1967 Ferrari Thomassima II
Built on an original Ferrari chassis, the Thomassima
II’s design draws its styling cues from the iconic 330 P4 race car. The nose,
the muscular front fenders, the canopy-like cabin, and the aerodynamic rear end
were all shaped to resemble the P4’s. However, like many coach-built vehicles,
Meade’s supercar sports many features of its own.
The Thomassima II’s interior
had nothing in common with the 330 P4. While the race car had a simple panel
packed with buttons and switches for a dashboard, Meade’s sports car received a
curvaceous unit with large speedometer and rev counter in front of the driver
and three additional gauges on the passenger side.
The floor received
carpeting, while the seats were wrapped in soft materials to improve comfort. A
three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel was used instead of the P4’s racing
wheel, but it’s design is far from appealing. In essence, the Thomassima II’s
cockpit was spartan even for 1960s standards.
At the heart of the Thomassima II lies the same
3.0-liter V-12 engine found in the Ferrari 250 series. Designed by famed
engineer Gioacchino Colombo in the late 1940s, the Colombo-type V-12 was
overhauled in 1952 for the 250S before finding its way into iconic Ferrari models
such as the 250 GT and the Le Mans-winning 250 GTO and 250 Testa Rossa.
