Tag Archives: F40

Five Classic Racing Ferraris – Silverstone Classic

The Silverstone Classic meeting usually offers the Ferrari fanatic a bonanza of Maranello’s finest road and racing cars and I am sure this year’s Silver Jubilee edition of the event will be no different.

Ferrari 500 TRC, David and James Cottingham, Silverstone Classic

Among the myriad of Ferrari racers seen in recent years have been the Cottinghams Ferrari 500 TRC which finished 7th both at the 1957 Le Mans 24 hours and on the 1958 Targa Florio.

Ferrari 246 Dino, Tony Smith, Silverstone Classic,

Another regular competitor is Tony Smith’s 1958 Ferrari 246 Dino which counts among it’s former occupants Wolfgang von Trips, Oliver Gendebien, Dan Gurney and Phil Hill the latter drove the car to the last win for a front engined Grand Prix at Monza in 1960.

Ferrari 166/206, Harry Leventis,  Gregor Fisken, Silverstone Classic,

Ing. Forghieri, responsible for the design of Harry Leventis’s Ferrari 166/206, above, was never the cars biggest fan, once likening the design, in conversation with desginer Gordon Murray, as to sticky brown smelly stuff, however that did not prevent Ludovico Scarfiotti driving the car in an earlier form to claim the 1965 European Hillclimb Championship.

Ferrari 512M, Nathan Kinch, Silverstone Classic

Ferrari 512’s are not an uncommon sight at Silverstone Classic weekends, #1030 seen above with Scotsman Nathan Kinch at the wheel, was raced in S form in 1970 and M form in 1971 under the Ecurie Francorchamps banner but found it’s greatest success under JC Bamford’s ownership for whom Peter Brown, Willie Green and Neil Corner all drove it on various occasions to seven straight wins in it’s last seven races during 1972 six victories were claimed in the Motoring News GT Championship and the other in the Interserie race held at Silverstone.

Ferrari F40 LM, Stefano Sebastiani, Silverstone Classic,

Finally the Silver Jubilee edition of the Silverstone Classic will see the first race for GT cars from the 1990’s, above Stefano Sebastiani is seen about to put his 1989 F40 LM, a converted road car, through it’s paces during last years popular GT demonstration run.

Tickets for this years advance ticket only Silver Jubilee Silverstone Classic are available from this linked website.

Thanks for joining me on this “Five Classic Racing Ferraris” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the first of a series of Formula Junior open wheelers. Don’t for get to come back now !

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Race Spec Conversion – Ferrari F40 #80856

The Ferrari F40 was built as a technical tour de force to celebrate Ferrari’s first 40 years of achievement in a single model intended purely for the road.

Ferrari F40, GT Legends, Silverstone Classic,

By 1989 an IMSA GTO LM version had been built which had no factory backing, despite this Jean Alesi, and fellow Frenchman Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Jacques Laffite, Jean-Louis Schlesser, Olivier Grouillard, Michel Ferté, American Hurley Haywood and Belgian Eric van de Poele would all have a go challenging the dominant factory Audi 90’s, but could do no better than record a string of second and third places up until the end of 1990.

Ferrari F40, GT Legends, Silverstone Classic,

Today’s featured car started life as a 1989 road car, chassis #80856, that had been involved in some sort of accident before Robin Smith’s Simpson Engineering took the car on and converted it into a racer.

Ferrari F40, GT Legends, Silverstone Classic,

The long list of modifications includes, but is not limited to; installation of a roll cage for safety and additional stiffness, new competition spec fabricated and rose jointed suspension and uprights, adjustable anti roll bars, air jacks and competition spec brakes with balance adjustment.

Ferrari F40, GT Legends, Silverstone Classic,

The power output is said to be 790hp aided by engine modifications that included fitting Group C Lancia LC2 spec heads and cams.

The exact competition history of this vehicle on the internet appears to be a little clouded by Simpson Engineering’s F550 V12 powered Ferrari F40, but from what I gather this car has been raced in the British GT, Britcar and Pirelli Ferrari Open Series over the last 10 years with the primary drivers appearing to be Andrew Mott and Jacopo “son of Stingbrace” Sebastiani among others.

As of mid November this car has been up for sale, if you are in the market for such a wonderful vehicle you will find contact details on this linked web page, usual disclaimers and “Caveat Emptor” advice applies.

