VIN: the Scuderia Filipinetti / Pierre Bardinon / Erotissimo Ford GT40 chassis P/1039
History of chassis P/1039
After accepting an invite from Ford to run a GT40 and Cobra Daytona at Le Mans in 1965, Georges Filipinetti (the Swiss Ferrari distributor) was able to purchase GT40s at preferential rates. Later that year, he ordered three GT40s: two for racing (P/1039 and P/1040) and one for street use (P/1033).
Filipinetti’s racing team was based at his castle overlooking Lake Neuchatel.
The GT40 road car arrived at the castle in mid January and was sent off to the Graber coachworks where it was uprated with all manner of luxury equipment. P/1039 was delivered in late February and P/1040 followed in early March.
Resplendent in their identical red and white-striped liveries, P/1039 and P/1040 both attended the annual Le Mans Test on April 3rd (sharing the number 12 entry).
Unfortunately, P/1039 was crashed by Willy Mairesse on his out lap. He lost control and went off the road on the high speed approach to Indianapolis curve and P/1039 sustained heavy damage.
It was sent back to Ford Advanced Vehicles and completely rebuilt.
P/1039 next appeared at the Spa 1000km World Sportscar Championship event on May 22nd.
Herbert Muller and Willy Mairesse qualified sixth overall and third fastest in the Sports category (behind GT40s from Essex Wire and F. English).
The race was cut short when Mairesse was forced into the pits after 15 laps. Front suspension trouble meant he lost a lot of time and eventually accounted for the car’s retirement. The fault was later traced to modifications made by the Filipinetti mechanics.
P/1039 was then prepared for an appearance at the Coppa Citta di Enna World Championship race on August 7th. However, Georges Filipinetti sold the car beforehand to French collector, Pierre Bardinon.
Heir to the Chapal leather goods company, Bardinon had P/1039 transformed into the ultimate road car of its day. The work was done by Filipinetti’s head mechanic, Franco Sbarro. Modifications included leather upholstery, electric windows, protective vent and duct grilles and custom luggage bins.
The now white GT40 was road registered 33 AA 92.
After two years of ownership, Bardinon sold P/1039 in 1968.
Later that year, the car was loaned to Kinesis Films for the comedy Erotissimo.
It was then purchased by Ford France Public Relations Director, Henri Chemin, and registered 505 DD 23.
Chemin competed with P/1039 at amateur level.
The car subsequently went through the hands of a few more French owners before heading back to Franco Sbarro for a rebuild in the mid 1980s.
Notable History
Red with White stripe
Georges Filipinetti (Scuderia Filipinetti), Chateau de Grandson, Vaud, Switzerland
03/04/1966 IND Le Mans Test (H. Muller / W. Mairesse) ran (#12)
Returned to Ford Advanced Vehicles for repair after Muller’s Le Mans Test crash
22/05/1966 WSC Spa 1000km (H. Muller / W. Mairesse) DNF (#41)
Sold to Pierre Bardinon, France
Converted by Franco Sbarro to road trim
Repainted White
Registered 33 AA 92
Loaned to Kinesis Films for the movie ‘Erotissimo’
Sold to Henri Chemin, France
Registered 505 DD 23
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Kinesis Films
