1953 Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta

The Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta, driven by Giovanni Bracco, was the fastest Ferrari at the 1952 Carrera Panamericana. This prompted a young Mexican driver, Efrain Ruiz Echeverria, to order his own 250 MM Berlinetta (0352MM) from Ferrari in 1953 as a replacement for his race-damaged Ferrari 212 Inter (0239EU) in order to avoid South American import duties, the new 250 MM chassis was stamped with Echeverria's original 212 chassis number and it has been known ever since by its twin chassis number identity.

In 1953, privateer racer Elfrain Ruiz Echevarria entered his new Ferrari 250 Mille Miglia in the November running of La Carrera Panamericana. He faced some stiff competition from the factory Lancias and Ferraris, which were expected to rule the event. Against these machines and drivers, Echevarria initially made little progress, but finally finished seventh in the Sport Internacional class and 11th overall, the first Mexican national to take the checkered flag that year. He was also the top privateer.

Over the next 40 years, the Ferrari went through a string of owners, including one who committed the ultimate indignity: installing a small-block Chevy V8. It has since found a sympathetic owner who has faithfully restored the car to its original configuration, as delivered to Echevarria in 1953, including the original engine.

This Berlinetta has been perfectly restored in the distinctive livery of the Mexican company 'Industrias 1-2-3' of Santiago Ontanon, a Mexican motor racing enthusiast whose slogan 'No hay dos' translates appropriately as 'Nothing better.'