Hillclimb Ferrari

Sir,

John Hickman enquires (Readers’ Letters, October) whether the 212 European Hillclimb Championship-winning Ferrari driven by Peter Schetty still exists I am sure that it does!

At the end of 1970, having completed two successful seasons hilIclimbing a 250M (see April issue), I was looking tor something even faster, preferably a Ferrari and the late Col Ronnie Hoare was kind enough to open negotiations with the current owner of the 212E — the well-known Italian Ferrarista, Dre Lualdi. I was not aware of Lualdi having competed with the car — at any event he had scored no significant victories in it. Those who had seen the 212 in action described it as a) light to the point of flimsiness, and b) horrendously noisy, and we were all gung-ho to get our hands on a car which might have been 40bhp down on the LM, but probably weighed about half as much!

Nothing came of the negotiations, and I was therefore a bit surprised to see the car, 18 months later, in the collection of Pierre Bardinon at Mas du Clos. I should not be surprised to learn that it is still there.

At that time it was extremely unusual for Ferrari to let their works racers be sold on, and it may be that there was a ‘no competition use’ condition imposed, which would not have troubled Pierre.

Mr Hickman and other readers may be interested to know the sort of price that might have been involved in those distant days: my recollection is that Ronnie had advised an opening offer of around £13,000..

Jack Maurice, Olney, Bucks.