1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial

Model History

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Specifications

Body styles and Chassis Data

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Series II Spyder Coachwork: Scaglietti Chassis Num: 0556/0446 M   Though Ferrari had built a reputation around their V-12 engine, Enzo Ferrari and his chief engineer Aurelio Lampredi were cognizant of the success others were having with four-cylinder engines. It was though that a four-cylinder could furnish better low-end torque than a twelve, and its lighter weight would help the car corner better allowing for better acceleration out of the corners. The result was the 500 Mondial which was an extremely well-balanced machine that used an all-alloy 2-liter based on Ferrari's F2 engines. The first series used Pinin Farina coachwork, while the second series cars were built by Scaglietti. The 500 Mondial played an integral role in Ferrari winning its second Sports World Championship in 1954. The Ferrari 500 Mondial Scaglietti Spyder (serial number 0556/0446 M) won its class in the 1st Grand Prix of Venezuela in November 1955 driven by Harry Schell and Eugenio Castellotti. One month later Porfirio Rubirosa earned a class win in the Governor's Trophy Race at Nassau, and Ebby Lunken matched that effort in the Nassau Trophy Race. Another class win was garnered at the March 1956 12 Hours of Sebring driven by Porfirio Rubirosa and Jim Pauley. It was then sold to international playboy Porfirio Rubirosa, who raced it in 1956. This Ferrari was painted French Racing Blue for its original owner, Francois Picard, who took delivery in May of 1955. It has been owned by its present owner, Admiral Phillips, since 1960 and he drove across the country in its earlier days. The restoration began in 2000 and the work brought it back to its original condition. In August 2008 it won its class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and was awarded the Enzo Ferrari Trophy for the Best Ferrari in the field.

Auction Sales Information

Event	Group
The Elegance at Hershey	Sports and Racing
58th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance	M2 - Ferrari Competition	Class Awards : Class M-2 Ferrari Competition Special Award Winners : Enzo Ferrari Trophy