Delivered new to Colonel Ronnie Hoare’s, Maranello Concessionaires, and liveried in Italian racing red with a Cambridge blue nose flash, this remarkable racing car went on to compete in the FIA World Championship of Makes during the heyday of Ferrari’s dominance.

Arguably one of the most beautifully proportioned and majestic-looking sports-prototype cars ever built, this Maranello masterpiece represents the most hallowed era of racing from the Italian marque, who recently continued to solidify its enduring legacy, by winning the 100th Anniversary of the Le Mans 24-Hours race this past June.

The FIA World Championship of Makes, the sports-car World Championship of its period in the mid-1960s, showcased during the height of Ferrari’s dominance. For the 1967 World Championship racing season, just two privateer 412P cars were constructed alongside the Works 330P3/4 and P4 Ferraris. This car first raced with Col. Ronnie Hoare’s Team by drivers Richard Attwood, Piers Courage, Lucien Bianchi, Jo Siffert and prominent privateer David Piper. Upon its racing debut in World Championship Round 4, the Belgian Spa 1000 Kilometres, co-driven by Attwood and Bianchi, they finished 3rd overall, gaining championship points that proved vital in securing Ferrari’s ultimate victory in the 1967 World Championship of Makes.

During 1967 is also contested the Le Mans 24-Hours, and the Brands Hatch 6-Hour race in the UK, before changing hands to David Piper who completed that year in it at the Paris 1000 Kilometres, Kyalami 9-Hours, and the Cape Town 3-Hours. Piper campaigned the car around Europe and South Africa during 1968-1969, winning at the 1968 Nuremberg 200 Kilometres at the Norisring, the Solituderennen at Hockenheim, and the Swedish Grand Prix. Piper had lightened the car by adopting open-cockpit glassfibre body panels, the hand-formed aluminium Ferrari originals from 1967 being stored. This proved just as well as a minor collision during the 1969 East London 500 Kilometres race in South Africa caused a fuel leak which ignited, burning the molded GRP bodywork. Back in Europe the car returned to racing with even lighter GRP open-cockpit bodywork, Piper competing at the Norisring and Hockenheim.

This exceptional 1967 Ferrari 412P will feature as part of Bonhams Quail Auction at Quail Lodge & Golf Club, Carmel in California on August 18. Photos © Bonhams