1978 Ferrari 312 T3 Monoposto

In the world of Formula One is there anything more iconic than the pairing of a Ferrari and Gilles Villeneuve? What about the 312 T3 and Villeneuve? Just about anyone would be hard-pressed to come up with a more emblematic combination of Formula One in the late 1970s.

Villeneuve would be a new face in the Formula One scene having earned a seat driving for McLaren in 1977. However, it wouldn't take very long before this Canadian would endear himself to racing fans around the world and one particularly important il Grande Vecchio based in Maranello.

By the end of the '77 season, Villeneuve would be a driver for Scuderia Ferrari and a World Champion in the making, at least in the eyes of just about everyone in and around Formula One. Famed for his no-holds-barred style of racing, Villeneuve was of the mold Enzo liked. He got on with his job and wasn't afraid to go wheel-to-wheel with the best in order to succeed.

Coming to Ferrari, Villeneuve was expected to perform. There was no breaking-in period. Ferrari demanded results. Many believed Gilles was more than capable. He merely needed a car that was as capable.

Ferrari was already producing a competitive car. The scuderia would debut its 312T back in 1975. Powered by a 3-liter flat-12, the 312T, and the 312T2 that would follow, would be highly successful. Mauro Forghieri and the crew in Maranello would look to evolve the 312, and therefore, produce yet another successful campaigner. The company would, therefore, give birth to the 312T3.

Over the course of the 1978 season, the T3 would be, easily, the best car up and down the paddock. However, this would be fact were it not for the presence of Colin Chapman's revolutionary Lotus 79. With refinements to the wedged-shaped body and the 500hp flat-12, the T3 was a powerful and worthy adversary to the Lotus. And, in the hands of drivers like Villeneuve, it would prove more than enough for Chapman's trickery.

In total, just five 312T3 chassis would be built. Nearly each one of them would achieve success on the track. Chassis 033, which would be the second chassis built, would be driven by both Carlos Reutemann and Villeneuve over the course of the '78 season.

Although its first outing would result in a crash and a small fire, the car would go on to a 3rd place at the Belgian Grand Prix. At the British Grand Prix, just a few weeks later, Reutemann would battle with Niki Lauda in a great fight and would eventually take 033 to victory. It was official, chassis 033 was a race winner and one of the special examples within Ferrari's hallowed walls of racing history. But it would get better. Villeneuve would make his mark by taking this car to victory in the Race of Champions. And, if that victory, in this car, didn't already establish the Villeneuve legend then the victory in the Canadian Grand Prix at the end of the season was certain to raise the Canadian to mythical status overnight.

Following its period of competitive racing, 033 would be sold by the factory in 1981and would end up as part of Fabrizio Violanti's Collezione Maranello Rosso occupying a place of great pride within the collection. Not surprisingly, Violanti would drive the T3 at the Ferrari 40th Anniversary celebration event held at Imola. Perhaps a little too excited about the opportunity, Violanti would bend the front suspension on the car as he touched a concrete barrier during the event. The damage would be quickly fixed and the car returned to its place within the collection.

Now, in 2014, following Violanti's death, 033 has come available for purchase. A car that really could not be any more iconic or impressive in its own right is simply a remarkable specimen within the lineage that is Scuderia Ferrari as soon as it becomes connected with Gilles Villeneuve. It is, they are together, Scuderia Ferrari of the late 1970s.

Offered for sale as part of Bonhams' Quail Lodge auction in 2014, the 1978 Ferrari 312T3 Formula One single-seater, chassis 033, would sell for $2,310,000.

By Jeremy McMullen