From the collection of André Cadiou, a gentleman driver from the Sarthe

- Sold new in France

- Major restoration recently completed

- Only 387 built

- No reserve

The Ferrari 365 GT4 BB was unveiled at the 1971 Turin Motor Show. An innovative car, the result of a lengthy development process, it was directly inspired by the Sports prototypes of the period. It had a mid-mounted flat-twelve ‘boxer’ engine: a 4.4-litre unit producing 360bhp, it was the work of Mauro Forgheri and was installed behind the driver, giving the car its ‘Berlinetta Boxer’ name. This layout made it possible to adopt a very low, streamlined body, designed by Leonardo Fioravanti for Pininfarina. The 365 GT4 BB was the company’s first high-performance mid-engined GT and led to the 512 BB and BBi models, whose engines were, however, less peaky than their predecessor.

The historian Marcel Massini has confirmed that chassis 17589 left the factory on 22 April 1974 for delivery that month to the French importer Charles Pozzi. At the time, the car had remarkable ‘Argento Metallizzato’ paintwork, with a beige Connolly leather interior. The elegant BB was first registered on 24 May 1974, and then, in 1977, in the Seine-Saint-Denis department. In 1998, André Cadiou bought the car after it had been in the Tarn since 1990 and had been restored, with a change in colour to red, along with a black leather interior. In 1999, before taking part in the Tour d’Espagne, the engine – with no number on the crankcase – was sent to Pozzi for a complete rebuild. Cadiou particularly enjoyed this Ferrari, with which he took part in three editions of the Tour d’Espagne, and shared his impressions of it in 2000: “It’s an exceptional car to drive, much easier than the E-Type and even the 275. I like mid-engined GTs, they’re really lively and very pleasant to drive.” The car was then used and maintained regularly, before being entrusted to the Sevin garage, originally to be repainted. In the end, what ensued was a restoration spread over a period of ten years. The body was entirely restored and any parts that were too badly damaged were replaced, before it was repainted in red, with the section below the waistline in black. We were, moreover, able to judge the quality of the panel alignments. The upholstery was scarcely worn and could be kept. The running gear was stripped down and restored, as was the braking system. The engine was overhauled and the timing gear changed about three years ago, the carburettors were cleaned and the seals replaced. Meanwhile, the electrical system was checked and repaired as needed. As this work was spread over a long period of time and the car has since been driven very little, we recommend that its new owner carry out a general service, including the replacement of the timing belt. With just 387 cars built, this 365 GT4 BB sold new in France has had significant work done on it and offers a rare opportunity to add to your collection an important milestone in the history of Ferrari’s GT cars.

Andre Cadiou collection, gentleman driver from Sarthe

As a great car enthusiast, a demanding collector and above all, a passionate driver, Andrew Cadiou was a well-liked figure in the industry. In order to combine his passion for driving, motorsport and classic cars, he patiently built his ideal collection made up of carefully selected and complementary models, all ready to hit the road or the track in any circumstances.

From the Transemirates to the Rally of Morocco, passing through the Tour de France Auto or the Targa Florio Revival, Andre Cadiou was not the type to leave his cars at the back of the garage: 20,000 km in the 2.7 RS and 40,000 km in the 275 GTB… with servicing accordingly. Every choice was justified by his sharp knowledge: the 2.7 RS, exchanged for the 964 RSR that won its category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1993, was one of the first 500 examples assembled for homologation; purchased when he actually came to inspect a Daytona, the 275 GTB was one of 93 examples with an aluminium bodywork; the 365 GT/4 BB (French since new) was directly inspired by the sports prototypes of that era; and even the Alpine was the penultimate example of a limited series of 100 units!

When asked in 2000 about the choice of his 365 GT/4 BB for the Tour of Spain, he replied: “Indeed, I initially entered the Ferrari 275 with which I took part in the Targa Florio Revival. But it’s a fairly fragile car. I then entered my Jaguar E-Type but I changed my mind again, thinking the 365 GT/4 BB was better suited to the heat of Andalusia. It’s an exceptional car to drive, easier than the E-Type and even the 275. I like mid-engine GTs, they are lively machines and very enjoyable to drive”. Handling discretion and humour as well as the steering wheel, he had a great deal of happiness when using his cars, far more than owning or admiring them. Andre Cadiou passed away in 2012 and today, his cars are just waiting to find new knowledgeable hands to be used carefully for their primary purpose: to go fast.

Photos © Kevin Van Campenhout