2024 |
London Auction 20241974 Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer
Coachwork by Scaglietti
SOLD £270,000
Estimate
£300,000 - £350,000
Chassis
17649
Engine
F102A 00000039
Car Highlights
Delivered New to the UK; Exceptionally Rare Right-Hand-Drive Example
One of Just 387 First-Series 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxers Built
Well-Documented Ownership History Dating Back to Its Original Owner
Faithfully Presented in Attractive Original Blu Chiaro Livery
Extensively Restored in 2020 with Limited Mileage Since Completion
Technical Specs
4,391 CC DOHC Flat 12-Cylinder Engine
Four Weber Carburetors
380 BHP at 7,000 RPM
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Suspension with Coil Springs and Anti-Roll Bar
Saleroom Addendum
Please note that the first owner of this vehicle was internationally renowned boat racer and designer Don Shead, whose work included designing powerboats for the Uno Embassy Racing Team in the 1970s, which was co-owned by Colonel Ronnie Hoare at the time. Please also note that a new DVLA-issued V5C has recently been processed and should be available following the auction.
Have a similar car that you would like to put up for an auction?
D.K. Shead, UK (acquired new via Maranello Concessionaires in 1974)
A.G.F. Oldworth, UK (acquired from the above)
Peter English, UK (acquired from the above in 1984)
Roger L. Earl, Surrey, England (acquired from the above in 1985)
Christopher Roberts, UK (acquired from the above by the mid-1990s)
David Tregar, UK (acquired from the above)
Ian Entwistle, UK (acquired from the above in 2000)
Andrew Stear, London, England (acquired from the above in 2006)
Private Collection, UK (acquired from the above in 2012) Current Owner
*
UK V5
See UK Registration/Import Status Guide in catalogue.
Introduced in 1973, the Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer (BB) marked a significant departure for Ferrari, being the company’s first mid-engine, 12-cylinder road car, a layout previously reserved for their Grand Prix and prototype racing machines. This groundbreaking shift was driven by Ferrari’s need to compete with newcomers in the supercar landscape, such as the Lamborghini Miura and Maserati Bora. In order to compete, Ferrari placed a unique 4.4-liter flat-12 “boxer” engine, which produced 380 hp and allowed for a lower center of gravity – a stark contrast to the traditional front-engine layout of its predecessor, the 365 GTB/4 Daytona.
Particularly impressive was the way in which the Berlinetta Boxer combined performance with innovative design and construction techniques. Its sleek, aerodynamic wedge design, penned by Pininfarina, was characterized by a low-slung, angular profile, accentuated by modern pop-up headlights. Its construction utilized a tubular steel chassis and lightweight body panels, enhancing performance through reduced weight and a near-perfect weight distribution. Only 387 units were built between 1973 and 1976 before being replaced by its successor, the 512 BB, and later the 512 BBi. Each would continue the Boxer lineage but refine the concept and retain the core principles introduced by the 365 GT4 BB.
Chassis 17649, presented here, is one of just 58 examples originally delivered to the UK market in its right-hand-drive configuration. Completed on February 5, 1974, it was originally finished in Blu Chiaro (Light Blue) with a beige Connolly leather interior. Its first owner, D.K. Shead, purchased the BB in March of the same year from Colonel Ronnie Hoare’s Maranello Concessionaires and registered it as “77 D.” Throughout the early 1980s, the car changed hands multiple times, acquiring several registrations including “CJ 15,” “RLJ 565M,” and “8332 RE,” reflecting its ownership by A.G.F. Oldworth, Peter English, and Roger L. Earl, respectively. In the mid-1990s, Christopher Roberts owned the Ferrari, registering it as “DBY 462M,” the number plate that has remained with the car to this day.
The BB remained in the greater London area throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s in largely original condition. During this time, it was cared for by Bob Houghton Ltd. of Gloucestershire, and received a new gearbox and speedometer replacement at just over 42,000 miles. By June 2012, it had changed hands once more before being subjected to an extensive restoration. The restoration was ultimately completed by marque specialists Keys Motorsport Ltd. of Silverstone between 2014 and 2020, costing a substantial £94,000. Since its completion, 17649 has been treated to a pampered lifestyle with very few miles accumulated post-restoration. Do not miss this opportunity to acquire a stunning example of an early UK-market 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer.
