VIN: the works Ferrari 286 SP / 268 SP / 196 SP chassis 0802
/
HISTORY OF CHASSIS 0802
Alongside their front V12-engined 250 TRI/61, Scuderia Ferrari campaigned a brace of mid V6-engined 246 SP models in 1961.
For the 1962 season, chief engineer, Carlo Chiti, designed a pair of new V6 and V8 engines.
Four fresh SP cars were then assembled for the 1962 campaign and the two cars used in 1961 were given bodies updated to the latest specification.
In 1962, the mid-engined SP machines appeared alongside Scuderia Ferrari’s 330 TRI/LM, the 330 LM and the odd 250 GTO.
Chassis 0802 was one of the brand new cars built up for 1962. It was presented at Scuderia Ferrari’s Press Conference on February 22nd. At this stage it had a 286 SP 2.8-litre V6 motor with 260bhp.
Scuderia Ferrari’s first outing of 1962 was at the Le Mans Test where they ran a single 268-engined car.
When chassis 0802 was wheeled out for the team’s first race of the year (the Targa Florio four weeks later), it too had been equipped with a 268 SP 2.6-litre V8 (producing 265bhp).
Ferrari took a trio of their new SP models to Sicily for the Targa Florio which took place on May 6th. Chassis 0802 was allocated to Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien.
Unfortunately, neither Hill nor 0802 started the race. In practice, the car’s throttle stuck open; it went off the road and down a 60ft drop. Hill was very shaken, but miraculously unhurt. The car was described as a write off.
Gendebien went on to join Willy Mairesse and Ricardo Rodriguez in the victorious 246 SP sister entry.
Chassis 0802 was sent back to the factory, but it was not seen again for the rest of the year.
It was one of two crashed cars that were retained and rebuilt for the 1963 Targa Florio (which would be Scuderia Ferrari’s only outing that year with the old SP line of machinery).
The updated bodywork most notably featured a new single intake front aperture to replace Chiti’s signature Shark-Nose configuration used for the last couple of years.
A new 196 SP two-litre V6 engine with 210bhp was also installed.
The 1963 Targa Florio was held on May 5th. Ferrari took another SP chassis to serve as a T-car; the rest of the works entry comprised a pair of the new-for-1963 mid V12-engined 250 Ps.
Lorenzo Bandini was the only confirmed pilot for the 196 SP; he would be joined by at least one of the other drivers from the 250 Ps.
As expected, the 250 Ps were in first and second positions at the end of lap one. Jo Bonnier held third in his works Porsche 718 GTR and Bandini was fourth in chassis 0802.
Bandini moved up to third a couple of laps later when one of the 250 Ps encountered engine trouble and began to drop back.
On the fourth lap (of eleven), the other 250 P crashed out. Bandini thus found himself promoted to second behind Carlo Maria Abate who had taken over the lead Porsche from Bonnier.
Bandini handed the 196 SP over to Ludovico Scarfiotti who soon clouted one of the concrete road markers. Nevertheless, Scarfiotti made amends by sweeping into the lead on lap seven.
Scarfiotti handed over to Willy Mairesse for final stint and chassis 0802 looked set for the win. However, just a few kilometres from the finish, Mairesse went off the road. He approached the line with the car swaying through the corners and grinding along the road with its engine cover open.
Bonnier / Abate ultimately won by twelve seconds.
Bandini, Scarfitti and Mairesse claimed second overall and won the Sports car class.
Chassis 0802 was subsequently sold engine-less to Ferrari’s US distributor and NART impresario, Luigi Chinetti, in New York.
Later in the 1960s, the car was converted to left-hand drive and fitted with a Buick V8 engine.
Luigi Chinetti subsequently went on to re-purchase 0802 and restore it back to its original configuration.
Notable History
Scuderia Ferrari, Maranello
Fitted with 286 SP engine
24/02/1962 Ferrari Press Conference
Fitted with 268 SP engine
06/05/1962 WSC Targa Florio (P. Hill / O. Gendebien) DNS (#150)
Repaired at the factory and reconfigured with new single intake nose aperture
Fitted with 196 SP engine
05/05/1963 WSC Targa Florio (L. Bandini / L. Scarfiotti / W. Mairesse) 2nd oa, 1st S2.0 class (#190)
Sold without engine to Luigi Chinetti, New York
1960s sold to Wayne Sparling, Florida
Converted to left-hand drive and fitted with a Buick V8 engine
Later sold back to Chinetti and restored to original configuration
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com
