1967 Ferrari 330 P4 #24
Pilots: W. Mairesse, J. Blaton
Team: Equipe Nationale Belge
Race: 3rd overall (2nd in P 5.0 class) at Le Mans in 1967
Bang - 7118 (diecast)
Published 08/01/24
In the early 60s, Ferrari was having a lot of trouble with those pesky F1 garagisti, like Lotus and Cooper. Nonetheless, in GT and prototype racing things were much smoother. In a nutshell, Ferrari dominated the scene. However, absurdly stubborn, Old Man Enzo had to capitulate in 1962. For the next year he allowed the production of their first mid-engine car, just like the garagisti were doing. The first of the “P series” (prototype), the 250 P won Le Mans in 1963, followed by five more Ferraris. While Ferrari’s dominance by then was total, over the Atlantic a storm was brewing. Henry Ford II turned his eyes towards Europe. He wanted to enhance Ford’s sales worldwide by boosting his company’s image. Race on Sunday and sell on Monday, and all that… And Ferrari was in financial trouble. So, in 1963 Henry Ford II approached Il Commendatore with a purchase proposal.
At first, things looked like they were going Ford’s way. And then, when it was time to sign the deal, at the last minute Enzo Ferrari backed out. And not in a polite manner. Henry Ford II went ballistic, and wanted revenge. Therefore, Ford decided to make a car that would beat Ferrari at Le Mans. Whatever the cost. With that, Ferrari knew that very soon they would have heavy competition from Ford’s GT program. Therefore, Ferrari continued to improve their prototypes. In 1964 they released the 275 P, followed by the 330 P2 Spyder in 1965. By then Ford already had the GT40 up and running. At La Sarthe however, both the 330 P2 and the GT Mk. II had reliability issues. For the following year, Ferrari evolved the P2 into the 330 P3. However, it just was not enough, and Ford took their historical 1-2-3 finish.
Even though intimidated by Ford’s massive budget, Maranello did not give up. In consequence, for 1967 Ferrari released the 330 P4 Berlinetta. The P4 looked very similar to the P3, using basically the same tubular space frame chassis, designed to be as lightweight as possible. And like the P3, the 330 P4 had fiberglass doors, to alleviate weight. It also had a double-wishbone suspension system, with adjustable coil springs, anti-roll bars and dampers. The P4 inherited the same F1-derived P3 engine – upgraded, tough. The biggest difference was a new head, with 3 valves per cylinder (one exhaust and two intake). Ferrari’s engineers also moved the Lucas fuel injection system from between the cylinder banks to between the camshafts.
The longitudinally-mounted engine, on the rear, was a 3967 cm³ V12 (at 60◦) with DOHC and 36 valves. With the Lucas indirect fuel injection system and twin spark plugs per cylinder it delivered 331 kW (450 hp). All those horses went to the rear wheels through a manual 5-speed transmission. All in all, Ferrari only built three 330 P4 in 1967, chassis #0856, #0858 and #0860, all as berlinetti (coupes). There was a fourth P4 (chassis #0846), originally a 1966 P3 converted to P4 specs in 1967 (called 330 P3/4). For the 1967 24 Heures du Mans, Ferrari came to France with all four 330 P4. Unfortunately though, Ford’s improved GT40 Mk. IV came out on top… Again. Of the P4, car #21 (#0858) came in second and #24 (#856), not even a factory car, came in third. Car #19 (#0860) DNF and car #20 (#0846, the P3/4) caught fire.
Henry Ford II got his revenge, and Ferrari never got back up to first place at Le Mans, until 2023. Nonetheless, IMHO the 330 (and later, the 512) were the most beautiful prototypes ever from Maranello. With that, even not being a winner, I fancied a 330 in the W-143 Garage. However, for 1:43rd choices are very slim. You either get a crappy pw model or you get an uber-expensive BBR or Make Up. Or, you get lucky and get one from Bang. I found this one by chance, and since I liked my 250 GTO from them, I bought it. An old mold, yet it’s pretty decent – especially for the cheap price I paid. Details are nice, as is the paint job. However, the decals (pad prints, actually), as you see could have been in better shape. All in all, (for the price) it was a nice buy.