1952 Ferrari 225 Sport Spyder

This beautiful 1952 Ferrari 225 Sport Spyder has coachwork courtesy of Vignale. It has a dark red exterior with a tan leather interior. It is powered by a 2.7 liter V12 engine that is capable of producing an impressive 210 horsepower. The gearbox is a five-speed manual unit and the brakes are four-wheel hydraulic drums. It is a right-hand drive vehicle with an independent suspension with double wishbones and transverse leaf springs in the front. In the rear there is a live axle with double semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf springs.

It was auctioned at the 2006 Christies auction held in Monterey California at the Jet Center. It was expected to fetch between $1200000-$1500000. At the conclusion of the sale chassis number 0160ED with matching engine number had found a new owner for $1280000.

This vehicle was created on January 10th, 1952 with a Tipo 340 Tubosocca chassis rear axle. It had a massive forty-gallon fuel tank and a newly introduced limited slip design with a 4.66:1 final drive. In a time-span that lasted lest than a month, the Factory had finished the chassis. The engine was later assembled by Leopardi and Storchi under the watchful eye of Franchini. Beltrami assembled the Tipo 212 Export gearbox.

By March 2nd, Vignale had completed the body. On March 9th the true potential of the vehicle was experienced by the factory test driver as the vehicle was taken to its limits on a road test. After the performance it was entered by the factory in the XII Tour of Sicily, driven by Piero Taruffi along with co-driver Mario Vandelli. It was given the number 443 which it continues to wear in modern time. The vehicle was the fastest in the field but a blown head gasket resulted in a DNF.

It was sold to Count Bruno Sterzi of Milan who raced the vehicle in the XIV Aosta-Gran San Bernardo Hillclimb. At the Gran Premio di Bari it was given the number 78. It was sold at the close of 1952 to Mrs. Piano of Buenos Aires who quickly sold it to Roberto Bonomi. It was repainted in a light blue color and entered in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires. With Bonomi at the wheel, the vehicle captured an impressive first place finish. This began many podium finishes for Bonomi in the 225 Sport. In 1953 it finished 3rd overall at Premio Verano at Mar del Plata. A fourth placed finished was scored at the Grand Prix Governardor Carlos Evans at Mendoza at the hands of Adolfo Schwelm Cruz.

In 1954 the color was changed back to red. It was entered in the Mil Kilometros driven this time by Alcaro Piano, Miguel Schroder and Carlos Alcorta finishing 18th. Its history from this point until 1971 is unknown. It was sold to Lucio M. Bollaert of Buenos Aires where it was given a blue paint job. In 1982 Australian Kerry Manolas became the next owner. The vehicle underwent a complete restoration and it regained its red paint color.

It was shown at the 1984 Ferrari Concours in Carmel and then the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Anthony Wang of New York became the next owner who owned the vehicle until 1989. Len Immke of Columbus, Ohio became the next owner. In 1995 it was traded to Chris Cox of North Carolina who had it shown at the Cavallino Classic.

From there, the car continued to trade hands. Under the ownership of John Sullivan of Palm Beach, Florida, the car was treated to a restoration by Motion Products of Neenah, Wisconsin. It was given its burgundy color with tan interior and the original Scuderia Ferrari number of 443. At the 1997 Cavallino Classic it was awarded the Judges Cup. It was purchased in 2001 by Michael Yedor of Bel Air, CA who later sold it to its next owner. Its next adventure was at the 2006 Christies Auction where its long history continued with the addition of a new owner.

Its beauty is undeniable and its legacy is profound. The $1,280,000 was an excellent price for this early Ferrari. It is the most complete, correct and original 225 Sport Spyder Ferrari in existence.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007

Dark red with tan leather interior

Engine: V12, 2,715cc, 210bhp; Gearbox: five speed manual; Suspension: independent, double wishbone, transverse lower leaf spring front suspension, live axle, double semi-elliptical longitudinal leaf spring rear suspension; Brakes: four wheel hydraulic drum. Right hand drive.
To this day, few vehicles entice more excitement and passion than that of Ferrari's mid-50s, big engined sports racers. Developed during a period of triumph and passion, they personify every aspect of Ferrari's road racing legend. Often designed and built with a single purpose in mind, Ferrari churned out arguably the finest cars of the day, a position maintained today in both racing and street cars.

