Real Deal: The Ferrari 330P/LM

The Ferrari 330P/LM is one of the newest sports racing prototypes in a long line of cars produced by Commandatore Enzo Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari started his career with automobiles prior to 1920. He applied for work with Fiat, but was turned down. In 1920 he became a team driver for Alfa Romeo. Later he gave up driving to manage all of Alfa Romeo's racing activities. Through his efforts with the Alfa team, which became known as Scuderia Ferrari, they had beaten Fiat sufficiently to cause their retirement from racing. In 1939, Ferrari left Alfa Romeo after nearly twenty years of service with them, for a variety of reasons the least of which was a disagreement with one of their chief engineers.

World War II was close at hand so the manufacture of machine tools seemed like a likely occupation until after the war. Although the idea of manufacturing his own cars occurred to him, he was bound by a clause with Alfa which prevented him from reestablishing Scuderia Ferrari or engaging in motor racing of any kind for a period of four years. After the war he was joined by his friend Colombo, the man who had designed the famous 158 Alfa. In 1946, the Ferrari 1.4-liter twelve-cylinder engine, designed by Colombo, was conceived. To this day, over 130 variations of this engine have been produced by Ferrari. In July of 1951, a 4.5-liter Ferrari had beaten the famous Alfa Romeo 158 and then repeated this feat a month later. Now Ferrari was to be the eventual cause of Alfas retirement from racing. From this point on Ferrari has almost dominated international motor racing.

The Ferrari 330P/LM was developed during 1964. The 330 designates in cc's, the displacement of one cylinder. Therefore when multiplied by twelve (the number of cylinders) you arrive at 3960 c. c. or 4-liters. This is the equivalent of 242 cubic inches. The "P" stands for prototype and the "LM" describes the body as the Le Mans type. The 330P/LM is the result of a constant evolution of Ferrari racing cars. These cars are successful because of constant improvements skillfully adapted year after year. To prove themselves, two of these cars finished first and second overall at Reims. One of these with a smaller engine also won the Road America 500 at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and another one finished third overall at the Sebring 12-hour race right behind the Ford GT. The highlight of this car's career came at Le Mans when it won overall after 24 hours, being co-driven by American, Masten Gregory.

The 330P/LM is a small rear-engined car. The chassis is of multi-tubular construction with coil-spring dampers and double-wishbone independent suspension all around. As a result of the suspension, the handling qualities are superb. The engine is a refined version of the original Colombo design V12. This S.O.H.C. 4-liter version produces about 380 bhp at 7200 rpm. It has six dual-throat Weber carburetors and is capable of powering the car to speeds near 200 mph.

Source for above: Monogram 1965 slot car set assembly manual

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The Jackie Stewart Ferrari 330 P4

When enthusiasts speak of the "Ford-Ferrari Wars" at LeMans in the mid-1960s, this is the Ferrari of which they speak. Only four were ever built. Today, only three survive with an approximate market value of 10 million each. The great drivers who raced them-including Jackie Stewart and Chris Amon-as well as primary adversaries like Carroll Shelby, Jim Hall, Mario Andretti and Dan Gurney.

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