Ferrari Le Mans Pace Car
At the 1966 Paris Motor Show Ferrari put their best on display with the updated Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 2. It was a notable improvement upon the Series 1 with updated headlights, side air vents, and a five-speed gearbox. The car shown by Ferrari was chassis #07557GT and was initially retained by Franco Britannic, official Ferrari importer for France, for customer and press testing and demonstrations. After a year chassis #07557GT was set to begin a remarkable journey.
Donald Sleator, Franco Britannic’s boss and a seasoned figure in the racing world, leveraged his connections to secure a prestigious role for the 330 GT. In 1966, chassis #07557GT became the official pace car for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. This was no ordinary race; it was the year of the epic Ford versus Ferrari battle, immortalized in the film “Ford v Ferrari.” As Henry Ford II himself watched, chassis #07557GT led the field, witnessing Ford’s historic 1-2-3 finish. The car’s presence at this iconic event cemented its place in motorsport history.
Pace Car on the Streets
Following its time as a pace car, the Ferrari changed hands several times. It was sold to Ecurie Saint Christophe, then briefly returned to Franco Britannic, before finding its first private owner, Philippe Stouff, in 1968. The car spent years in Paris, then moved to Normandy, and later to the Landes region, where it underwent a color change and rear light modification after a minor collision. During this period, the car was repainted a blue-grey color.
Eventually, the Ferrari found its way to Mr. A in Calvados in 1977. He used the car regularly, unaware of its illustrious past, until the 2000s. After Mr. A’s death, the car was stored in a family chateau, remaining largely untouched. Today, it is presented in its original state, albeit in need of restoration. Despite years of storage, the V12 engine was periodically started, though it has been dormant for the last four years. This Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 2, with its unique history at both the Paris Motor Show and the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, stands as a highly desirable classic, offering a tangible connection to a pivotal moment in automotive and racing history.
This Ferrari was offered by Aguttes at their recent auction and sold for €200,676. While the car will require some mechanical restoration, at the very least, this appears well-bought to us considering the historical significance of chassis #07557GT and the potential it holds as a future concours entrant in the hands of the right owner.