Ferrari 250 Monza

The Ferrari 250 Monza was a sports racing car produced by Ferrari in 1954. It was a combination of a stretched chassis and body from the line of inline-four-engined racers with a ubiquitous 3.0-litre Colombo V12 engine.[2]

Development

After ongoing success of inline-four engines in Formula One, Ferrari also employed those powerplants for their sports racing cars. Enzo Ferrari was unhappy with replacing the smaller capacity V12 race cars with inline-engined racers and wanted to ensure the use of his beloved engine. The inline-four engines produced a better low-end torque and the V12's were superior in higher revs and peak power output.[3]

The 250 Monza was powered by the three-litre version of the Colombo V12 engine of the similar specification as used in the 250 MM, developed a year earlier. It was then mounted in the tried and capable, elongated version of the 500 Mondial chassis.[4]

Racing

The Ferrari 250 Monza debuted at the 12 Hours of Hyères endurance race of 1954 and was driven by Maurice Trintignant and Luigi Piotti.[17] They drove the Pinin Farina bodied car entered by Scuderia Ferrari, s/n 0420M, and won the race against smaller-engined 500 Mondial of Picard and Pozzi. It remained the only entry of the 250 Monza as a works car.[18][8] Scuderia Guastella entered two of theirs cars for the 1954 Supercortemaggiore. Pinin Farina Spyder, driven by Piotti/Robert Manzon duo finished on 11th place, while the Scaglietti Spyder with Franco Cornacchia and Gerino Gerini placed on the third podium step. The first two places went to 3.0-litre Ferrari inline-four racers.[19][6] Gerini then embarked solo on a series of races, winning Trofeo Sardo and scoring a second place overall at Bolzano-Mendola hillclimb.[20][9]

Three 250 Monzas were fielded in July for Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti. Gerini in his Scaglietti Spyder were third overall and first in S+2.0 class. Franco Cornacchia entered his brand new Pinin Farina Syder, the last chassis made, and finished on a 15th place. Luigi Piotti who recently bought the car from Scuderia Guastalla did not finish the race.[21] For the 10 Hours of Messina race two cars were entered but non had crossed the finish line. This time for the night driving, Piotti employed Umberto Maglioli as a second driver.[17] At the Circuito di Senigallia, later the same year, for the S+2.0 class, Gerino Gerini scored a second place representing Scuderia Guastalla. The first place went to 750 Monza of Scuderia Ferrari.[22] Circuito di Reggio Calabria race of 1954 was won by privateer Luigi Piotti.[23]

The Scuderia Ferrari car was sold to a Hans Maasland who entered it into International Sports Car race at Zandvoort. Car was driven by Joke Maasland who finished the first heat of the race at a second place in class, but had an accident in the second heat.[8] The Scaglietti Spyder of Scuderia Guastalla was entered in the last edition of the gruelling 1954 Carrera Panamericana. Franco Cornacchia was aided by Enrico Peruchini and both had raced to a fifth overall and third in class.[24] The best result for a 250 Monza at the 1955 Mille Miglia was a 15th overall and a sixth in class by Erasmo "Kammamuri" Simeoni. He would also finish Trieste-Opicina hillclimb on a fourth place.[25][6]

The damaged car from Zandvoort was repaired by the factory and sold to Hans Tak, also from Netherlands, who campaigned the car from 1955 though 1959. He won its class at 1955 International Sports Car race at Zandvoort, 1956 Nationale Sportwagen race at Pinksterrace and 1959 National Sports Car race, also at Zandvoort.[8]

manufacturer	Ferrari
aka	Ferrari Super Monza
production	1954 4 produced‡R1R‡
designer	Pinin Farina Scaglietti
body style	Spyder
layout	Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
engine	3.0 L (2953.21 cc) Tipo 107 Colombo V12
powerout	240 PS
transmission	4-speed manual
wheelbase	2400 mm
weight	850 kg
predecessor	Ferrari 250 MM
successor	Ferrari 857 S Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

Development

Specifications

Engine and transmission

Chassis

Suspension

Racing

External links

References