One to Buy: ex-Maranello Concessionaires / David Piper 1967 Ferrari 412 P
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Ferrari created two top flight Group 6 Prototypes for the 1967 season which would be the last year for these epic unlimited engined leviathons before the FIA imposed a three-litre limit to curtail speeds.
The 330 P4 was intended for use by Scuderia Ferrari and ran a 36 valve fuel-injected motor while the 412 P was a less complex version with a 24 valve carb-fed unit destined for the Italian firm’s distributor teams.
Four examples of the 412 P emerged from the racing department in Maranello, two of which were rebuilt from 1966 cars while the other pair were brand new. The rebuilt cars went to Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team (0844) and Scuderia Filipinetti (0848). The brace of brand new machines were sold to Ecurie Francorchamps (0850) and Maranello Concessionaires (0854).
Together they played an important role in helping Ferrari secure the 1967 International Championship for Sports Prototypes.
As a consequence of their great rarity, unmatched beauty and enormous value, the opportunity to acquire a Ferrari P car from this golden era of motor racing are few and far between. However, Bonhams’ Quail Lodge auction on August 18th will see one of these exceptional Ferraris go under the hammer.
Chassis 0854 was the 412 P delivered to British Ferrari distributor Maranello Concessionaires. It was driven to third overall and second in class at the 1967 Spa 1000km (Richard Attwood / Lucien Bianchi), posted a DNF at the Le Mans 24 Hours owing to oil starvation (Richard Attwood / Piers Courage) and then placed seventh overall at the Brands Hatch 6 Hours (Richard Attwood / David Piper).
Piper subsequently purchased 0854 and continued to run it in non-championship events until mid 1969 at which point the car was sold to Chris Cord who used it on the street.
Today the car is offered in superb condition throughout with matching numbers chassis, engine, gearbox and even the original bodywork.