Thanks for joining me on this “Race Spec Conversion” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Bristol powered special. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Ferrari Friday – Classic Motor Show NEC Birmingham

Among the 1700 classic cars on display at last weeks Classic Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham there were at least a dozen Ferrari’s and for Ferrari Friday I have selected half a dozen of the best.

Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Having survived the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1992 Hurricane Iniki this Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta has a few stories to tell, amazingly it’s history is known right back to the individual Ferrari employees names at the factory responsible for putting individual components together.

Ferrari 275 GTB/2, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

By way of complete contrast this 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/2 has had a quiet life it was sold originally to an owner in the UK and in 1982 was transfered to German ownership until October 2013 when it was acquired by restoration experts DK Engineering on behalf of it’s now third owner.

Ferrari 365 GTB/4, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Anyone carrying £625,000 pounds in their back pocket could have bought this 1973 Ferrari Daytona, one of 158 original right hand drive examples that can whisk the occupants up to 60 mph from rest in just 5.4 seconds and on up to 174 mph.

Ferrari 512BBi, Classic Motor Show, NEC,

Only 42 RHD Ferrari 512BBi’s were built and after a £45,000 recommissioning this 1982 example with 16,700 miles on the clock was being offered for £260,000 a veritable bargain if one is not in the market for a V12 powered Ferrari aside from the bargain basement 400/412 models which rarely fetch close to even £50,000.

Ferrari Testarossa, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Looking like it might have just come off the Miami Vice set, yes I know it’s the wrong colour, was this 1989 Ferrari Testarossa with just 13,000 miles on the clock.

Ferrari F40, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Surprisingly given the models reputation for being one of the all time greatest drives the 1991 Ferrari F40 above has covered just 1,100 miles with it’s owner in Italy and more recent collector in Japan.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ferrari Friday” edition of “Gettin’a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow, don’t forget to come back now !

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Tee, Targa or TT – Ferrari California T

The T in the new 2+2 Ferrari California T, launched earlier this year, stands for neither the golf tee, nor Targa top but for turbocharged which further investigation leads to the fact that the California T is in fact powered by a twin turbocharged motor, a technology last used by Ferrari on the F40.

Ferrari California T, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The new 552hp Califonia T biturbo motor has a smaller 3.9 litre / 235 cui motor that produces 70 hp more than the original normally aspirated California V8, is 15% more fuel efficient, but still in the Rolls Royce league, and produces 15% less emissions.

Ferrari California T, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The convertible hard top has new subtlety more aggressive panels from Pinninfarina all round and some interior features derived from the F12berlinetta.

Ferrari California T, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The California T is the first Ferrari to be fitted with the iOS 7.1 operating system compatible Apple CarPlay meaning ones Apple devices can be operated by Ferrari’s native control systems.

Ferrari California T, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The 552hp twin turbo motor will push the California t from rest to 62.5mph in 3.6 seconds and on to a quoted top speed of 196 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this “Tee, Targa or TT” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another 500 Formula Three car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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50th Anniversary – Ferrari F50

Just as the Ferrari F40 was a showcase for the companies technology on it’s fortieth anniversary so the Ferrari F50 showcased the companies technology on it’s fiftieth anniversary.

Ferrari F50, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Unlike the F40 which was loosely based on the 288 GTO evolution of the and 308 GTB the F50 was not in anyway based on any existing road vehicle.

Ferrari F50, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Instead the F50 appears to have used as it’s starting point a 60 valve, 5 valve per cylinder, 4.7 litre / 286 cui version of the 4.0 / 244 cui V12 motor that powered Ferrari 333SP endurance sports racing car, a motor that was itself an evolution of the 1991 3.5 litre / 213 cui V12 used in the companies Formula One programme.

Ferrari F50, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

The 513hp normally aspirated motor was fitted to an all new carbon fibre chassis, unusually the steering was unassisted, though by this time power assisted steering had been introduced and later banned from Formula One racing cars.

Ferrari F50, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Of the 349 F50’s built between 1995 and 1997 304 were Rossa Corsa, 31 Giallo Modena, 8 Rosso Barchetta, 4 Argento Nurburgring and 4 Nero Daytona.

Ferrari F50, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Test showed the F50 capable of reaching 60 mph from rest in 3.7 seconds and cover a 1/4 mile in 12.1 seconds reaching 123 mph. Top speed was quoted as 202 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this 50th Anniversary edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at an early Formula 3 car powered by an aircooled motor cycle engine. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Classic Ferrari Racers – Silverstone Classic

Welcome to GALPOT’s Ferrari Friday blog coming from last weeks Silverstone Classic with six of the Maranello cars that appeared on track.

