A marvelous and rare Ferrari by Pininfarina has just rolled into the Racing in New York Gallery of the Saratoga Automobile Museum for an extended stay.

The 1966 Ferrari 365P Berlinetta Speciale one of just three examples, debuted at the Paris Auto Show that year, and was shown that year at the Earl's Court London Motor Show. Until recently, one of the last Ferrari prototypes, it was initially sold by Luigi Chinetti, Sr., the North American Ferrari importer, to Marvin Carton, in New York City, who claimed he couldn't drive it - probably because of the center steering. He returned it shortly afterward.

Inside, a luxurious leather interior was distinguished by an unusual seating arrangement. The driver was located in the center, with accommodations alongside for a pair of passengers. The center seat was mounted on runners, with a rotating base, allowing easier entrance and egress. This particular car even had it's fifteen minutes of fame in popular culture - uncovered in research was this little known tidbit, "Noted British auto artist, Russell Brockbank, penned one of his most famous cartoons about this car. In his
drawing, two attractive ladies are shown cat-fighting over who'll get to sit alongside the obviously wealthy driver. In a somewhat chauvinistic way, he's rather amused by the situation."

For the "gearheads" out there, this car was based on the Ferrari 365P2 and 365P2/3 racecars campaigned by Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team in the US, and in international races, this 365P road car was influenced by the 1965 Dino prototype, but it was wider and longer. Its 4.4-liter V-12, develops 380-bhp @ 7300 rpm. A top speed of 186-mph was claimed.

Stylistic elements included lofted front fenders, prominent side scoops, a specially developed bronze layered glass "moon roof" and a convex rear window. Some of these styling cues would later appear on the production 206/246 Dino GT.

A second example was built for Giovanni Agnelli, heir to the FIAT empire. Agnelli's car was different. in that it had a large, stainless-steel rear spoiler. Signor Agnelli may have ordered the spoiler to aid high-speed stability on Italy's autostradales. Ferrari authority Dick Merritt says a third version was built with a diplane rear spoiler.

The late Genevieve Opert, in a European Car article on this Ferrari wrote, "sources credit Pininfarina stylist Aldo Bravarone for the 365P's basic design." One of Bravarone's subsequent projects for Pininfarina, the 1967 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, used a variation of this prototype's nose and grille design.

The car is on display courtesy of Luigi Chinetti, Jr., Stuart, Florida.

The current exhibit of two-seat wonders for "Romance of the Roadster" runs through June 1st at the Saratoga Automobile Museum. For more information call (518) 587 1935, or log onto www.saratogaautomuseum.org.