1955 Ferrari 750 Monza

Although a new company, the Ferrari marque quickly established itself at the very top of international competition. The cars carrying the yellow shield became the weapon of choice for both professional and privateers in either open-wheel Grand Prix or sports car racing. Leading the way for Ferrari was Alberto Ascari who won the Formula One World Championship title two years in a row, in 1952 and 1953. His winning car was the Ferrari 500, powered by a Lampredi-designed four-cylinder twin overhead camshaft engine. This engine was later installed in their next sports racing cars, the Ferrari 625 and the larger displacement 725. A choice of displacements was offered to customers to best suit the competition situation, leading to the two-liter 500 and a three-liter 750. The chassis used to house the engines became the 500 Mondial and 750 Monza. Adding to the performance were the lightweight frames and bodies which weighed approximately 1,700 pounds.

The Monza models gained a reputation for engineering innovations. They had a five-speed transaxle paired with a de Dion independent rear axle assembly, resulting in more advantageous weight distribution and better traction, both of which were key to extracting maximum performance on rough road surfaces.

Ferrari's 2-liter V12 engines had been used to dominate the Formula 2 class in 1949. When the sport's governing body announced plans to run the World Championship under Formula 2 regulations, Ferrari set his sights on a new engine. The V12 engine had power and tuneability, but compared to the four-cylinder engines used by some competitors, it lacked fuel efficiency. Aurelio Lampredi, Ferrari's new chief engineer, began work on designing a four-cylinder replacement for the Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12.

A 2- and 2.5-liter version was built using many interchangeable parts, with the 2-liter version making its debut in 1952 in the 500 F2. Constructed from light alloy, the double camshaft head engine was driven by Ascari to victory in six of the seven championship races, earning the World Championship. This was followed by another championship a year later. Over the two-year period won nearly every race it entered with 17 victories of the 19 races it contested.

With proven performance, the Grand Prix engine was used to power a line of Ferrari sportscar chassis. 2.5-liter 625 TF and 3 liter 735 S experimental models were built, with the 625 S tested in an F2 car at Bari in September 1951. Juan Manuel Fangio won in a 159 Alfetta, but the 625 was a surprising 3rd, driven by Piero Taruffi. The three-liter, four-cylinder 735 S was based on the 625, having a narrow-angle and DOHC setup. In 1953 it was driven by Mike Hawthorn and Alberto Ascari at Monza, in the Dolomite Cup, and at Senigallia, with performances that convinced Ferrari he was on the right track, and Lampredi made some major improvements.

Two four-cylinder 'production' sports cars followed in 1954. The first was the 3-liter model, dubbed the 750 Monza, introduced at the Gran Premio Supercortemaggiore at Monza. It wore a Dino Ferrari-designed body and its engine bore increased to 103 mm. The narrow-valve angle cylinder head was replaced with a wide-angle 80-degree head, with bigger valves and larger 58 DCOA/3 Weber carburetors. The engine was installed in a wider Tipo 501 GP chassis, and the 750 appeared at the Monza Supercortemaggiore 100-km race on 27 June 1954. Umberto Maglioli and Mike Hawthorn won, and Froilan Gonzalez and Maurice Trintignant took second. This impressive result earned the new Ferrari a name—the Monza. Throughout the 1954 and 1955 season, the 750 Monza managed a 2nd at the Mille Miglia in 1954 and 6th in 1955, against the Mercedes-Benz team of 300 SLRs, including Stirling Moss in his record-setting ride with Dennis Jenkinson, and Juan Manuel Fangio. In experienced hands, the three-liter, four-cylinder Monzas were nearly as fast as the V-12 cars and became the favorite of a number of privateers.

Starting with chassis number 0440M, the 2nd place finisher at Monza, 31 examples of the 750 Monza Scaglietti Spider were produced.

The Ferrari Monza (1953 to 1957)

Nearly all of the Ferrari Monza models rested on an 88.6-inch wheelbase.

1953

A single four-cylinder, closed-wheel 625 TF sports racer was designed and built by Vignale. Its straight-4 engine was sourced from the 625 F1 car and displaced 2,498c, offering approximately 220 horsepower at 7,000 RPM. The sole 625 TF Berlinetta was destroyed in a fire.

A single 735 S barchetta with coachwork by Carrozzeria Autodromo was fielded for Alberto Ascari, who was leading the race at Monza when it collided with a 250 MM. Scaglietti and Pinin Farina also bodied an example. The 735 S was powered by a Lampredi-designed four-cylinder engine displacing 2,941.66cc.