Ferrari 246 Dino, Tony Smith, Maserati Centenary Trophy, Silverstone Classic

Tony Smith drove his Ferrari 246 Dino to a 6th place finish in the Maserati Centenary Race for pre ’61 Grand Prix Cars.

Ferrari 246S, Bobby Verdon Roe, Stirling Moss Trophy, Silverstone Classic

Above Bobby Verdon-Roe exits the pits having just taken over the #46 Ferrari 246S from it’s owner Nick Leventis prior to finishing third in the Stirling Moss Trophy.

Ferrari 365 GTB/4, Tim Summers, Silverstone Classic

I first set eyes on Tim Summers #70 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 33 years ago at Silverstone. At the time I knew little about it other than it was apparently sponsored by the Swedish air force. Turns out that just like all the other competition Daytona’s it was converted from a road car but unlike most of the others this was not done until 1977 by Swede Ulf “Barbarossa” Bohman in Varberg. I look forward to writing a blog on the car in the not too distant future.

Ferrari 512M, Knapfield / Campbell Walker, Silverstone Classic

The sight and sound of Paul Knapfield making up for early lost time in his Ferrari 512M was breath taking the crisp 5 litre / 302 cui V12 has few audio challengers. After dropping from 5th in the opening laps to 18th Paul and FIA Endurance Champion co driver Jamie Campbell Walker climbed all the way back up to 8th at the end of the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Race, two places better than the position in which they started.

Ferrari F40 LM R, Stephani Sebastiani, Silverstone Classic

On the 13th of November 2004 Stefano Sebastiani, Jacopo Sebastiani, and Richard Jones drove a UK road registered Ferrari F40, J 848 JUY, prepared by Simpson Engineering in the Vallelunga 6 Hours. I believe the car seen above may be that same car taking part in the GT demonstration. There is only one #10 car listed in the programme and that was a Marcos so I have no idea who was at the wheel of the F40.

Ferrari 550 Maranello, Silverstone Classic

Finally I believe the #10 Ferrari 550 Maranello above taking part in the same GT demonstration session might have been driven by Boris Derichebourg, David Terrien and Christian Pescatori in the FIA GT Championship race run in Barcelona on the 6th of June 2003, though if it is the same car it has gained a few vents in the bonnet/hood and rear wing/fender while loosing a brake cooling duct in front of the rear wheel.

If you know who was driving either the #10 F40 or #10 550 Maranello in the GT Demonstrations at Silverstone Classic please do not hesitate to chip in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Classic Ferrari Racers” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at some Jaguars, don’t forget to come back now !

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Ferraris At The Castle – Sherborne Castle

A couple of weeks ago David Roots kindly invited me to join him at last weekends Classics at the Castle in Sherborne and today’s post is dedicated to a hand full of the many Ferrari’s present.

Ferrari Enzo, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

While waiting to meet David I heard the unmistakeable wail of a highly tuned V12 approaching and just had time to whip out my camera to capture this ’04, as listed by the DVLA, Ferrari Enzo. Enzo aficionado’s will of course know only one Enzo, the 400th and final one, was built in ’04 and that red car was donated to the Vatican for a charity auction, which means this car imported into the UK in 2004 must have been built in ’02 or ’03.

Ferrari 360, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

Not far behind the Enzo came this ’03 Ferrari 360 Spider, it was a day approaching 20 degrees centigrade when this photo was taken, one wonders how much heat the owner needs before being persuaded to lower the roof !

Ferrari F430, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

Next a couple of Maranello Yellow Spiders came by with their roofs down an F430 leading a 360.

Ferrari 250 GT/E, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

Oldest of the Ferrari’s I saw present was this 1961 Ferrari 250 GT/E chassis #2245GT.

Ferrari F12berlinetta, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

With 50hp more than the Enzo and keeping things bang up to date was this 2014 F12berlinetta.

Ferrari F40, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

The F40 “MAD40F” is officially registered at the DVLA with a spelling mistake, type the registration number and select Ferrari from the drop down menu on this linked website and you will get no further details, but select “Other” from the drop down menu and type in “Ferari”, and you will see this is a 1991 model.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ferraris at the Castle” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an AC prototype at Classics at the Castle. Don’t forget to come back now !

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