The first of these cars was built by a young coachbuilder from Modena called Scaglietti and was inspired by a design created by Dino Ferrari to freshen up the look of the old 166 given to him by his father. The models built for sale to the public were the work of Pinin Farina who built around 15 of the spiders in all. Powered by a 2000 cc four-cylinder engine, this model acquitted itself very honourably indeed in a whole host of races, topping its category in many.
- Top speed……….236km/h
- Type……….front, longitudinal in-line-four
- Bore/stroke……….90 x 78mm
- Unitary displacement……….496.21cc
- Total displacement……….1984.86cc
- Compression ratio……….8.5 : 1
- Maximum power……….125 kW (170 hp) at 7000 rpm
- Power per litre……….86hp/l
- Valve actuation……….twin overhead camshafts per bank, two valves per cylinder
- Fuel feed……….two Weber 45 DCOA/3 carburettors
- Ignition……….two spark plugs per cylinder, two coils
- Lubrication……….dry sump
- Clutch……….twin-plate
- Frame……….tubular steel
- Front suspension……….independent, unequal-length wishbones, transverse leaf spring, Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers
- Rear suspension……….de Dion, twin radius arms, transverse leaf spring, Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers
- Brakes……….drums
- Transmission……….5-speed + reverse
- Steering……….worm and sector
- Fuel tank……….capacity 150litres
- Front tyres……….5.25 x 16
- Rear tyres……….6.00 x 16
- Type……….two-seater spider, berlinetta
- Wheelbase……….2250mm
- Front track……….1278mm
- Rear track……….1284mm
- Weight……….720kg (dry)
Ferrari 500 Mondial Scaglietti Spyder (serial number 0556/0446 M)
This rare gem has been owned by Rear Admiral Robert A. Phillips, USN (Ret.) since 1960, when he purchased the ‘broken Ferrari race car’ for a mere $2,225 (equating to approximately $18,000 by today’s standards and currently valued at nearly $2 million). Admiral Phillips found the car with a seized differential, repaired the car himself and later performed a complete restoration taking a period of 8 years to complete. Phillips believes that even after 56 years, he himself is only a ‘temporary custodian,’ of this exceptional 4-cylinder beauty and his hope is that it never becomes a museum piece, but is always driven as it was meant to be.
Having won its class in the 1st Grand Prix of Venezuela in November 1955 driven by Harry Schell and Eugenio Castellotti, the Mondial was driven one month later by Porfirio Rubirosa to earn a class win in the Governor’s Trophy Race at Nassau, with Ebby Lunken matching that effort in the Nassau Trophy Race. Another class win was garnered at the March 1956 12 Hours of Sebring driven by Porfirio Rubirosa and Jim Pauley. International playboy and racer Porfirio Rubirosa, purchased the car in 1956, continuing to keep it on the race circuit.
This Ferrari was painted French Racing Blue for its original owner, Francois Picard, who took delivery in May of 1955. Phillips, who purchased the near ‘barn find’ five years later, began his complete restoration in 2000 and the work brought it back to its original condition. In August 2008 the Monidal won its class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and was awarded the Enzo Ferrari Trophy for the Best Ferrari in the field, selected by son of Ferrari Founder Enzo Ferrari, Piero Ferrari and former CEO of Ferrari and former chief of Scuderia Ferrari, Jean Todt.