Between 1953 and 1955, twenty-nine examples of the 500 Mondial were built. Pininfarina clothed 13 spiders and two berlinettas; the examples clothed by Scaglietti were barchettas. The 1,984.86cc engine was sourced from the 500 F2 and produced approximately 170 horsepower.

1954

The 750 Monza was powered by a 2,999.62cc Lampredi inline-4 cylinder engine and built in 1954. The styling was courtesy of Pinin Farina and featured a droop-nose and faired-in headrest.

1955

The Ferrari 857 S used a 3,431.94cc Lampredi four-cylinder engine with approximately 280 horsepower.

1956

Sixteen examples of the 500 TR were built in 1956, serving as a replacement for the 500 Mondial. This was the first Ferrari model to be bestowed with the famed Testa Rossa name. Its 1,984.86cc Lampredi engine produced 180 horsepower.

Three examples of the 860 Monza were constructed and its 3,431.93cc engine produced around 280 horsepower. Its wheelbase measured 93 inches and it used the coil spring suspension from the 500 TR.

The 625 LM relied on a 2,498.32cc Lampredi engine with 9:1 compression and two Weber 42DCO/A carburetors. Four examples were built and three were modified examples of the 500 TR barchettas with the larger 2.5-liter engine. Three examples were bodied by Touring.

1957

Nineteen examples of the 500 TRC were built (1,984.86cc Lampredi Inline 4) and these were the last of the four-cylinder racing Ferrari models. They rested on a 93-inch wheelbase derived from the 860 Monza with its suspension comprised of coil springs and a live rear axle. Two examples of the 500 TRC were later upgraded by the factory to 2.5-liter specifications, creating the 625 TRC. Chassis number 0672MDTR was later upgraded again with a 3.4-liter 860 Monza engine; in 1958, it received a 3.0-liter 250 Testa Rossa engine.

Ferrari revived the Monza name in 2018 for its limited production sports cars, the SP1 and SP2.

by Dan Vaughan

Spyder by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 0530M
Engine number: 0530M

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

Spyder by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 0502M

Ferrari 750 Monza S/N 0502M started life as a successful race car in California in 1955. Lead driver Ernie McAfee won 8 individual races against the likes of Phil Hill that year. The current owner restored the beautiful and correct car presented today. It has won major awards at Cavalino Classic, Amelia Island as well as Best of Show at the prestigious Ferrari meet in Reading, PA.

In 1954, Ferrari introduced the 750 Monza, named for the town of its first racetrack victory. Also, in 1954 Ferrari earned the World Sportscar Championship with another model. Ferrari worked feverishly to develop a car that could compete with these cars of the legendary Mercedes-Benz team. Although, the Monza was fierce on the track, it was no match in 1955 for the Mercedes 300 SLR (the roadster version of the Mercedes 300SL).

Competition between these two legendary auto makers was no less intense in auto racing culture of sunny California in the late 1950's. Indeed, this particular Monza encountered its fair share of Mercedes 300SL Gullwing Coupes on the tracks at Paramount Ranch and Pebble Beach.

A major figure in the California racing scene, William Doheny, ordered this 750 Monza Spyder without the distinctive Monza headrest. He was reluctant to attract the attention of police when he drove it on the street between races.

The original paint was blue with white stripes. Auto racing legend, Ernie McAfee was the original driver employed by Doheny to race this car until McAfee was killed while racing another of Doheny's Ferraris at Pebble Beach in 1957.

At one point in its history, this car had a V8 Chevrolet engine. The most recent restoration was completed in 2003 by Sport Auto Modena in Italy.

Show Results For the 1955 Ferrari Monza, Chassis no. 0502M

• 2003 Radnor Hunt, Chairman's Award.

• 2004 Cavallino Classic, Outstanding 4 Cylinder car.

• 2004 Amelia Island Concours, Spirit of Ferrari Award.

• 2004 Greenwich Concours, Best Italian Sports/Competition car 1945-1957.

• 2004 Reading Concours, Best of Show.

• 2004 Hartford Concours, Best of Show.

• 2005 Cavallino Classic, Outstanding 4 Cylinder Car.

• 2005 Palm Beach Jet Aviation Center, Bella Macchina Cup Outstanding Ferrari Present.

• 2006 Radnor Hunt, Best Historica Post war Sports Racing Car.

0502M featured in the following publications:

• Ferrari Road and Racing, Winston Goodfellow.

• Triumph and Tragedy, The 1955 World Sports Car Season, Yves Kalterbach.

• American Sports Car Racing in the 1950's, Lynch, Edgar and Parravano.

