Lauda’s legacy

Gooding & Company, Monterey, USA 16-17 August

THERE’S NOTHING WORSE than unfulfilled talent, but it was the unfortunate reliability issues of the 1974 Ferrari 312B3 that ultimately led to the creation of one of F1’s greatest cars: the 1974 312T.

Niki Lauda famously spent the winter months working with Ferrari engineers to improve and develop the car far beyond what was normal at the time. It helped the legendary driver dominate the 1975 season.

It’s perhaps one of the most recognisable and iconic Formula 1 cars of all time, and for the first time ever an example will be offered at auction, by Gooding & Company at this year’s Pebble Beach event.

Mauro Forghieri significantly altered the car’s design from previous years, with the fundamental difference being transversemounted transmission – hence the T in the name. This effectively brought the weight ahead of the rear axle line to improve handling.

It also featured a considerably narrower body, to improve the airflow around the car. Thankfully the glorious flat-12 engine was always reliable, so very little changed there.

Five different chassis were produced for 1975, and this one is number 22. This car competed in five Championship races – including a win at the French Grand Prix. It came second in the Dutch Grand Prix, third in Germany, and won the non-Championship BRDC event at Silverstone.

After retiring from racing in the early 1980s, the 312T entered the hands of French collector Jacques Setton. After more than 20 years, it was passed to a collector in the Netherlands, and then on to its current US-based owner in 2008.

Now fully restored by Byers Custom and Restoration, the 312T has had a full mechanical overhaul by the Ferrari experts at Dennison International, and is ready to race.

It’s one of the main highlights of Gooding’s Pebble Beach line-up, carrying a sale estimate of $6,000,000-8,000,000.