Description
The Ferrari 350 Can Am was a one-off prototype built in 1967, created specifically for the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am), a racing series that had quickly become one of the most spectacular and demanding competitions of its era. Known for its minimal regulations and emphasis on sheer power, Can-Am required cars with massive engines and lightweight construction, and Ferrari’s entry into this field was both ambitious and technically fascinating.
The 350 Can Am was based on the chassis of the Ferrari 612 P, a sports prototype originally designed for endurance racing. To meet the requirements of the Can-Am series, the car was fitted with a heavily modified version of Ferrari’s V12 engine, enlarged to 6.9 liters. This enormous displacement allowed the engine to produce around 760 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful naturally aspirated engines Ferrari had ever built at the time. The car’s name—350 Can Am—came from its approximate cubic inch displacement.
The bodywork was developed by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi, featuring low, wide, and aggressive proportions tailored for maximum aerodynamic efficiency and cooling. It had an open cockpit layout, in keeping with the style of most Can-Am competitors, and its dramatic curves and large air intakes emphasized both functionality and raw visual impact. With its lightweight tubular frame and aluminum body, the 350 Can Am weighed significantly less than its monstrous engine suggested, ensuring that it was not only fast in a straight line but also competitive in handling.
In competition, the 350 Can Am was entered in select races during the 1967 Can-Am season, driven by factory drivers such as Chris Amon. While its performance showed promise, the car was up against formidable rivals, including McLaren and Lola, who had more experience in the series and greater resources to develop their cars. The 350 Can Am was powerful but also temperamental, and Ferrari did not fully commit to a long-term Can-Am campaign, leaving the car as more of an experimental effort than a sustained challenger.
Only one Ferrari 350 Can Am was ever built, making it an exceptionally rare and unique part of Ferrari’s racing history. Today, it is remembered not just as Ferrari’s bold attempt to compete in the Can-Am arena but also as a demonstration of the company’s engineering ambition during the 1960s. Its extraordinary power, striking design, and rarity have made it a treasured piece of Ferrari lore, a car that stands apart from the endurance prototypes and Grand Prix machines of the same era. The 350 Can Am remains a fascinating glimpse into what might have been had Ferrari chosen to fully commit to the no-holds-barred world of Can-Am racing.