• The Fabulous Fifties, Sports Car Races in Southern California, Art Evans.

• Feature article in FORZA magazine 2003

In 2007 the car was brought to the Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $1,400,000-$1,800,000. It is a well-known vehicle, originally driven by Ernie McAfee, and was one of the most successful competitor on the West Coast. It won eight straight races consecutively. It is powered by a four-cylinder engine with twin choke Weber 58 DCOA/3 carburetors and capable of producing 260 horsepower. There is a five-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes with cooling fins.

It was treated to a restoration which was completed in June of 2003 and has since participated in numerous events and shows. It was awarded 'Outstanding 4 Cylinder' at the 2004 and 2005 Cavallino Classic. It was one of 80 vintage Ferrari's invited by the Ferrari factory to participate in the 60th Anniversary Concours in Maranello, Italy.

On auction day this brilliant vehicle crossed the auction block as one of the many highlights of the event. Its estimated value held true, as a buyer was found and the lot was sold for $1,540,000 including buyer's premium.

Spyder by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 0492M
Engine number: 0492M

This 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider Corsa Sports-Racing Two-Seater with Carrozzeria Scaglietti is powered by a three-liter four-cylinder engine. The prancing horse emblem on the steering wheel boss has long been removed and replaced by a former owner's favored St. Christopher medal from the 1950s. The car is a matching numbers 750 Monza example. The series numbers of both the engine and chassis are 0492M. This is a rarity, as many early Ferrari's had multiple bodies and engines throughout the years.

The 750 Monza cars were pitted against historically significant cars such as the Mercedes-Benz 300SLRs, Jaguar D-Types, and Aston Martin DB3S. This particular example was on display at the International European Motor Show, the Brussels Salon, in 1955. It was delivered to Belgian importer Jacques Swaters in Brussels on January 11th of 1955. After being on display, it was sent back to the factory and later sold for export to American importer Luigi Chinetti in New York. Upon arrival, it was sent to the west coast dealer, John von Neumann, of Los Angeles California. Neumann drove this car at the Bakersfield Circuit on April 30th of 1955 and managed a second place finish. On May 30th was raced at Santa Barbara by Neumann where it failed to finish. The cars first victory came a short time later at Santa Rosa.

On July 10th, von Neumann and Phil HIll piloted this car at the Torrey Pines race to a second place finish. Hill drove this car on September 3rd at Santa Barbara to a 2nd place finish. On November 13th, at Glendale, von Neumann drove 0429M to a victory.

In 1956, von Neumann sold the car Harrison Evans who promptly raced the car at Palm Springs on February 26th. The car finished fourth. At Santa Barbara on March 17th, the car placed 3rd. Throughout the 1956 season, the car was successfully campaigned by Mr. Evans.

At the close of the season, the car was put up for sale for $7000. There was little interest in the car, and it was re-advertised in 1957. It was purchased by Stanley Kramer Productions of Hollywood, California who either sold or leased the car to the Twentieth Century Fox movie studio for the movie 'On the Beach', starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire.

After the cars starring role in the film, it was returned to Chinetti Motors in New York who then stored the car for many years. Around 1968, it was sold to Jim Sokalski of California. The car later passed into the possession of Lee Troxel of Pacific Palisades, CA. From then, it passed through ownership throughout the years, even becoming a museum exhibit for a number of years.

It was shown at the Wiesbaden Ferrari meeting on May 1993 and later at the Auto Becker 'Ferrari Days' event in Dusseldorf in 1994. It was show at the 30th annual Essen Motor Show in Germany in 1997.

This car was offered for sale at the 2006 Bonhams & Butterfields auction held at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California where it was estimated to sell between $750,000 - $1,000,000. At auction, this car aroused much interest, and the winning bid was driven higher than the estimated value. It was sold for $1,107,000.

by Dan Vaughan

Spyder by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 0510 M

Though Ferrari had built a reputation around its V12 engine, Enzo Ferrari was aware of the success of other manufacturers using smaller engines. He tasked his chief engineer Aurelio Lampredi with building such an engine. Lampredi designed a new four cylinder DOHC all-alloy engine that had better low-end torque and provided more acceleration and improved handling. In its first race in late 1953, the 12 Hours of Casablanca, a 500 Mondial finished first in class and second overall and played an integral role in Ferrari winning its second World Sports Car Championship in 1954.

The list of characters that have raced this Ferrari reads like an all-star cast: Cobra creator and Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby, Formula One World Drivers' Champion and three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Phil Hill and Chaparral creator Jim Hall have all raced this Monza Spyder.

