VIN: the works / Luigi Chinetti / John Fulp Ferrari 248 SP / 268 SP chassis 0798
History of chassis 0798
Having successfully introduced the mid-engined SP line in 1961, Ferrari decided to create an updated model for 1962. In addition to the Vittorio Jano-designed V6 that served throughout 1961, Carlo Chiti’s new V6 and V8 motors would be trialled in the reconfigured SP/62.
As had been the case in 1961, Scuderia Ferrari would also campaign a front-engined V12 at selected events: the last-of-the line 330 TRI/LM.
Chassis 0798 was one of four new SP cars built for the 1962 season. The pair of cars that served in SP/61 trim the previous year were updated to the new lowline body style giving Ferrari up to six cars at their disposal.
Chassis 0798 first appeared in public at the Ferrrari Press Conference in Maranello on February 24th 1962. At the time, it was fitted with a Chiti-designed 2.4-litre V8.
After some preliminary testing, 0798 was switched to a bigger, more powerful 2.6-litre version of the V8 engine which was retained for the duration of its competition life.
In its new 268 SP trim, Scuderia Ferrari used chassis 0798 twice during the 1962 season.
Over the weekend of April 7th and 8th, 0798 was present at the annual Le Mans Test where it posted twelfth quickest time overall. Five of Scuderia Ferrari’s drivers shook the car down, but it was not pushed too hard as evidenced by a fastest lap that was some 48 seconds slower than the quickest car of the weekend.
To conform with the Le Mans regulations, 0798 had been specially prepared with full height wraparound Plexiglas windows complete with a curious glass insert ahead of the driver to improve visibility. It also featured a new basket-handle roll hoop / aerofoil behind the cockpit.
0798’s next appearance was as part of a four-car Scuderia Ferrari entry at the Le Mans 24 Hour race over the weekend of June 23rd and 24th. By this time, 0798’s window treatment had been further refined and a full complement of lighting installed. It was allocated to drivers Giancarlo Baghetti and Ludovico Scarfiotti who, as grid positions were dictated by engine size, started 27th.
With the race underway, Baghetti soon moved 0798 into the top ten. The car continued to gain places until just after 10am on Sunday morning when Scarfiotti was forced to abandon with clutch failure while lying third.
Chassis 0798 was subsequently sent back to Maranello. It was reconfigured to the lowline body style and Carlo Chiti’s twin intake nostrils were dropped in favour of a more effective single rectangular cooling aperture.
Ferrari then sold the car to their US distributor and NART empresario, Luigi Chinetti in New York.
Chinetti entered 0798 for Lorenzo Bandini to drive at the Bahamas Speed Week Nassau Trophy. Bandini picked up an eighth place finish overall and third in class.
For the 1963 season, Chinetti sold 0798 to John ‘Buck’ Fulp of Anderson, South Carolina. That season, the car was normally campaigned under a NART entry, sometimes by Fulp and sometimes by NART or factory drivers. At Sebring it appeared with a special full-height windscreen.
For 1964, Fulp sold 0798 to amateur racer, Tom O’Brien of Patterson, New Jersey. O’Brien part-exchanged his front-engine 196 S Dino to complete the deal (chassis 0776). That season, O’Brien picked up a number of victories at SCCA National level on his way to winning the 1964 Class D Modified Championship.
In 1965, O’Brien sold the car to one of his employees, Robert Hutchins of New York. Hutchins raced the car twice in 1966 and then sold it back to Luigi Chinetti.
0798 remained at Chinetti’s facility in Greenwich, Connecticut until February 1969 when it was sold to noted Ferrari collector, Pierre Bardinon of Aubusson, France. Bardinon had the car restored by Fantuzzi and retained it until 1996.
Notable History
Scuderia Ferrari, Maranello
Fitted with 248 SP engine
24/02/1962 Ferrari Press Conference
Fitted with 268 SP engine and special Le Mans cockpit glass / rear aerofoil
08/04/1962 IND Le Mans Test (P. Rodriguez / L. Bandini / M. Parkes / O. Gendebien / W. Mairesse) 12th oa, 1st P3.0 class (#16)
24/06/1962 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (G. Baghetti / L. Scarfiotti) DNF (#27)
Converted back to lowline body style with single nose intake
Sold to Luigi Chinetti, New York (NART)
09/12/1962 BSW Nassau Trophy (L. Bandini) 8th oa, 3rd S3.0 class (#3)
Sold to John Fulp, Anderson, South Carolina (usually campaigned under an NART entry)
03/03/1963 SCA Regional Fernandina Beach (J. Fulp) 2nd oa, 1st EM class (#??)
23/03/1963 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (J. Fulp / H. Heuer / D. Thiem / C. Hayes) DNF (#27)
02/06/1963 SCA National Bridgehampton (B. Grossman) 5th oa, 1st DM class (#??)
24/08/1963 SCA National Watkins Glen (B. Grossman) 4th oa, 1st DM class (#??)
02/09/1963 SCA National Thompson (B. Grossman) DNF (#??)
28/09/1963 CNC Canadian GP, Mosport (L. Bandini) DNF (#6)
06/12/1963 BSW Governor's Trophy (J. Fulp) 5th oa, 2nd S3.0 class (#14)
08/12/1963 BSW Nassau Trophy (J. Fulp) 11th oa, 2nd S3.0 class (#14)
Sold to Tom O'Brien, Paterson, New Jersey
12/04/1964 SCA National Marlboro (T. O'Brien) 2nd oa, 1st DM class (#87)
19/04/1964 SCA National Virginia (T. O'Brien) DNF (#87)
17/05/1964 SCA National Cumberland (T. O'Brien) 1st oa, 1st DM class (#87)
31/05/1964 SCA National Bridgehampton (T. O'Brien) 1st oa, 1st DM class (#87)
31/10/1964 SCA National Lime Rock (T. O'Brien) 1st oa, 1st DM class (#87)
Sold to Bob Hutchins, New York
17/04/1966 SCA National Vineland (B. Hutchins) 5th oa (#??)
15/05/1966 SCA National Cumberland (B. Hutchins) 8th oa, 1st DSR class (#??)
Sold to Luigi Chinetti, New York
02/1969 to Pierre Bardinon, Aubusson, France
Retained by Bardinon until 1996
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com & The Henry Ford Museum - https://www.thehenryford.org/
