Ferrari FF vs. Jensen FF: Fast Forward to St. Moritz - on video

As contests go, it’s a bit of a non-starter. How could anything match Ferrari’s latest 651bhp four-seater, a car with the cleverest of part-time 4wd systems and 200mph+ performance? Quite. But the opportunity of driving two types of ‘FF’ on snow in the Engadin Valley was too good to miss...

The adventure started in Zurich. An original, late-60s FF from British manufacturer Jensen was to be my car for the first leg of the journey: motorway out of the city to Chur and then an invigorating drive across the Julier Pass into the Engadin, with St Moritz the final destination.

For those yet to experience the full-on (original) FF experience, it’s best described as modern Bristol meets 1970s Aston V8. Which might appear overly flattering to the car from the West Midlands but, in truth, it’s really rather good.

When I say ‘good’, of course, I am making all sorts of allowances for age. But it’s roomy, has a nice driving position, generous luggage space under the glass hatchback and occasional seating in the rear. And, whether cruising serenely at the strictly enforced Swiss motorway speed limit, or taking one hairpin after another through Savognin, Bivio and then on to the Julier, the lazy 6.3-litre American V8 is more than up to the task.

At 2284 metres, though, the single carburettor is chuffing a bit. Fuel-injection here would have been a godsend. Mind you, turn the clock back 40 or so years and the latest Weber-equipped exotic from Maserati or Aston Martin would have been in the same boat – or most likely in big trouble with snow on the ground at -10° C, because our car has the famous Ferguson Formula all-wheel-drive system.

‘Ferguson Formula’: ‘FF’. Neat, don’t you think?

At the BP station on the outskirts of St Moritz we meet up with a very different ‘FF’: Ferrari’s quite brilliant ‘Ferrari Four’, meaning four seats with four-wheel drive.

The car was launched at last year’s Geneva Show and, as with any new Ferrari, you’ll have to wait a while to take delivery of one, such has been the worldwide demand for the company’s flagship V12. This is a Ferrari like no other: genuine seating for four adults and part-time 4wd from a patented, two-speed ’box with wet clutches taking power from the front of the engine.

The ECU’s mighty computing power, along with further developments of the E-diff, anti-lock braking and traction control, coupled with the option to add 4wd at everyday speeds, mean that you are still driving a traditional front-engined Ferrari… until you aren’t, when the front wheels receive almost imperceptible help in slippery conditions.

The result is quite amazing. Despite its all-new, 6,262cc V12 producing 651bhp, the FF can be driven with total – and I mean TOTAL – confidence on compacted snow, going places no everyday supercar could go.

As with any Ferrari motor, the engine is just magnificent. While the more track-orientated 458 Italia and 599 GTB deliver more of their power in an exhilarating rush, the FF’s V12 has just the right balance of low-down thrust and non-intimidating, top-end rush. And that’s in conditions that dropped to -12° C at times.

Likewise, the sublime steering – just light enough, but still very direct – matches both the engine’s ferocity and the super-smooth, 7-speed twin-clutch transaxle.

Boy, does this car go. And setting the Manettino (steering wheel switch) to ‘Snow’ means that full-power take-offs in powdery snow are as fun as when on dry Tarmac.

Taking the big Ferrari out of St Moritz and over the Bernina Pass, its virtues of comfort, power and exclusivity became ever more apparent.

The area is in the height of the winter season and the great, good and famous are settling in for a couple of months of sun and snow. Style is all: whether it’s the latest must-have from Moncler or Pilatus, St Moritz will see it before too long.

Joining that list is the fabulous new Ferrari FF and, making an honourable return after a 40-year absence, is that ‘other’ FF – another might-have-been from the British car industry, but now a stylish classic accessory on the slopes.

Production & Photos: Jan Baedeker

Video: Kai Klinke

A selection of Ferrari FFs for sale can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

You can also find Jensen FFs for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

Snapshot, 1960s: Mercedes SL on the piste

No Carver, no Gore-Tex, no Go-Pro on the helmet – in the 1960s, skiing was a purist sport; and the ideal transport for the keen skier was a red Mercedes SL…

Those were the days when the outline of your Mercedes was instantly recognisable at a distance, even without the big, bold star on the grille. The harmonious proportions of the ‘Pagoda SL’ built from 1963 to 1971 have made it a design icon today. Standing out from the crowds of knobbly VW Beetles, the unmistakeable lines of the Mercedes were an indication of the success of its driver in the economic boom of the post-War era – and also hinted at his sporty personality; especially when the Mercedes, rather than sitting freshly washed in the car park of a conference centre, was to be seen on the snow with ski racks on its roof. Whether the driver had equally good style when it came to skiing, however, could only be determined out on the piste. 