In its first race, in March 1955, Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby drove the car at the Sebring 12 Hours race and were declared the winners before having to concede victory on a technicality to Briggs Cunningham's D-Type Jaguar. Scoring confusion awarded victory to the Hill/Shelby Monza that fought a day-long battle with the Cunningham-entered D-Type Jaguar of Grand Prix star Mike Hawthorn and the 1954 Sebring winner American Phil Walters. Upon review, the decision was reversed based on a lap-count error and the Jaguar was awarded the victory. Hill and Monza got revenge a month later at the Pebble Beach Road Races by winning the Del Monte Trophy for cars over 1500 ccs by more than one lap.

The car changed drivers in 1956 when Carroll Shelby took it over, winning the Pebble Beach races again as well as other events in California. Jim Hall raced the car for the 1957 season and was just as successful as his predecessors. Hall owned the car until 2016 when its current owner acquired it. This historic American-raced Ferrari has just finished a complete, two-year mechanical and cosmetic restoration and was shown at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours just as it looked when it won there at Pebble Beach, not once, but twice.

Spyder by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 0510 M

This Ferrari 750 Monza Spider by Scaglietti, chassis number 0510 M, was originally owned by Allen Guiberson of Dallas, Texas. It left the factory finished in white with a dark blue triangle, stretching from the car's nose to its windshield, with a similar design on the tail. It would use this color scheme for the 1955 season.

The first outing for this 750 Monza was at the 12 Hours of Sebring where it wore number 25 and was piloted by Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby. At the end of the race, it was initially crowned the overall winner at the end of the 12 hours. After a review of the lap charts, well after the race, the Jaguar was declared to be the winner. It had crossed the line just 25.4 seconds ahead of Guiberson's Ferrari. However, Hill and Shelby still managed to clinch the Index of Performance trophy.

The next race was the Del Monte Trophy at the Pebble Beach road races in April where Phil Hill would drive it to a 1st place finish. The third and final event of the seas was on December 3rd at Palm Springs. Phil Hill drove it to a 2nd place finish. This was the final event for the car while under the care of Mr. Guiberson.

Richard 'Dick' Hall and his brother, Jim, were the car's next owner. The car would remain in the Hall family care for the next six decades.

The first event of the 1956 season was at Pebble Beach and chassis number 0510 M was driven by Carroll Shelby, repeating its overall victory from 1955. The next week, the car raced at Dodge City, Kansas, where it took first place again. Additional 1st place finishes would be earned at Eagle Mountain, Texas, with Carroll Shelby and Fort Sumner, New Mexico, that year. Fort Sumner would be the very first time that Jim Hall drove the Monza and his first win.

During the Dodge City race, the engine picked up some debris on the track and was subsequently shipped to Maranello for servicing. Along with the engine work, the factory fitted the car with a door on the left-hand side and a full-width windscreen in order to comply with FIA Index C regulations. The car was refinished in red by the factory prior to being shipped back to Jim Hall, where it resumed racing.

Prior to the 1957 season, Jim Hall purchased the car outright from his brother. The car raced in several sports car races, mainly in Hall's home state of Texas. Hall raced the Ferrari in at least one event in 1958, finishing 3rd overall and 2nd in class at the Mansfield Spring Sports Car Races in Louisiana.

After the car's racing career was complete, the car was put into storage for nearly four decades. In the mid-1990s, Hall treated his 750 Monza to a restoration. The car was refinished in blue and white livery. Upon completion, the car made its restoration debut at the Monterey Historics in 1997 as part of a tribute to Carroll Shelby. It was shown at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as part of a special display of cars honoring Phil Hill and Stirling Moss. In 2011, it was shown as part of an exhibit honoring Phil Hill at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Since then, the car has continued to be maintained and cared for in Jim Hall's care in his native Texas.

by Dan Vaughan

Spyder by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 0502M

With Dabney Collins at the wheel, this Ferrari 750 Monza placed eighth in the last Pebble Beach Road Race, in 1956. The 750 Monza was named for its win at the Monza 100 km race on June 27, 1954. Only 29 were built, and the Ferrari factory raced them extensively, placing second at the Mille Miglia in 1954, and sixth in 1955. The 3.0-liter, 4-cylinder Monza could compete with the big V12 cars of the era, so it also became popular with gentleman racers.

This example is a one-off, as it is the only Monza built without a headrest, at the behest of its owner William Hoeny - apparently an attempt to disguise the 164-mph racer as a road car to avoid police attention. This Monza was also raced extensively by Ernie McAfee, Masten Gregory, and several other track titans, producing several wins and podiums.