Lot No: 363 is billed as the greatest "collision of universes" on one website, and it's not hard to disagree, it is well known that John Lennon had a couple of Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine's one of which was famously painted by J.P. Fallon Limited to become known as the 'psychedelic Rolls' though the design is actually based on traditional designs of gypsy caravans one of which John had purchased for his garden.
John said of his Rolls that it was for 'relaxing'.
Less well known was that John also had a Mini for 'pottering about in', and by all accounts had a crash involving his Austin Maxi.
News to me thirty years after his death is that John also bought this Ferrari, his biography 'John Lennon – A Life' by Philip Norman tells us "In February 1965, John passed his driving test, an event that made headline news across the nation. Within hours, every luxury car dealership in the Weybridge area, hoping for business, jammed the road outside Kenwood's security gates with Maseratis, Aston Martins, and Jaguar XK-E'. John strolled out to inspect this gleaming smorgasbord, eventually selecting a £2,000 light blue Ferrari.' "
This is the car sold on 20th April 1965 registered with these DUL 4 C plates to John who was officially recorded as living in central London at the time.
The 330 engine featured 12 cylinders of 330 cc / 20 cui each, from which the 330 name stems, giving the Colombo V12 a total capacity of 3,960 cc / 241 cui capable of producing 300 hp. This engine would form the basis of several racing motors including that used by the Ferrari P4.
John's Right Hand Drive US bodied 330 GT was fitted with electric windows, a Webasto Sunroof and is one of 508 equipped with the original 4 speed gearbox with overdrive.
Unfortunately John's car is no longer it's original Azzuro Light Blue VM 3015 colour, the current darker colour was applied during a restoration in the 1990's after the car had been found ten years earlier painted red.
The 330 GT came with shiny Borrani wheels adjustable Koni shock absorbers, rear leaf springs assisted by coils, unusually the dual circuit servo assisted braking had one servo operating exclusively on the front and the other exclusively on the rear brakes.
John said of his Ferrari he bought it 'for zoom' on 12th of November 1965 six months later DUL 4 C was advertised for sale with 3,000 miles on the clock.
The car is for up for auction at Bonhams Grand Palais event in Paris tomorrow it will be interesting to see if it fetches the maximum estimated € 170,000 in these times of economic uncertainty, my guess is that this is an extremely conservative estimate designed to draw the punters in.
Hope you have enjoyed todays Ferrari Friday 'zoom' edition of Gettin' a little psycho on tyres' and that you'll join me again tomorrow for a look at a Piccoli Ferrari. Don't forget to come back now !
