Looking photos/info about the 330 GT LeMans Pace Car | FerrariChat

Looking photos/info about the 330 GT LeMans Pace Car

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by peterp, Aug 12, 2016.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. peterp

    peterp F1 Veteran

    Aug 31, 2002
    6,681
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Peter
    I've read that a 330 GT was the pace car for LeMans (in 1967?), but have never seen any photos of the car, nor have I seen any reference to the serial number. Assuming there actually was a 330 GT pace car, does anybody have any information about it or have any photos of that car?
     
  2. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,673
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    Amazing, Wayne.

    Do we have a serial number?

    Matt
     
  3. peterp

    peterp F1 Veteran

    Aug 31, 2002
    6,681
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Peter
    Amazing photos Wayne! The first one is going to be my new screensaver.

    It's interesting where they mounted the mirror. The 330 GTs didn't come with an outside mirror, but they were often added by dealers when new on customer request. I wonder if the factory felt they should be mounted on the fender or if that position just worked best for pace car duties.

    I'm also curious about the SN. BBR did a model of this 1967 pace car, but (somewhat oddly) they didn't note the serial number: BBR-MODELS CAR13LB Scale 1/43 | FERRARI 330 GT 24h LE MANS 1967 PACE CAR BLACK
     
  4. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
    Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 1, 2002
    18,069
    San Marino, CA
    Full Name:
    L. Wayne Ausbrooks
    Sorry, but I don't have a serial number. Even the great Kerry Chesbro still has this car on his list of unknowns.

    As far as the BBR model goes:

    1) It was used at Le Mans in 1966, not 1967.
    2) It's difficult to be sure from the photographs, but I think the car may have been dark green/tan and not black/tan - possibly even the same shade of "verde speciale" used on Enzo's 4963.
    3) Needs license plates.
     
  5. peterp

    peterp F1 Veteran

    Aug 31, 2002
    6,681
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Peter
    It's quite the mystery if Kerry doesn't know. It seems like it would need to be somewhere in the range between 7553 (SN when fuel filler was moved to left hand side - Production Changes) and about 8571 to have been built before June 1966 (Production Order).
     
  6. peterp

    peterp F1 Veteran

    Aug 31, 2002
    6,681
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Peter
    Resurrecting this thread after noticing that the pace car (in picture 1) has what looks like an external (presumably aluminum) "race style" gas filler instead of the standard flush body color fuel cap/door. If there is a 330 GT out there with this modified gas cap, it seems likely that it is the Le Mans pace car (especially if it is between SN 7553 and 8571).
     
  7. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,373
    Central NJ
    Peter, it's unpainted like mine. Mine also had holes in the bumper for the fog lights but my mirror is in the wrong place... Oh well :)

    Regards,

    Art S.
     
    peterp likes this.
  8. Pierre Coquet

    Pierre Coquet Karting

    Mar 3, 2005
    50
    F - 21340 Baubigny
    Full Name:
    Pierre Coquet
    I suggest #7557.
    Verde scuro 19394, Salon de Paris Oct. 7-16 1965, new to Franco Britannic Automobiles (The French importer), demonstration car of Franco Britannic Automobiles during the whole 1966 year.
    Best regards
    Pierre
     
    lgs likes this.
  9. peterp

    peterp F1 Veteran

    Aug 31, 2002
    6,681
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #10 peterp, May 9, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Solved!!! Case closed. Congrats Art!!!


    Oh wait, it looks like you may have been dethroned Art.

    This seems like a match given it's early history as the show car. Can't quite tell from the photo whether it has silver/unpainted gas cap here (S/N 7557 Detail)

    There is another photo of it below (from the "Ferraris at Motor Shows" thread).

    Was an unpainted gas cap a thing from the factory? Don't recall seeing that before.

    One way to find most of the green 330's is to use google "verde site:330gt.com" -- seems like it must be Verde Scuro or Verde Speciale -- Verde Pino and Verde Medio are too light. The google search isn't perfect unfortunately - 7557 doesn't show up in the results even though its tagged as Verde Scuro.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  10. P. Collins

    P. Collins Rookie

    Jul 14, 2022
    48
    peterp, lgs and ArtS like this.
  11. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,373
    Central NJ
    P. Collins likes this.
  12. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ

    Nov 4, 2006
    11,574
    opposite lock
    Full Name:
    Marc Sonnery

    Attached Files:

    peterp, readplays, ArtS and 1 other person like this.
  13. 330gt

    330gt Formula 3

    Nov 12, 2004
    2,096
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Kerry Chesbro
    Here's a picture of the taillights. Was told that they came from a Simca.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    BTW, here are all of the 330 GTs that were Le Mans marshal's cars:
    1964 5403
    1965 6273
    1966 7557
    1967 9097
     
    Nembo1777, peterp, lgs and 4 others like this.
  14. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2005
    13,658
    Oof! Mercifully it's not a 4 headlight 330.
     
    readplays likes this.
  15. miurasv

    miurasv F1 World Champ

    Nov 19, 2008
    10,754
    Cardiff, UK
    Full Name:
    Steven Robertson
    Oval carb air cleaners were found on the earlier Series 1 330 GT 2+2s. Should have a snorkel air cleaner surely?
     
  16. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ

    Nov 4, 2006
    11,574
    opposite lock
    Full Name:
    Marc Sonnery
  17. miurasv

    miurasv F1 World Champ

    Nov 19, 2008
    10,754
    Cardiff, UK
    Full Name:
    Steven Robertson
    I'd check the carbs too.
     
  18. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,373
    Central NJ
    1. Great original colors.
    2. SPECTACULAR history for a 330 GT. The car show is nice but the '66 Le Mans history will bring a good premium.

    Otherwise, I suspect it would be absorbed into the rebody trade.
     
  19. P. Collins

    P. Collins Rookie

    Jul 14, 2022
    48

Share This Page