I have been attending Ferrari Concours and similar events for over 24 years and you would think that by now I had seen the majority of interesting cars produced by Maranello. However, each year something new is brought along for the enthusiasts to view. In 2004, fifty years since it achieved victory at Le Mans, the star of FOC Concours was undoubtedly the 375 Plus, on loan from the Mas du Clos collection. Pierre Bardinon had sent the car for the Louis Vuitton Concours and the Goodwood Festival but Terry Hoyle; its temporary guardian, had kindly included this year’s major club event as well.

In 1954 Ferrari built five 375 Plus Pinin Farina Spyders with 4954cc engines. Three were entered for the French 24 hour race. Those of Maglioli and Marzotto and Rosier and Manzon both retired but the car of Gonzalez and Trintignant scored a major victory over the Jaguar D types in a very wet and rainy event. Less than two hours before the end of the race the car refused to start, spending an agonizing eight minutes in the pits before they got it going again. An interesting article in the April issue of Forza (No.52) by William Edgar, describes how John Edgar his father, bought the Le Mans race winner (s/n 0396 AM) and had it shipped out to California. The car was then prepared for the 1954 Carrera Panamericana. Unfortunately it crashed on the first stage while being driven by Jack McAfee and sadly his co-driver, Ford Robinson was killed. The car was badly damaged and was sent back to Italy where it was rebodied by Scaglietti. It was run a few times in its new guise but in 1970 the car that won fame at Le Mans and met with misfortune in Mexico returned to a permanent home in France. Bardinon had the car completely restored by Carrozeria Fantuzzi in Modena, and it was rebodied back to its original 1954 Pinin Farina configuration.

Other goodies of interest at Heythrop Park included the lovely 1953 166 MM Vignale Spyder (s/n 0308M) of Bernard Worth and the 1954 500 Mondial (s/n 0454 MD) of Geoff Williams. This car was originally raced by the American Bob Said and is restored in his colours of white with blue diamond today. Another early car was the 1954 Series II Europa GT Coupe of Mark Finburgh, s/n 0375 EU. Matt Spitzley arrived in his 250 LWB Tour de France (s/n 1035 GT) and Martin Lange brought his 1962 250 SWB Berlinetta. This car was at one time owned by the late John Godfrey and even raced in club meetings at Silverstone and Snetterton. Further examples of the 250 Series were two 1962 250 GTO’s. Anthony Bamford sent his car, s/n 3767GT. This GTO was originally green when it was sold to David Piper and raced by him in the early 1960’s. Steve Pilkington arrived in his lhd version, the ex Scuderia Fillipinetti car. Sir Anthony Bamford also sent his white 250 SWB California, s/n 3007 GT.

2004 has seen the 40th Anniversary of the 275 GTB. I counted at least 7 examples of this tipo and there could have been more. For me the star was the 1966 275 GTB/C of Paul Vestey. This car was originally raced by Maranello Concessionaires at Le Mans where Roy Pike and Piers Courage brought it home 8th overall and 1st in class in the 1966 event. Paul Vestey then bought the car and continued to campaign it through 1966/67 often with Carlos .phpar as co-driver, achieving a 6th overall in the 1000 Km at Montlhery and 14th and 1st in class at the 1967 Monza 1000 Km. When raced by Paul it was dark blue with a white stripe but today it is back to its Maranello colours of red and a light blue stripe round the nose.

 

250 GTO was green when Piper had it	The ex-Fillipinetti 250 GTO	Bamford's 250 SWB California	275 GTB/C with disinterested spectator