The Ferrari 312T series stands among the greatest Formula 1 car designs of all time. Raced between 1975 and 1980, appearing in six evolutions, it achieved 27 Grand Prix wins from 89 starts to claim three Drivers’ World Championships and four Constructors’ titles. That marked the first sustained period of domination for motorsport’s most historically significant team.

Designed by the great Mauro Forghieri, the 312T—descendant of the B3—notably housed a transverse gearbox placed ahead of the rear axle to improve weight distribution. Its heart was a 3.0-litre flat-12. During this period of massive technical diversity in F1, the grid would also feature naturally aspirated V-12s, the Cosworth DFV V-8, and Renault’s turbocharged V-6.

The 1978 season ushered in considerable change for the Scuderia. It switched from Goodyear to Michelin tyres, while reigning World Champion Niki Lauda had departed to join Brabham. That led to the full-time signing of a then largely unknown driver by the name of Gilles Villeneuve. The Canadian would partner incumbent Argentinian star Carlos Reutemann.

Reutemann, who finished 3rd in the points for Brabham in 1975, had famously stood in for Lauda the following year as the Austrian recovered from his fiery crash at the Nürburgring. He would lead the Ferrari line-up heading into 1978 aboard the updated 312 T3 in the battle against the ground-effect Lotus 79s of Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson.

Five T3s were built. Chassis number 036 offered here was readied in time for round eight of 16, the Swedish Grand Prix in June. For a race at Anderstorp that has gone down in F1 legend for the arrival, utter domination, and then withdrawal of the fan-assisted Brabham BT46B, Reutemann qualified this car 8th. He climbed to 3rd come lap 20 of 70 before fading to 10th.

Of the 37 drivers on the entry list, only the Ferrari duo ran Michelin tyres next time out in France. With the balance of power shifting in favour of Goodyear at Paul Ricard, Reutemann started 8th again before making four pitstops to ultimately classify 18th. However, as part of his efforts to catch up, he smashed the lap record by two seconds at the wheel of chassis 036.

This car was then taken to Brands Hatch and placed on standby as a reserve for the following British Grand Prix, which Reutemann expertly won with a late overtake on Lauda. Next time out, he was disqualified in Austria. Having qualified the 312 T3 in 4th before jumping to 2nd at the first corner, Reutemann spun off the road aboard chassis 036 in a rain-soaked race and only rejoined courtesy of an illegal push start from the marshals.

A visit to Zandvoort later in August for the Dutch Grand Prix marked the final classified finish for this car. Once again Reutemann lined up 4th on the grid, lapping less than a second off the class-leading Lotus 79s and Lauda’s Brabham. As that year’s World Champion Andretti escaped to his final F1 victory, this Ferrari chalked 7th at the flag.

Chassis 036 would see out the campaign serving as the spare car for the final three rounds in Italy, the United States, and Canada. With Reutemann claiming a fourth win at Watkins Glen (and Villeneuve closing out the season with a home victory in Montreal), the Argentinian ranked 3rd in the standings. Ferrari finished as the runner-up to Lotus and its pioneering 79.

But the car would be recalled for the opening round of the 1979 campaign. At the start of a season in which new Scuderia signing Jody Scheckter would land the Drivers’ title as Ferrari marched to the Constructors’ crown, chassis 036 was entrusted to Villeneuve in Argentina. The flamboyant Canadian, who was so loved by Enzo Ferrari, converted his position on the grid in Buenos Aires to score 7th over the line. This 312 T3 would also travel to Brazil, where it again was primed for action in its role as a spare car, before finally entering retirement.

Chassis 036 was subsequently submitted to Ferrari Classiche for inspection, with certification duly awarded in January 2025. In addition to listing the car’s race history, the accompanying “Red Book” records that the car retained its original chassis and bodywork. It was recognised for being fitted with a correct-type flat-12 engine (numbered 97) and five-speed manual transmission (numbered 11).

Presented in the race number “12” livery, as campaigned by Villeneuve in Argentina, the 312 T3 is offered for sale complemented by three full-size sets of slick tyres (two Michelin sets, one Pirelli), and four narrow-gauge wheels and tyres to help with manoeuvrability and transport. In addition, the car is supplied with front and rear jacks plus a fuel filler funnel. Prior to returning the car to the race track, it is recommended to have the Ferrari fully checked and its safety devices renewed.

Born during a golden era for F1 and the Scuderia, this 312 T3 would make for a phenomenal addition to any motorsport collection, while its glorious, naturally aspirated 3.0-litre flat-12 would surely be a headline attraction during any private track day event or demonstration run.