In March 2005 Andrea Pininfarina grand son of Battista Farina founder of Pininfarina asked James Glickenhaus if he would be interested in commissioning a one off car to which James replied that he would like a modern version of the mid sixties Ferrari P series sports racing car. Three months later a deal was concluded in which James would receive his dream car for a cost of $4,000,000 (US$ Four Million).

James bought the last Ferrari Enzo 2003 US spec and took it along with his 1967 Ferrari P3/4 chassis #0846 which won the 1967 Sebring 12 Hours to Pininfarina for them to have a car to work on and from. Today’s unique vehicle still carries it’s Enzo identity plate.

The body Pininfarina came up with is in my humble opinion a huge improvement on the original Enzo, it has a drag coefficient of just 0.34 which powered by a 660 hp version of the Enzo’s V12 motor will allow the car which is some 595 lbs / 270 kgs lighter than the original Enzo to reach 60mph from rest in 3 seconds and on to a top speed of 233 mph.

The interior leather trim was chosen by James’s daughter and the seats tailored to fit James and his son after their bodies were scanned to get the most accurate measurements known to man.

James publicly took delivery of this unique car in August 2006 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and has said subsequently “The price was agreed to in advance and if anything I feel they gave me more than I expected.” Ferrari and Pininfarina similarly probably also got far more than $4 million dollars of publicity from the project as nearly everyone who has seen the car since, myself included, has wanted to get in a newspaper story about it.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs which were taken earlier this year at The Quail.

Thanks for joining me on this “More Than I Expected” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the final incarnation of the Connew. Don’t forget to come back now !

Brighton Speed Trials Under Threat of Permanent Cancellation !

In their infinite wisdom, Brighton & Hove City Council are seeking to ban the Brighton Speed Trials from 2014.

If you care about speed and or motorsport history, please sign this linked petition to save Brighton Speed Trials in 2014 and beyond.

It’s a faf to Register before signing, but relatively painless compared to loosing the event which has been run with few interruptions since 1905.

You do not need to be resident in Brighton or even the UK to sign.

Thanks and please spread the word through whatever social media you have at your disposal.