First photos of the one-off "Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina", a Ferrari Enzo restyled by Pininfarina, which has been commissioned by US collector Jim Glickenhaus and which was inspired by the famous Ferrari 330 P4 from the 1960s, have broken cover ahead of its scheduled unveiling at Pebble Beach next month. The photos (two of which are from early in the project's life) reveal a dramatic-looking car that fulfils the project's brief of reinterpreting the 330 P4: the carbon-fibre bodywork clings to its Enzo underpinnings slipping upwards from its low nose and bulging impressively around the four wheel arches. Cues drawn from the original model include the deep air intakes slashed into the doors; the low, narrow frontal air intake with smaller moulded intakes located to either side; the rear lip spoiler that chases round to the wheel arches, and two similar spoilers on either side of the front air intake area; a deep radiator air exit flowing out of the front bonnet and smaller brake cooling exits behind the rear wheels; single round rear lights (covered in the studio photo); and thick, chunky 5-spoke wheels that mimic the aggressive pattern of the original car. A notable new feature though is the exits of the twin exhausts which flip up above the rear spoiler and the slatted treatment to the engine cover.
 
This fully "street legal" (it has been built to US DOT/EPA standards and the new components were crash tested via computer for crumple and roll over ability) but one-off supercar, which weighs 1,200kg, is very closely based around the chassis and mechanicals of the Ferrari Enzo, a car that is the ultimate expression of F1 technology adapted for road use, and a machine that pushed the sportscar envelope forward. American Ferrari collector Jim Glickenhaus wanted to create a sportscar that would reinterpret the famous Ferrari 300 P4 sportscar racer from the 1960s and he turned to design and engineering firm Pininfarina, who created the Enzo model, to bring his dream project to life.
 
Lower and slightly wider than the Enzo (mainly due to its special new wheels) on which it is based, it has been totally designed by Pininfarina with constant input from Glickenhaus, who has been close to the project all the way from its inception. "Pininfarina have not only helped me realise my dream they've made me dare to look forward," says Glickenhaus. Jason Castriota, Pininfarina's Team Leader Design headed the design team, but the project has received input from right across the firm, including from Andrea Pininfarina himself. Castriota has recently been responsible for the Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano as well as two one-offs: the Maserati Birdcage 75th and also the Ferrari 612 Kappa, another project created specifically for a US collector.

According to Glickenhaus he met the Pininfarina design team in March 2005 and by June had signed a contract with the firm. The computer-generated styling was finalised by last December after extensive wind tunnel work was carried out, eventually with a full-scale body being mocked-up over the rolling chassis of Glickenhaus' existing Enzo (a new US-specification model which was in fact purchased specifically for this project).
 

Facets of the project included scanning him into Pininfarina's computers so the cockpit could be specifically designed for his dimensions and requirements. The passenger area of the cockpit was themed around a rally car co-driver's working area with a PC incorporating satellite navigation, timing GPS, MP3 etc.
 
To accommodate the new body design many changes have been made to the base Enzo model, including redesigning the cooling system (the radiator is now horizontally-mounted allowing for a much lower, sweeping nosecone section), while modifications have been made to the car's wiring harness, specially-designed visually-grabbing alloy wheels (9.5J x 20 with 265/30 "run flat" tyres at the front; 13J x 20 with 335/30 "run flat" tyres at rear) and a new type of windscreen and cockpit door glass has been used. Pininfarina have worked tirelessly to improve and adapt many areas of the car and innovate where possible, for example in the special new door seals which are used and a new design of lifting door hinge. The interior of the car has been "substantially redone".
 
The Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina will make its public debut at the prestigious setting of the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, which is being held this year on 20th August; although further details of the project will officially be made available later this month. The car could also be displayed outside during the Paris Mondiale at the end of September.