VIN: the works / Scuderia Filipinetti Ferrari 330 P / 365 P chassis 0824
History of chassis 0824
Chassis 0824 was one of four new Ferrari P cars built up for the 1964 season.
In addition, Ferrari also uprated their four 1963 cars with the latest 275 and 330 engines.
As had been the case since 1962, the 1964 World Sportscar Championship was decided by GT cars.
By contrast, Sports cars could contest the International Prototypes Trophy (IPT) which comprised the Sebring 12 Hours, the Targa Florio, the Nubrurgring 1000km and Le Mans 24 Hours.
For the IPT, qualifying cars had to have a full complement of lighting, a full height windscreen with matching roll hoop and also carry a spare wheel.
Sports cars were permitted to contest certain other World Sportscar Championship races, but could not claim any points at these events.
For non-IPT races, Sports cars did not normally have to carry the lighting, full height windscreens, matching roll hoops or spare wheels.
With these non-IPT races in mind, Ferrari created a pared down body to make their P cars more competitive against machinery from the likes of Scarab, Brabham and Lotus. The resultant ‘Lightweight Roadster’ configuration most notably included a cut-down screen and simplified roll hoop. Six of the eight P cars were equipped as such.
In 1964, chassis 0824 was raced twice. On both occasions, it ran the Lightweight Roadster trim.
It was retained by Scuderia Ferrari, but was campaigned under a NART entry and appeared in the handsome US national colours of white and blue.
0824 made its competition debut with Ludovico Scarfiotti at the Bridgehampton 500km World Sportscar Championship race.
Scarfiotti qualified on pole, but was subsequently outpaced by Walt Hansgen’s Mecom Racing Team Scarab Mk4. Scarfiotti looked set for a third place finish. However, when when a filter came adrift with five laps to go, the engine pumped itself clear of oil and 0824 failed to finish.
Five days later, Scarfiotti was behind the wheel for the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport.
On this occasion, he qualified outside of the top five, but looked set for victory after NART team-mate, Pedro Rodriguez, had to make a late splash-and-dash fuel stop. A frantic finish saw Scarfiotti break the lap record for three laps in a row. Unfortunately, in his attempt to grab the win, he briefly drove off track and was passed by Rodriguez.
After its brace of appearances in North America, 0824 headed back to Italy where it was converted to 365 P trim for the 1965 season. The 365 motor employed single overhead camshafts per bank and was created for customer use. By contrast, the works team used new dual overhead camshaft 275 and 330 engines for 1965.
In addition to its new engine, 0824 was configured with the full height windscreen, matching roll hoop and other equipment needed for the re-branded 1965 International Trophy for GT Prototypes.
Upon completion, 0824 was sold to Swiss Ferrari distributor, Georges Filipinetti, in Geneva. It joined a stable that included a 250 LM, a 250 GTO, Porsche 904 GTS, Shelby Cobra and Elva Mk7.
Now painted red with a white centre stripe, 0824 made its debut as a 365 P at the annual Le Mans Test which took place over the weekend of April 10th and 11th.
In the driving seat was Tommy Spychiger, a talented a Swiss-German restaurant owner from Lugano who had considerable experience with Porsche and Abarth Prototypes. Spychiger posted second fastest time behind a works 330 P2 and eclipsed all three of the Ford GT40s in attendance.
0824 next appeared at the Monza 1000km World Sportscar Championship race on April 25th.
On this occasion, Spychiger shared the car with Herbert Muller. They qualified sixth fastest behind three works P2s, the 330 P of Maranello Concessionaires and a works Ford GT40.
The race ended in disaster.
On the 33rd lap, Spychiger, who was driving the opening stint, suffered a brake failure on the flat out approach to Parabolica. In a decidedly unpleasant accident, the car somersaulted into the trees and poor Tommy Spychiger was decapitated.
Georges Filipinetti had the burned out remains taken back to Switzerland. He later sold them to French collector, Pierre Bardinon.
Notable History
330 P ‘Lightweight Roadster’
Scuderia Ferrari, Maranello, Italy
White & blue
Works car run under a Luigi Chinetti (NART) entry
20/09/1964 WSC Bridgehampton 500km (L. Scarfiotti) DNF engine (#80)
25/09/1964 CSC Canadian GP, Mosport (L. Scarfiotti) 2nd oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#3)
Converted to 365 P specification
Sold to Georges Filipinetti (Scuderia Filipinetti), Geneva, Switzerland
Red with white stripe
11/04/1965 IND Le Mans Test (T. Spychiger) 2nd oa, 1st P5.0 class (#15)
25/04/1965 WSC Monza 1000km (T. Spychiger / H. Mullr) DNF (#66)
Wrecked in Tommy Spychiger’s fatal accident at Monza
Remains sold to Pierre Bardinon, Aix-en-Provence, France
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame - https://cmhf.ca/ & unattributed
