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1967 Ferrari 350 Can-Am

The story starts like this. In the early 1960's, Ferrari was the most potent player in endurance racing. Competing in GT and prototype classes, Ferrari was building some of the most devastatingly fast cars of the period. The company hovered out of reach above the rest of the racing world. No one could touch Ferrari.

Maranello's miracle workers were so successful that Ford showed great interest in buying the company. The notoriously headstrong Enzo Ferrari was unwilling to see through any agreements with Ford, though, and after the talks went sour Ford decided to devote a portion of its vast resources to developing a strong racing team. Out of a personal grudge against the cavallino rampante, Ford's legendary GT40 was created.

The first time Ford met Ferrari on the track was in 1964 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Reliability problems meant no Fords finished, while Ferrari placed a 4-liter 330 P in first, second, and third. Ford's empire had plenty of change to spare, though. Undeterred, the American behemoth continued dumping funds into its racing efforts.

A rematch saw the 7-liter Ford GT40 pitted against the revised Ferrari 330 P2, but neither car fared well in 1965. For 1966, both manufacturers geared up for an all-out battle. Ferrari revised the 330 further, creating the 330 P3. It featured such innovations as a 5-speed ZF gearbox, lightweight fiberglass doors, and a new Lucas fuel injection system. The cars were marvels of engineering on paper, but not enough development time was afforded between racing seasons. Ferrari struggled to engineer and produce the cars with its relatively limited resources, and reliability problems resulted from the truncated development. On the track, Ford came through with a podium-filling finish while no Ferraris completed the race. The reversal of fortunes was an embarrassing moment for the Italian sports car maker. It spelled war.

Ford's unbelievable budget didn't faze Enzo and his team. Ferrari spared nothing in its development of the 330 P4. The new car was still powered by a 4-liter V12 mounted amidships, but the updated engine was a redeveloped version of the 3-liter F1 motor. A new 36-valve head with one intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder was used. Power reached an incredible 450bhp at 8,200rpm. At the 24 Hours of Daytona race in 1967, Ferrari earned back its pride. They destroyed the Ford home team, with P4's crossing the finish line in first and second, followed closely by a remaining P3. Ferrari was back and even though Ford won at Le Mans that year, two P4's filled out the remaining spots on the podium.

There were two 350 Can-Ams produced, both revisions of the excellent 330 P4. Chassis number 0858 was one of the cars brought to Can-Am specs. It was converted to an open car for the BOAC International 500 race, where the removal of its roof shed 40kg. A low, sharp nose with no lights was added to the car as one of the Can-Am revisions. Complementing the body's absence of a roof, the clean face adds to the car's sleek shape.

Chassis 0858 was successful in private hands, racing in renowned events at Kyalami, Cape Town, and the like before being retired from racing. Its current owner purchased the car 38 years ago, and has maintained it impeccably.

With racing successes in both 330 P4 and 350 Can-Am guises, chassis 0858 is an incredible car. Its rich history involves being a factory racer for Ferrari during some of the company's most intense battles. Mechanically and aesthetically, few vehicles can impress more highly than can this Ferrari.

Sources:

'Lot No. 220: 1967 Ferrari 330 P4.' RM Auctions Web.10 May 2009. http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=ff09&CarID=r141.

'Ferrari 350 Can-Am.' UltimateCarPage.com 05 May 2009 Web.10 May 2009. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4128/Ferrari-350-Can-Am.html.

By Evan Acuña

1967 Ferrari 350 Can-Am

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