently sold chassis 0804 to Stephen McClellan Jr. from Long Island.
McClellan Jr. only raced the car once (at the 1964 Bridgehampton 500km) after which it was retired from competition duty.
Thereafter, 0804 made its way back across the Atlantic to England where it went though the hands of several private owners.
Notable History
Scuderia Ferrari, Maranello
196 SP engine
06/05/1962 WSC Targa Florio (G. Baghetti / L. Bandini) 2nd oa, 1st P3.0 class (#120)
27/05/1962 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (L. Bandini / G. Baghetti) DNF (#72)
10/06/1962 EMC Fornova-Monte Cassio Hillclimb (L. Scarfiotti) 1st oa, 1st S class (#416)
17/06/1962 EMC Mont Ventoux Hillclimb (L. Scarfiotti) 1st oa, 1st S class (#50)
08/07/1962 EMC Trento Bondone Hillclimb (L. Scarfiotti) 1st oa, 1st S class (#416)
22/07/1962 EMC Freiburg-Schauinsland Hillclimb (L. Scarfiotti) 1st oa, 1st S class (#88)
26/08/1962 EMC Ollon Villars Hillclimb (L. Scarfiotti) 2nd oa, 2nd S class (#184)
Sold to Luigi Chinetti, New York (NART)
07/12/1962 BSW Governor's Trophy 2.0 Preliminary (J. Fulp) 1st oa, 1st S2.0 class (#64)
07/12/1962 BSW Governor's Trophy (J. Fulp) 4th oa, 2nd S3.0 class (#64)
09/12/1962 BSW Nassau Trophy (J. Fulp) DNF (#64)
Sold to Stephen McClellan Jr., Long Island, New York
20/09/1964 WSC Bridgehampton 500km (S. McClellan Jr. / T. Pietre) 13th oa, 7th SR/P1.6+ (#77)
1965 sold to George Drummond, Isle of Man
1967 sold to Dick Crosthwaithe, East Sussex
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
