1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder

The lightweight chassis of the 500 Mondial and the 750 Monza offered the perfect compliment to the Lampredi-designed four-cylinder engine. This same engine design would earn Ferrari its first two Formula One World Championships. When combined to the 500 and 750, Ferrari also had very competitive sportscars for endurance and hill climbing events.

The benefit of the Lampredi four-cylinder engine would be its ability to be produced in a wide range of sizes to suit particular forms of racing. The 500 Mondial would make use of a 2.0-liter version. The 750 Monza would use a 3.0-liter example.

Between the two, the 750 Monza was considered the better chassis as it offered better weight distribution and handling. In addition, the Monza would make use of a five-speed transaxle. When it was all put together, the 750 Monza handled many different types of surfaces much better than some of the previous models produced by the Maranello factory.

Chassis 0530M would be just the 18th 750 Monza built by Ferrari. When completed, the car would be delivered new to Count Luigi Chiaramonte Bordonaro in March of 1955. Ferrari didn't just sell its cars to just anyone. Therefore, Count Bordonaro, it must be concluded, was highly respected within the company as they would allow the Count to drive the new car.

Armed with the powerful 750 Monza, Count Bordonaro would take an overall victory in the Corsa al Monte Pellegrino in April of 1955. This followed his debut with the car at the Giro di Sicilia. Bordonaro would follow his victory up with a 2nd place at the Trapani-Monte Erice Hill Climb and then in the Targa Mugello in June.

The 1956 season would see Bordonaro compete in the Targa Florio with the 750, but also, take yet another overall victory in the Corsa al Monte Pellegrino. Bordonaro would continue to campaign the car right up to 1960. Then, at the 1960 Targa Florio, 0530M would be driven by Baron Bernardo Cammarota-Domenico Tramontana. A year later, the Baron would purchase the 750 Monza. However, the car would remain with the Baron for just a short period of time as 1962 would see the car sold to gentleman racer Carlo Eduardo Leto di Priolo.

When the Monza became the property of di Priolo he would choose to loan the car to the museum based at the Autodromo di Monza where it would remain on display for more than a decade. Then, in 1973, Englishman Alastair Walker of London would become the car's next owner. This period of ownership would only last for about a couple of years before Mr. Van der Lof took over its ownership.

Over the course of the next few years 0530M would take part in a number of vintage races, including the 1978 International Historic Races held at Zandvoort. Jose Segimon would become the car's next owner in 1979, but the Spaniard would not remove the car to Spain but would keep it in the U.K. One year after Segimon came to own the car, 0530M would be sold again. During this period 0530M would take part in the 1982 Mille Miglia Storica.

John Graham Foulston was the owner of Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and Snetterton racing circuit and he would become the Ferrari's next owner in 1984. Under Foulston, the 750 Monza would take part in a number of international historic events including the Targa Florio. Following his death in 1987, the Monza would pass to his daughter and she would continue to have the car campaigned in a number of historic events.

After a decade in the family, Foulston's daughter would sell the car in 1994. Over the next few years the Ferrari would be sold and resold. The car would enjoy a spell in the United States before it was sold in 2000 to Giuseppe Scalvenzi of Brescia, Italy. While being enjoyed by Scalvenzi, 0530M would take part in the Mille Miglia Storica every year from 2001 to 2010. Besides the Mille Miglia Storica, the 750 Monza would take part in a number of other historic races before it would be sold, yet again, in 2010 to a vendor in 2012.

Still boasting of its original engine and a well-known ownership history, 0530M is just one of a very few 750 Monzas and it provides an intriguing look back at Ferrari's sportscar scene during the 1950s.

Offered at the 2013 RM Auctions Monterey event, the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider by Scaglietti would be drawing estimates of between $3,400,000 and $4,400,000 prior to the auction. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $4,070,000 including buyer's premium.

By Jeremy McMullen