CAFÉ RACER 76

10 more odd Ferraris we almost forgot

Be it show cars, factory prototypes or well-connected customers’ bespoke commissions, the Ferrari songbook is littered with interesting side notes that, sadly, failed to stand the test of time. Our previous 'Ferraris we almost forgot' story proved so popular that we’ve served up a second instalment…

Ferrari 330 GTS Targa by Harrah

The road-going 330 was clearly the Ferrari to make your own – this unique GTS Targa was built by Bill Harrah for an American distributor in 1969. That vast rear window must have been eye-wateringly expensive to produce then; we can't imagine sourcing one today...

Ferrari NART 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Spyder

Between 1974 and 1980, Luigi Chinetti commissioned Michelotti to create three one-off Ferraris based on the Daytona Spider, one of which was, bizarrely, intended to race at Le Mans in 1975. Though it never actually raced at La Sarthe (Chinetti had fallen out with the ACO and withdrawn all NART’s cars the night before the race), it was entered in the 1978 Daytona 24 Hours and enjoyed subsequent success in the 2003 Ferrari Historic Challenge.

Ferrari 330 GTC by Zagato

If your 330 GTC suffered an accident and you fancied doing something a bit left field, who better to send it to than the avant-garde coachbuilder Zagato? This was Luigi Chinetti’s thinking in 1973, and the new bespoke body would be to his exacting standards. Say what you will, the result is an archetypal Seventies Zagato design. We love it.

Ferrari 275 P by Luigi Chinetti Jr. and Robert Peak

“The creation of this 275 P represents an unprecedented collaboration of European and American philosophies,” read the sales card. ‘Coco’ Chinetti and commercial artist Bob Peak entrusted Michelotti to build their voluptuous co-designed body on a 275 P chassis, which had previously suffered fire damage at Le Mans. High-speed stability was a key consideration, apparently.

Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 ‘Croisette’ by Felber

Just because you can dream it, that’s not to say it’ll work. Take this kitsch shooting-brake version of the 365 GT4 2+2, designed by the Swiss coachbuilder Willy Felber, for example.

Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Navarro Special

Allegedly, the Italian nightclub tycoon Norbert Navarro didn’t care for the Ferrari 330 GT’s styling, so he had Drogo build one to his own rather quirky design. When Chinetti caught wind of the ‘Golden Car’, he was smitten, quickly shipping it to the States to sell. It was painted red at one point, and trust us when we say... it wasn’t a pretty sight.

Ferrari Rossa by Pininfarina

Clearly inspired by the celestial 1950s 250 Testa Rossa, Pininfarina’s pretty Rossa concept was designed as a Ferrari of the future. In reality, about the only feature that was adopted were the teardrop rear tail-lights, which were subsequently seen on the Enzo.

Ferrari P6 Berlinette Speciale by Pininfarina

An engineless design study that inspired both the Berlinetta Boxer and the 308/328 series cars, Pininfarina’s P6 was revealed at the 1968 Turin Motor Show. Resplendent in white, its design was conservative and crisp; an elegant taste of things to come.

250 GT Lusso Speciale

As if this 250 GT Lusso weren’t speciale enough, its first owners had it re-bodied by Medardo Fantuzzi, who incorporated a longer, more aerodynamic nose, cowled headlights, and a more pronounced rear spoiler. A later owner had the GTO/LMB fairings installed. Pininfarina built a similar long-nose Lusso (sans GTO bits), which it displayed at the 1964 London Motor Show.

ASA 1000 GT ‘Ferrarina’

Okay, so it’s not strictly a Ferrari. But the ASA 1000 GT wouldn’t have come to be if it weren’t for Enzo Ferrari’s savvy idea to create a small-capacity sports car to boost the revenue stream. Ferrari built a prototype and, although the Modenese marque never took up the project, ASA was formed to build and sell it. It was even nicknamed the 'Ferrarina' – there was no way il Commendatore would allow such a car officially to bear his hallowed name.

Photos: RM Auctions, Bonhams, Pininfarina, Gooding & Co., DK Engineering, Ferrari.

WHAT IF T.E. LAWRENCE RODE A BMW R100GS?

If T.E. Lawrence rode a BMW R100GS, it'd look something like this.

By Wesley Reyneke | Rather Be Riding

The last Das Traumwerk build we featured was controversial to say the least: aboardtracker with a bright yellow engine. Now Alex Ahrer and Herwig Prammer are at it again, with their mischievous Austrian sense of humour.

This time, they’ve taken inspiration from the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. They asked themselves the question: What if T.E. Lawrence roamed the desert on a motorcycle instead of a camel? They reckon it’d be something like this sandy BMW R100GS.

“We wanted to revitalize the atmosphere of the legendary and mystic Orient,” explains Herwig. “The appearance should suggest sand, desert, pyramids, nomad tents and bonfires under an endless sky. With the smell of incense and the taste of dates.”

Okay. Riiight. The illustrious history of the GS in the Paris-Dakar rally is perhaps a better connection to the desert, and prompted the duo to leave most of the R100GS chassis intact. The stock 21F/18R wheels were also retained, but wrapped in new Mitas offroad rubber. The suspension has been upgraded with Wilbers springs.

We love the period-correct accessories. Up on the handlebars is an early forerunner of today’s ubiquitous GoPro: a fully functioning screw-mount Leica camera. (“For historic action-shots,” according to Herwig.) Out back, there’s a Swiss army satchel and a NATO-style jerry can for longer rides.

The 1998-model engine was left untouched—save for the airbox, which was ditched in favour of cone filters. Das Traumwerk have also stripped the GS’ banana-shaped exhaust down, and rebuilt it into a simpler unit. As Herwig puts it, “All other folderol [triviality] was eliminated.”

The R100GS might be functional, but it doesn’t have the lines of a klassische motorräder. So the guys replaced the fuel tank with one from a late ’60s BMW /5, tweaking it to fit.

Then they shortened the subframe by almost eight inches, and installed a custom-made solo seat. It’s been upholstered in marble leather from an old chair.

The original rear fender was trimmed; the front fender’s from a 70s-model Japanese bike. The yellow headlight and speedo are from a BMW R65, and the turn signals and rear light were taken off a 1974 Honda CB450.

The matte sand finish dominating the BMW is offset by ‘Black Red’ powdercoat on the frame and assorted hard parts. Leather highlights soften the effect, and can be found on the tank and grips—and even a nifty cover over the shaft drive seal.