Ferrari 365 GTB/4 chassis #12545, ordered in October 1968 for Colonel Ronald J. Hoare CBE, the owner of the UK concessionaires, Maranello Sales. The car was purchased via Garage Francorchamps in Belgium as Ferrari had not yet built a right-hand drive car, and the Colonel was keen to get a demonstrator to his clients with the new Lamborghini Miura outselling the ageing 365 GTC.

The car wears its original specification of Azzuro Hyperion over Pelle Blu Scuro upholstery with Grigio carpets. Order no 385, was a very early example, number 15 to roll off the production line and the first ever 365 GTB/4 to come into the U.K as confirmed by Ferraris archives.

The car was brought into the UK as a temporary import via Belgium (for tax reasons no doubt) and once Maranello received their right-hand drive demonstrator they ‘returned’ the car back to Jacque Swaters to sell on. The car was then supplied to a Norwegian collector living in the UK and the car was officially imported. There is a letter explaining this situation, when reading between the lines it wasn’t smooth sailing!

Some years later, the car found itself in France where it resided for most of its life, passing through a couple of collectors hands before it was then purchased by Mr Nicolas Todt in 2007, who of course has a very good connection with Ferrari, Nicolas still managing a Ferrari F1 driver.

Mr Todt then commissioned Ferrari Classiche to restore the car with Zanasi, to carry out a no-expense-spared restoration, returning the car to its original specification of Azzuro Hyperion with Blue Scuro trim and Grigio carpets. The original Nardi steering wheel was retained which is still fitted today, along with the squared off wheel spinners as per the Plexiglass cars.

Chassis #12545 possesses an exceptional history file with all its original correspondence between Ferrari S.P.A., Maranello Sales and Garage Francorchamps along with the original order and invoices. Still present are the handbooks, leather wallets and parts manual. The car has been awarded Ferrari Classiche Certification with red book present.