Christie's is very pleased to offer 0160ED which began life on January 10, 1952 with a special Tipo 340 Tuboscocca chassis (internal #37 A) rear axle. It featured a newly introduced 'limited slip' design and had a 9 x 42 inch, or 4.66:1 final drive ratio. Further, records indicate that this was the only such designed 225 Sport with double parallel springs fixed to the rear axle. Most likely this was a function to compensate for the Tipo 340 rear axle and the nearly 40 gallon fuel tank, the largest used in the 1950s.

Very quickly, a testament to the speed at which the Ferrari factory moved, the chassis was completed on February 2nd, and two weeks later the engine was assembled by mechanics Storchi and Leopardi supervised by Foreman Franchini. Meanwhile the gearbox, noted to be a Tipo 212 Export (internal #156 E) was completed by mechanic Beltrami and fitted to 0160ED. Days later the car was returned to the Vignale body shop where work was completed and on March 2, 1952 the engine was first dyno tested. The following day the car was subjected to the factory road test and then on March 9, 0160ED was race ready and entered in the XII Tour of Sicily by Piero Taruffi and co-driver Mario Vandelli on behalf of Scuderia Ferrari wearing race number 443 which it proudly displays today. While posting the fastest overall time a blown head gasket sidelined 0160ED with a DNF.

Records then indicated the car was sold by the factory to Count Bruno Sterzi of Milan who raced the car in the XIV Aosta-Gran San Bernardo Hillclimb to a result still unknown. Later wearing #78 it was raced on September 28th at the Gran Premio di Bari and then tested at Imola on October 19th by Alberto Ascari and motorcycle champion Umberto Masetti. By the end of 1952 it was sold to Mrs. Piano of Buenos Aires who in turn sold it to Roberto Bonomi also of Buenos Aires. Shortly thereafter on February 1st 1953, sporting light blue paint Bonomi placed 1st overall at the Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires. This was to be the first in a number of successful outings by Bonomi with 0160ED in South America. Notable success include 3rd overall at the 1953 Premio Verano at Mar del Plata, a 4th at the 1953 Grand Prix Governardor Carlos Evans at Mendoza (driven by Adolfo Schwelm Cruz), and the 1954 Mil Kilometros de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires by Bonomi and Carlos Menditeguy. Sporting a color change to red in late 1954 it was prepared once again for the Mil Kilometros driven this time by Alcaro Piano, Miguel Schroder and Carlos Alcorta finishing 18th.

From here the trail of 0160ED goes dark until 1971 when it was sold to Lucio M. Bollaert of Buenos Aires and then repainted medium blue. Then passing to Kerry Manolas of Point Piper, Australia in 1982 it was treated to a complete restoration and repainted to red. After work was completed, 0160ED began its show career including the 1984 Ferrari Concours in Carmel and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Later it was sold to noted Ferrari collector Mr. Anthony Wang of Long Island, New York who kept the car in his impressive stable until 1989 when it was sold to Mr. Len Immke of Columbus, Ohio. Mr Immke, a high ranking officer with Wendy's Hamburger's as well as a noted Ferrari and vintage sports car collector, owned the car when it was featured in Cars & Parts magazine by Lee Beck in January 1992. By 1995 the car had traded to another noted Ferrari collector Mr. Chris Cox of North Carolina who immediately presented the car at the Cavallino Classic. 0160ED was then passed to the collection of Mr. Skeets Dunn of Rancho Santa Fe, California who eventually sold the car to Mr. John Sullivan of Palm Beach, Florida.

It is under the care of Mr. Sullivan that 0160ED was again restored by Motion Products in Neenah, Wisconsin to the immaculate condition as it appears today. Repainted in burgundy with tan interior and wearing it's original Scuderia Ferrari number of 443, the car won the 1997 Judges Cup at the Cavallino Classic and a visit to Meadowbrook Hall in August of the same year. 0160ED was purchased in 2001 by Michael Yedor of Bel Air, California who in turn sold it to the current gentleman owner.

Having now spent two years in a cherished environment being exercised routinely and surrounded by equally sporting cars (and most recently accepted as an entry to the 2006 Mille Miglia), the time has come for 0160ED to find another home. By all accounts this is the most complete, original, correct and verifiable 225 sport spyder in existence. Accompanying the car are an impressive set of binders cataloguing its complete history as well as the ever sought after tools. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Christie's would like to thank Marcel Massini for his invaluable assistance in the research of 0160ED.

Source - Christies and Marcel Massini