1953 Ferrari 340 MM Spyder

This is one of only four 340 MM Competition Vignale Spyders built by Ferrari. The car was sold to American racing driver Bill Spear in April 1953 for that year's sports car championship. Painted in the American racing colors of blue and white, its first race was the 12 Hours at Reims in northern France. Spears enlisted Phil Hill as his co-driver for the race, and they collected the car from the factory in Maranello, but on the drive to Reims, Spear had an accident while following behind Hill in the Ferrari, cutting his leg severely, and the car was sadly forced to withdraw from the race. Later that July, Spear drove his new Ferrari to fourth place in a support race at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in England before it was shipped to the United States in August 1953, where it was raced extensively until the end of 1955.

This is the Bill Spear, Phil Hill Ferrari built in April 1953 for Spear because he wanted the most competitive 'open' Ferrari to enter 1953 Le Mans. It was painted night blue and white by Ferrari to distinguish an American driver. It was delivered to Spear and Hill at the Ferrari factory and driven by Hill from Maranello to Reims for the upcoming Reims 12 Hour Endurance race. During the drive from Maranello to Reims, Spear had an accident in his Bentley road car while following behind Hill. Spear cut his leg severely requiring Hill to apply a tourniquet. As Spear was unable to drive Phil Hill and Luigi Chinetti were substituted as drivers. Late in the race, while leading, Hill was forced to withdraw due to fading brakes. Bill Spear imported the car to the United States in August 1953 and raced extensively around the country. Built for full competition it has a powerful Lampredi 4.1 liter motor, Formula One type aluminum finned drum brakes, Grand Prix Magnetti Morelli magnetos and a 40 gallon fuel tank.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2014