Photos: Daimler archive

Many classic Mercedes-Benz SL Pagodas can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

1964 MG B 'Windmill & Lewis'

1964 MG B

'Windmill & Lewis'

Summary

• Year of manufacture 

  1964
• Car type 

  Other
• Competition car 

  Yes
• FIA Papers 

  Yes

• Drive 

  RHD
• Condition 

  Used
• Interior colour 

  Black
• Number of seats 

  2

• Location

  
• Exterior colour 

  Green
• Gearbox 

  Manual
• Drivetrain 

  2wd
• Fuel type 

  Petrol

Description

Possibly to most significant MG B race car that was not directly used by the works department. ‘222 WAE’ was built to works specification and campaigned relentlessly from 1964 to 1970 by Roy Ashford on behalf of the Bristol, MG dealership Windmill & Lewis with great success.

The BMC competition department in Abingdon constructed the ‘works’ vehicles (MG, Austin, Mini) in their ‘special tuning department’ where the cars were given light-weight panels and uprated engine components. MG Bs were then raced in many disciplines to get as much exposure and marketing potential as possible for the popular model, including sports car racing ,both in Europe and America (Sebring), endurance events, such as Le Mans were they scored a class win in 1963 and many rally events.

222 WAE was purchased in 1963 by the Bristol MG dealership Windmill & Lewis, who had previously had some success in 1961 running a MG Midget and a MG A. Under the guidance of their talented workshop foreman, Roy Ashford, the car was built up to works specification over the winter on 1963-4. This included lightening the car - like all early MGBs 222WEA had an aluminum bonnets as standard and added to this was aluminum front wings, doors and boot lid. The engine was rebuilt to homologation specification running an 1840cc block and a 48 DCO Webber among many other changes. As sponsoring on cars was not allowed the car was painted in its distinctive colour scheme of green and orange that became well know throughout the country.

Roy Ashford predominantly drove the car and proved to be one of the most prolific winners for the marque in the early years. Driving mainly in the ‘Chevron, Freddie Dixon STP championship’ he also ran in several hillclimbs each year to keep the Windmill & Lewis name in front of the buying public.

“Roy’s most memorable race was at Thruxton on 24 May 1970 when he finished second, splitting two AC Cobras. Shaun Jackson won in his 7.4 litre model with a race time of 12min, 42.2sec, Roy’s time was 12min, 44.0sec, whilst Ian Richardson, whose car had a 5.4 litre engine was third having completed the ten laps in 12min, 47.0sec. This was an excellent achievement for a 2-litre MGB at Thruxton, which has always been regarded as a ‘power circuit.’ Motoring News described it as ‘The hairiest Motorsport race for many a frantic day!’” MGB The Racing Story by John Baggott.

Lex took over Windmill & Lewis in September 1970 and decided not to continue campaigning the car thus closing the racing program. The MD of Windmill and Lewis, Peter Robinson, offered to sell the car to Roy but he declined and at his suggestion the car was sold to his friend Terry Osbourne. Terry had the car painted blue and he raced the car frequently from 1972 making his race debut in the Chevron Oils Championship at Mallory in March of that year. Initially Terry invited Roy to share the driving of 222 WAE with him but after Terry failed to get a drive due to Roy having problems in his race, Roy decided to take a step back and leave his friend to drive.

Terry raced the car through the 1970s and 80s mainly in the Modsports races and competed in the MGCC Wiscombe Hill Climb every year. He joined the BCV8 Championship in its inaugural year of 1977 and he went on to win the championship in 1978 and 79. He also set records at Castle Combe (July ’85) and Wiscombe Hill climb (September ’90). Richard Longman did the engine work during this period and Roy Ashford continued to maintain the rest of the car with David Franklin.

Having retired from racing Terry sold the car to the well known MG enthusiast and racer Colin Pearcy, who had the car returned to its original ‘Windmill & Lewis’ specification and colours. He then raced the car at numerous classic events including VSCC races, the Pomeroy, MG car club meetings, classic Jaguar meetings and the Goodwood revival in 2001, 2004 and 2009.

The current owner purchased the car from Colin in 2008 and it has enjoyed only light use since. It comes in ready to race condition with a current V5, original buff log book, Historic Technical Passport, British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, RAC competition log book and a wonderful history file. The car is road registered so can be used for road rallying as well. The story of 222 WAE’s is told in detail in John Baggot’s book, “MGB, The Racing Story”.

Spares included:

‘long engine’ in race spec.

5 spare wheels and tyres

Rear differential

étincelles !