Nice model diorama of the car at the 1966 Targa. http://www.modelfoxbrianza.it/TargaFlorio.htm Link to a nice photo of the back of the car in 1967 http://www.pirro.com/german/pirro/Galleries.Eventi/Schlegelmilch/B_112.htm
amazing photo, like a war weary soldier, returning to the sleepy town he called home. returning, a hero.
Now that I've spent some time studying the photos, the changes from 1966 to 1967 are rather substantial.
A friend of mine sent me this translation. (edited just a bit). It is not surprising that the majority of retirements were not caused by mechanical flaws, but from accidents. After the finish the drivers said that the the track conditions were dreadful. At places the track was wet and at other places completely filled with filth. (which I believe is shown in pics). BANDINI who was sharing the drive of the Ferrari P3 with VACCARELLA became a victim of a misunderstanding as he was trying to pass a slower car the driver in front of him waved his hand and BANDINI thought that was a sign to pass. But in fact that was only a sign to let him through after some corners. BANDINI tried to pass but the cars collided and BANDINI spun off the road. He was able to get out of the car but his anger was such that he started hitting the car, didn´t mind that it might catch fire. This was in much the crucial event of this race. At the beginning things didn´t go as planned for Ferrari. (reasons explained at the beginning of the article). The powerful 330 P3 which was at the spotlight was not particulary suitable for the event especially considering the demanding track conditions. VACCARELLA was driving for the first 3 laps then BANDINI took over. VACCARELLA was supposed to drive 4 laps but came in early to avoid the PORCHES which were numerous and in front of him. Targa Florio would not be such a difficult place if it did not have its famous misfortunes. All in all after numerous retirements in the second half of the race the 4000 could have turned the score on our site. (???) That would be important if BANDINI was to finish his turn. We all know how fast VACCARELLA is at these/those roads well known to him. He would definitely give his best for the 3 remaining laps that he was supposed to drive. He should probably be able to achieve his dream winning 2 Targas in a row. This is in every case a simple speculation. In reality Porsche won the race fair and square. It doesn´t matter that the winning car was not officially written as a runner. This has happened before for example at Le Mans when a Ferrari 250 LM of Rindt/Gregory won the race.
There isn't an angle in 360 deg of that car that looks unattractive Like Brigitte Bardot with 4 rubber boots
I respectfully disagree. From that angle the wheel arches look way to big for the tyre diameter, and it looks like the car was lowered.
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Here´s an even more correct translation. It's not surprising that the majority of retirements were not caused by mechanical flaws, but from accidents. After the finish the pilots said that the track conditions were dradfull, somewhere the track was wet, somewhere completly covered with filth. Bandini who with Vaccarella was driving the only Ferrari 330 P3 was a victim of a misunderstanding, when he was trying to pass a slower driver,- driver in front of him waved with his hand and Bandini thought that was a sign to pass, but infact it was only a sign that he will soon let him through (after some corners ). Hit from behind as he was terminating to overtake the other driver, Bandini spun and flipped the car. He was able to come out of it, not easily, crashing with punches the plexigas of the car's door. His fear was that the car could catch fire. This was in some way the crucial event in the race. At the begining the things didn't go as planned (reasons were explaind at the begining of the article) for the Ferrari. The powerful 330 P3 which after Monza seemed to be competitive, was not particulary suitable for the event, specially because of the demanding track conditions. Vaccarella was driving for the first 3 laps and then gave the car to Bandini who was supposed to drive 4 laps. The P3 was then still competitive but the Porsches were so numerous and they fit the track so well to hope for a win of the 4litre of the two italians. Targa Florio is known as a difficult race especially for the frequent retirements and accidents it produces. All in all after the numerous retirements in the second half of the race the 4000 could have turned the score on our side. It would have been important Bandini had finished his turn. Infact we all know how fast Vaccarella is on these roads well known to him. He would have given definitely his best for the last 3 remainig laps, that he was supposed to drive. Probably he would have been able to achieve his dream, that is winning two Targas in the row. This is, anyway, a simple speculation. Actually Porsche won the race fair and squer. It doesn't matter that the winning car was not officially written by Porsche. This has happened before for example at 24 hours of Le mans when the Luigi Chinetti's NART Ferrari 250LM of Rindt-Gregory won the race.
I know a guy who says he was watching the Targa Florio and that IIRC Vacarella crashed right across from where he was watching the race. Did he mean Bandini? What sticks out in his mind is the locals stripping the car, blatantly, anything they could remove—- one guy had a hammer and was trying to remove a wheel nut. My source is Dennis who is Timer for Cal Club at Buttonwillow Raceway. He doesn’t look old enough could he be talking about a later race?
Bandini crashed 0846 at the Targa Florio in 1966 and Vaccarella crashed it there at Collesano hitting the pavement kerb in 1967. Bandini, very sadly, had died only a few days before from burns from his F1 accident at Monaco. Not my pics below from the 1967 Targa Florio. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login