An impossibly-rare 1966 Ferrari 365 P Berlinentta Speciale Tre Posti that was originally commissioned by Gianni Agnelli has been restored and sent back to Turin where the Fiat boss lived.
The story behind the car is fascinating, with the Pininfarina-penned machine being the first mid-engined, V12 Ferrari for the road and built despite objections from Enzo Ferrari himself. It was Agnelli and US Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti who pushed the project and three were built. Chassis number 8815 was commissioned by L’Avvocato Agnelli himself and was powered by a 4.4-litre, 375bhp version of the now-legendary Colombo 60-degree V12 engine.
The design was based on the Dino concept, but what made the 365 P unique was its three-wide seating arrangement, with the driver positioned at the centre of the car. It would take Gordon Murray more than 25 years to catch up with the McLaren F1 (and another two decades with the T.5o).
Swiss-based specialist Kidston recently brought the car back to life with a complete restoration and, in a wonderfully-emotive short film, tells the tale of how the car and its owner had a lifelong impact on one young Italian. The boy would regularly attend football games at the Juventus stadium with his father, but was far more interested in the gentleman who would arrive at matches in a fancy car. Unusually for a man of his station in life he would always drive, with his chauffeur sat beside him, who would then park the car while he watched the game. One day the great man turned up in an incredible Ferrari and an act of kindness would stay with the boy for ever.
We won’t spoil the story any further, just watch and enjoy this beautiful film, and don’t miss the literal high point on the roof of the former Lingotto factory.
