Champion on two and four wheels

Following a dispute with the FIA about the homologation of his 250 LM sports car in late 1964, Enzo Ferrari audaciously handed in his team’s competition license and vowed that his cars would never race in Italian red again. His frenzy was short lived but nonetheless, his cars contested the last two races of the Formula 1 season under the banner of Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team and were painted white and blue. In finishing second at the Mexican Grand Prix, John Surtees became the first man to win a World Championship on two and four wheels and the only Ferrari driver to clinch a Formula 1 title in a car not painted red. 

The boy in blue

During Ferrari’s 70th anniversary year in 2017, the Maranello marque sold 350 unique cars each honouring a single car from its illustrious history. This snazzy GTC4Lusso – with its white and blue colour scheme, roundels featuring the number seven and sumptuous navy leather interior – pays tribute to the very Ferrari 158 in which John Surtees won the 1964 title. While the 812 Superfast was not part of the 70th anniversary collection, it was specified in much the same vein as the GTC4Lusso and is said to be among the highest optioned examples to leave the factory. We particularly love the blue-tinted carbon-fibre and the extra-large hand-painted Scuderia shields. Both the Ferrari GTC4Lusso and Ferrari 812 Superfast are currently listed for sale in the Classic Driver and are superb ways of showing your respect to the late, great John Surtees. 

Photos: Kaaimans International, Veloce Publishing