1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spyder

This Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider wears aluminum coachwork by Pinin Farina and is one of five with the low-grille, covered-headlamp frontal treatment. It wore a red exterior with a white central stripe and was intended for a Swiss customer.

This Ferrari began life with a 2.9-liter engine before it was given a 2.0-liter Tipo 110 unit, which would be removed before 1979 and fitted with another Tipo 110 unit (0464 MD). The car's red exterior was later repainted dark blue (retaining its central stripe), then Mondial red, and later white with red stripes and Swiss flags.

Before the Ferrari was finished at the factory, it was pulled from production when Scuderia Ferrari conscripted it into duty. Two new four-cylinder Ferraris were brought by the Works team in June of 1954 to contest the Gran Premio Supercortemaggiore, a contest for three-liter sports cars held at Monza. The car driven by Giuseppe Farina during practice suffered a driveshaft failure, which caused enough damage that Ferrari decided to install its 2.9-liter Tipo 735 engine into this nearly completed 500 Mondial. The work was completed in time for it to race at Monza where it was entrusted to Umberto Maglioli and Mike Hawthorn. Wearing race number 14, the 2.9-liter Mondial was driven to victory for Scuderia Ferrari, with four other Ferraris placing in the top six positions. This victory inspired Ferrari to name its new line of three-liter, four-cylinder sports cars after the legendary Monza circuit.

After Monza, the 500 Mondial was returned to the factory where it was given a proper two-liter Tipo 110 engine and repainted dark blue, though still retaining its central stripe. In this guise, it was sold to William Kemble Carpenter of Montchanin, Delaware. As 1954 was coming to a close, the car was sent to Florida dealer Bill Frick, who advertised it for sale in the January 1955 issue of Road & Track. Mr. Paul Norair of Washington, D.C. acquired the Ferrari late in 1955 and soon entered it in the Bahamas Speed Week where he contested the Governor's Trophy, Alberto Ascari Memorial Trophy, and Nassau Trophy. Wearing race number 92, driving duties were shared with Carl and Campbell Schmidt.

After repainting the Mondial red, Mr. Norair continued to expand upon the car's racing resume as it was entered in various East Coast events through May 1957. It was then sold to Mike Garber of Connecticut. Mr. Graber had the car refinished in white with red stripes and entrusted the driving duties to Gaston 'Gus' Andrey. During the 1957 season, it raced at Lime Rock, Thompson, Marlboro, VIR, Montgomery, Watkins Glen, and Bridgehampton, capturing six class wins and the SCCA E-Modified National Championship.

After the 1957 season, the Ferrari was sold to another East Coast racer named Charlie Kolb, who entered it in SCCA events at Marlboro, VIR, and Cumberland.

The Ferrari retired from competition after the 1958 season and it would pass through several American owners, eventually being acquired by Texan Robert Norwood in the mid-1970s. By 1979, the original engine had been removed and another Tipo 110 unit installed. In 1980, the car entered the care of its most recent, California-based enthusiast. While in his care, he carried out a cosmetic and mechanical restoration with help from Patrick Ottis, Doug Peterson, Phil Reilly & Company, and Rob Etcheverry. The work was finished in the mid-2000s, and since that time, it has been kept in static storage.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022