1961 Ferrari 196 SP Dino

Chassis number: 0790

Ferrari 196/246SP with chassis number 0790 was entered into the 12 Hours of Sebring race driven by Ginther and Von Trips. Its inaugural race resulted in a DNF. It was later raced at Targa Florio, driven by Trips, Gendebien, and Ginther, where it finished in first place. Driven by those same drivers, it was entered into the Nurburgring 1000KM race where it finished in third place.

At Le Mans and Pescara 4 Hours it once again was unable to finished and retired prematurely. In 1962 it repeated its visit to the 12 Hours of Sebring race, driven by the Rodriguez brothers, it again was unable to finish. At the Nurburgring 1,000KM it was driven by Phil Hill and Gendebien and finished in first place. It was actively raced in 1963 and 1964. It highlights were at the Guards Trophy, Stallavena, and Coppa della Consuma where it finished in first place.

In 1964 it was sold to Terra who continued to race it. At Gallenga it finished in first. At Targa Florio, driven by Terra and Toppetti, it was unable to finish.

It has been owned by Charles T. Wegner IV of West Chicago, IL since August of 2002. It was awarded Best of Show at the Cavallino Classic XII, competition cars. It has been featured as the cover car for issue #132 of the Cavallino magazine. Phil Hill's autograph is proudly displayed on the bodywork.

Summary

Chassis number #0790 is the a very rare car and one that gave Phil Hill his world championship. It was Ferrari's first car with a rear-mounted engine based on an F1 chassis. The highlights for #0790 came when it won, on its second race, the 1961 Targa Florio with Olivier Gendebien and Wolfgang von Trips. The following season was to be marked with further racing victories. The car has never been restored.

As the 246, 248, and 268 models matured and were being replaced by such cars as the 250 P, most of the old mid-engine chassis received a Dino V6. With this setup, the cars were sold to semi-pro drivers who ran the cars in two-liter endurance and hill climb racing. Number 0790 was one such car. Built as the initial 246, number 0790 was Ferrari's first sports car having a rear engine. The chassis was a widened F1 unit with independent suspension on all four wheels. The design provided a basis for all Ferrari sports prototypes to follow. The highlight of the 246's racing career came when Oliver Gendebien and Wolfgang von Trips won the Targa Florio during number 0790's second race. During the second racing season, in 1962, Phil Hill and Gendebien took the overall victory in #0790 at the 1000 km of Nurburgring with Rodriguez and Gendebien repeating the Targa Florio victory in #0796. These victories were an important step for Ferrari's rear engine sports prototypes and paved the way for the 250 P leading up to the 330 P4. After 1963, the factory lost interest in cars such as #0790, and they were sold to private racing teams. This car was sold and stored, and resurfaced in 2002, in almost original condition, being one of the few Ferrari prototypes never to have had a cosmetic restoration.

by Dan Vaughan

The Ferrari 196/246 SP was produced from 1961 though 1963 with less than ten examples being created. The design was very untraditional for Enzo Ferrari, and against his strongest belief that the horse should come before the cart, meaning the engine should be placed in the front. Another departure from the traditional Ferrari was the use of a Vittorio Jano designed V-6 engine. The six-cylinder engines were more compact, lightweight, and more fuel efficient when compared to the traditional Colombo designed 12-cylinder engines.

With the engine mounted longitudinally mid-ship, optimal weight distribution and handling was achieved. The chassis was the traditional tubular frame supported by wishbone suspension. A five-speed manual gearbox provided power to the rear wheels. The body design was simple, yet elegant and effective. This combination was good enough to capture overall victories at Targa Florio and the Nurburgring 1000 km. At Le Mans in 1963, Ferrari captured the first mid-engined victory with a 250 P, a close sibling of the 246 SP.

The first 246 SP chassis constructed was #0790. In 1961, it was successfully campaigned at Targa Florio. A year later it scored victories at the Nurburgring 1000 km. It was later converted into a 196 SP. In modern times, it has been raced at the Cavallino Classic.

From 1961 through 1963, engine modifications were made and inserted into existing and new chassis. Because of this, specifications vary. Four chassis were constructed between 1962 and 1963.

Even though a limited number were produced, their accomplishments are legendary and their design was revolutionary. The knowledge achieved through the design and development was used in future Ferrari projects and their continued domination at races such as LeMans.

by Dan Vaughan