Registration No: RFW 769M
Chassis No: 17347
MOT: March 2023

• One of only 94 UK-supplied RHD examples, with a warranted mileage of just 52,000
• Finished in its original colour combination of Marrone Collarado with Beige upholstery
• Supplied new by Maranello Concessionaires to Lord Banbury of Cirencester and just two subsequent private owners
• The subject of a comprehensive restoration, with circa £50,000.00 in recent expenditure

"Most important was the double overhead cam engine. Like Rolls-Royce, no horsepower figure was quoted, but surely it was at least 320. More important was its massive amount of torque. Taken together with the turbine-like characteristics of the V12 engine, it mattered little which gear one was in or at what speed." – Stanley Nowak on the 356 GT4 2+2, Ferrari on the Road.

The 365 GT4 2+2 was Ferrari’s way of telling the world it had arrived firmly in the 1970s. Its sharp, svelte three-box design was the work of Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and was a radical departure from the softly styled 365 GTC/4 it succeeded. By no means did that mean it was any less impressive to look at, however. The 365 GT4 2+2 is a vast and imposing car, whose clean lines and delicate curves scream understated elegance. Inside, the generously-sized cabin is as airy and spacious as the expanses of glass would lead you to believe and there’s a luxurious suppleness to the leather that hints at the car’s continent-crushing credentials. As you can imagine, the driving experience is dominated by that long-legged 4.4-litre V12 which, other than sending the most glorious noise swirling around the cabin, provides ample power (340bhp) and torque to inspire confidence in any circumstance, whether you’re hustling the car along a twisty country road or loping across the highways of Europe. This was a car for the man who already had a gaggle of theatrical thoroughbreds in the garage and simply required a stylish, spacious, high-speed Gran Turismo in which to ferry colleagues, clients or children around. Between 1972 and 1976, Ferrari built just 521 examples of its flagship four-seater, with a mere 133 in RHD configuration. Today, the 365 GT4 2+2 is considered to be a practical Ferrari for the connoisseur treading his own path on his or her collecting journey. Its quirky, oh-so-seventies design won’t tickle everyone’s fancy, but who wants to follow the crowd and buy a car to please other people?

The matching numbers 365 GT4 2+2 we’re offering for sale is chassis number 17347, which was one of 216 examples produced by Ferrari in 1973. Finished in striking Marrone Colorado over a Beige interior, the car was delivered new in October 1973 via Mark Konig of Maranello Concessionaires to The Lord Banbury of Southam. A copy of the original sales invoice for £10,450.00 is included, however, a deal was struck between the dealership and his Lordship for a ‘straight swap’ against a 246 GT ‘Dino’ and Mercedes-Benz saloon. Shortly after this, during 1974, chassis 17347 was purchased by a Mr Black from Dunbartonshire and registered in his company name ‘Eclipse Blinds Ltd’. In November 1979, it was then acquired by Michael Smith of Cheshire, having covered 49,367 miles. A number of old MOT certificates confirm that during the next sixteen years, RFW 769M was used sparingly and recorded an increase of just 2000 miles, before being taken off the road and placed into dry storage in 1996. Bequeathed to another member of the Smith family in November 2007, the car remained static until 2019, when a major restoration was undertaken. Respected marque experts R&D Automotive of Manchester were tasked with bringing the car back to life and in the region of £50,000.00 of documented expenditure was invested in the car over a two-year period. No stone was left unturned and attention was given to all aspects of the cosmetics and mechanicals. This included a major service of the V12 engine (including valve clearances) and replacement or refurbishment of all ancillaries, including the clutch. Detailed to concourse standard and reinstalled, a new air conditioning pump and a full rebuild of the braking, cooling and oil systems were also undertaken at the same time. Harvey Robinson reproduced the exhaust system in a combination of mild and stainless steel, whilst the interior was left to Leathercare and Bespoke Car Interiors (both of Knutsford, Cheshire) to be brought back to its sumptuous former glory. Stripped of all ancillaries, the bodyshell was fully resprayed in July 2020 (correctly black to the underside) by My Finish of Bolton, whilst A.C.F. Howell refreshed all of the chrome plating. A brand new set of chrome badges were fitted and the refurbished magnesium alloy wheels were shod with new Michelin XWX tyres. Finally, a replacement speedometer was fitted, however, the original is supplied with the car and accompanies a large number of expired MOT certificates that warrant the low mileage.

Ferrari saloons of this period are notoriously expensive cars to restore and the vast majority offered for sale are tired and in much need of TLC. That certainly isn’t the case for ‘RFW 769M’, which boasts an enviable specification and ticks all the right boxes for collectors or drivers alike. Commercially restored by all the right names and crucially accompanied by the receipts for all works carried out, copies of the original build sheet and early correspondence, parts book and instruction manual, together with MOTs, old-style V5 registration document and sundry literature.

For more information, please contact:
Adam Sykes
adam.sykes@handh.co.uk
07429 600332