1969 Ferrari 365GT Rebodied in the style of a ‘Pontoon Fender’ Testa Rossa

On offer at Imperial War Museum, Duxford - Wed, 22nd Jun 2022 13:00 https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-1969-ferrari-365gt-rebodied-in-the-style-of-a-pontoon-fender-testa-rossa/?lot=55995&so=0&st=ferrari&sto=0&au=&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=48&pn=1&g=1 A ‘matching numbers’ RHD Ferrari Speciale, utilising the chassis, drivetrain, suspension and all running gear of the donor vehicle. Powered by the legendary 4400cc ‘two cam’ V12 engine (breathing through triple carburettors), said to produce 320BHP at 6600 RPM One man’s no-expense-spared vision of creating the ultimate Ferrari barchetta Just five custodians from new, including ownership by Dorothy Perkins & Co. in the early 1970s For many, the Ferrari 250 ‘Pontoon Fender’ Testa Rossa is simply one of the most beautiful and versatile road-going competition cars ever made. Boasting an enviable racing pedigree with a highly impressive three World Sportscar Titles under its belt and victories at Le Mans, Sebring and the Targa Florio. Just thirty-three 250 TRs were produced by the factory between 1957 and 1962 (approximately 22 to Pontoon Fender specification) and the first example off the line (chassis 0666TR) sold for $16,390,00 in August 2011 - ownership is necessarily a select affair! The vendor of this particular car, chassis 13473 has been fortunate enough to own dozens of Ferraris over the past four decades with highlights including a 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Competition Coupe and a unique 330 GT featuring coachwork by Vignale. Stepping back in time to the early 1980s, which is where this fascinating story begins; the prolific Ferrari collector and wealthy Sheffield-based engineering entrepreneur Mel Farrar acquired Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 (chassis number 13473) as a complete running car, but with some corrosion issues to the steel bodywork. Commissioned in December 1969 for delivery the following March, this car is one of just 80 supplied new in RHD configuration and was purchased by a Mr Shelley, director of Shelleys Ford agents of Motherwell. Unusually ‘BRE 450J’ wasn’t however registered for road use until June of 1971, later passing through the hands of clothing giants Dorothy Perkins & Co. Subsequently sold to it to its penultimate custodian, Mr Dyke-Price of Huntingdon - the four seater Ferrari GT was showing its age by this time and new owner Mel Farrar saw it as the ideal basis for a high performance 1950s 250 TR-style barchetta, however utilising the more powerful engine and refinement of the reliable 365 underpinnings. Upon completion, having been reregistered ‘MOI 436’ (in the style of the factory Italian ’Prova’ test plates), the car was passed on to R&D Automotive of Manchester for a final check over and set-up using Beissbarth ML4000 laser alignment equipment. Described as having “A1 geometry” and “chassis modifications carried out to perfection”, the car has remained on static display ever since, save for 200-or-so test miles. It is therefore described as being in “excellent condition” and is said to be “ready for use on the road or track”. Safety is enhanced by modern specification bespoke ventilated front disk brakes and a Girling set up to the rear (with full bias adjustment). Considerably more powerful than an original 250TR, with far superior independent suspension, disc brakes and five speed transmission, the car also benefits from a wider, more spacious cockpit, making long-distance Continental touring an excellent proposition. Worthy of close inspection, this totally unique road-going racer could not be replicated at anything like the guide figure and provides champagne Ferrari ownership, for a fraction of the cost of a factory racer. Offered for sale with current UK V5C Registration Document, large quantity of receipts for work carried out, correspondence with Tony Willis of Maranello Concessionaires, photographs of the restoration and a bespoke spare wheel that neatly tucks behind the fuel tank. Please note - Ferrari's UK Solicitors (Cooley LLP) have made previous contact with our vendor (which is normal practice when a non-standard Ferrari is brought to the open market). It was agreed that following removal of the side decals and steering wheel badge in April 2020, a line was drawn under the matter and permission was granted to advertise the vehicle as a Ferrari 365 ‘Speciale’. For more information, please contact: Adam Sykes adam.sykes@handh.co.uk 07429 600332

Added 12 Apr 2026