Page 13 - Demo

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nearly $10 million for a children’s charity.
nearly $10 million for a children’s charity.
Enzo Ferrari was already 49 years old when he took the first drive
Enzo Ferrari was already 49 years old when he took the first drive
in his 125 S. World War II was just over, the communist threat in Italy
in his 125 S. World War II was just over, the communist threat in Italy
had been subdued, and the country was poised for an exciting future.
had been subdued, and the country was poised for an exciting future.
Ferrari was well established as a capable race driver, racing team
Ferrari was well established as a capable race driver, racing team
manager, and a manufacturer. His Auto Avio Costruzioni Company
manager, and a manufacturer. His Auto Avio Costruzioni Company
was producing parts for the automobile and aviation industry. The time
was producing parts for the automobile and aviation industry. The time
was right to build his racing empire.
was right to build his racing empire.
Ferrari believed the key to a successful race car was the proper en-
Ferrari believed the key to a successful race car was the proper en-
gine. A student of engine design, Ferrari enlisted the help of Gioacchino
gine. A student of engine design, Ferrari enlisted the help of Gioacchino
Colombo to design a 1.5-liter, 12-cylinder engine that could be used
Colombo to design a 1.5-liter, 12-cylinder engine that could be used
both in a sports car and in a Formula One race car.
both in a sports car and in a Formula One race car.
Ferrari’s chiefs, Giuseppe Busso and Luigi Bazzi, turned Colombo’s
Ferrari’s chiefs, Giuseppe Busso and Luigi Bazzi, turned Colombo’s
design and Enzo Ferrari’s vision into reality, birthing the 125 S.
design and Enzo Ferrari’s vision into reality, birthing the 125 S.
ferrari and the v12 engine
ferrari and the v12 engine
Ferrari studied the rules for Formula One and decided the 12-cyl-
Ferrari studied the rules for Formula One and decided the 12-cyl-
inder V configuration was technically superior to other designs. The
inder V configuration was technically superior to other designs. The
V12 allowed a low center of gravity and superior structural rigidity.
V12 allowed a low center of gravity and superior structural rigidity.
It offered smooth torque and low reciprocating weight, which allowed
It offered smooth torque and low reciprocating weight, which allowed
a light flywheel. The lighter flywheel saved weight and provided faster
a light flywheel. The lighter flywheel saved weight and provided faster
response to throttle input.
response to throttle input.
Period magazine articles noted the 12-cylinder design allowed lower
Period magazine articles noted the 12-cylinder design allowed lower
piston speeds than engines with fewer cylinders. The theory goes that
piston speeds than engines with fewer cylinders. The theory goes that
lower piston speed equals less stress and better reliability.
lower piston speed equals less stress and better reliability.
Ferrari historian David Seielstad illustrated the difference in a
Ferrari historian David Seielstad illustrated the difference in a
Prancing Horse magazine article. He noted a 158 Alfetta piston trav-
Prancing Horse magazine article. He noted a 158 Alfetta piston trav-
eled 3,675 feet per minute at 8,000 rpm while the Ferrari piston only
eled 3,675 feet per minute at 8,000 rpm while the Ferrari piston only
traveled 2,584 feet, albeit at a slightly lower 7,500 rpm.
traveled 2,584 feet, albeit at a slightly lower 7,500 rpm.
Ferrari specifically chose the 1.5-liter size for his first engine be-
Ferrari specifically chose the 1.5-liter size for his first engine be-
cause Formula One rules allowed a supercharged version of that size
cause Formula One rules allowed a supercharged version of that size
engine. In the 125 S sports car, the 118-hp, normally aspirated 125 S
engine. In the 125 S sports car, the 118-hp, normally aspirated 125 S
was winning races just weeks after its introduction, but Ferrari knew
was winning races just weeks after its introduction, but Ferrari knew
they would need more power to keep competitive on an International
they would need more power to keep competitive on an International
level.
level.
Improved variations of the 125 S engine came quickly. A second
Improved variations of the 125 S engine came quickly. A second
camshaft was added — then more displacement, more carburetors,
camshaft was added — then more displacement, more carburetors,
and anything else that gave more power. The Ferrari Colombo engine
and anything else that gave more power. The Ferrari Colombo engine
became a staple of competition and GT Ferraris, becoming the most
became a staple of competition and GT Ferraris, becoming the most
famous automobile engine ever produced.
famous automobile engine ever produced.
Our subject 195 inter
Our subject 195 inter
Our subject 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter chassis 0081S is a direct descen-
Our subject 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter chassis 0081S is a direct descen-
dant of the original 125 S. It was roughly the 40th production Ferrari.
dant of the original 125 S. It was roughly the 40th production Ferrari.
It retained much of the mechanical architecture of the 125 S, but it
It retained much of the mechanical architecture of the 125 S, but it
benefited from nearly one liter of additional displacement, an extra
benefited from nearly one liter of additional displacement, an extra
camshaft and a more-attractive body.
camshaft and a more-attractive body.
Chassis 0081S features a coupe body built at Touring Superleggera.
Chassis 0081S features a coupe body built at Touring Superleggera.
The Superleggera designation identifies chassis 0081S as having been
The Superleggera designation identifies chassis 0081S as having been
built with Touring’s super-light construction technique. The body is
built with Touring’s super-light construction technique. The body is
quite attractive, featuring a distinctive horizontal body line down its
quite attractive, featuring a distinctive horizontal body line down its
side. This line is similar to the line that gave the Touring Barchettas
side. This line is similar to the line that gave the Touring Barchettas
their “Little Boat” nickname.
their “Little Boat” nickname.
Our car’s history
Our car’s history
The history of chassis 0081S is well known. It was shown at the
The history of chassis 0081S is well known. It was shown at the
Torino Auto Show. It was never raced, and it knocked around Europe
Torino Auto Show. It was never raced, and it knocked around Europe
a little before coming to the United States with a returning serviceman.
a little before coming to the United States with a returning serviceman.
A later owner started a never-completed restoration, which doomed
A later owner started a never-completed restoration, which doomed
the car to a garage for more than 30 years. Tom Shaughnessy, a Ferrari
the car to a garage for more than 30 years. Tom Shaughnessy, a Ferrari
car and parts dealer, finally rescued the car and famously displayed it
car and parts dealer, finally rescued the car and famously displayed it
in bare metal at the 2007 Cavallino Classic.
in bare metal at the 2007 Cavallino Classic.
More recently, chassis 0081S was well restored, shown a couple
More recently, chassis 0081S was well restored, shown a couple
times and repainted from gold to red and then to blue.
times and repainted from gold to red and then to blue.
In 2011 it was sold at auction — for $990,000 — to a collector who
In 2011 it was sold at auction — for $990,000 — to a collector who
put it back on the market for a reported $1,900,000. It showed up at the
put it back on the market for a reported $1,900,000. It showed up at the
Barrett-Jackson 2016 Scottsdale auction, where it was a no-sale.
Barrett-Jackson 2016 Scottsdale auction, where it was a no-sale.
RM Sotheby’s Leggenda e Passione Auction was the right place to sell
RM Sotheby’s Leggenda e Passione Auction was the right place to sell
chassis 0081S. The Maranello audience was full of hard-core Ferrari
chassis 0081S. The Maranello audience was full of hard-core Ferrari
followers. They were in the holy land, with Ferrari history everywhere
followers. They were in the holy land, with Ferrari history everywhere
they turned. They had eaten the food, been to the museums, and taken
they turned. They had eaten the food, been to the museums, and taken
their pictures at the factory gate.
their pictures at the factory gate.
Somebody there would love this car.
Somebody there would love this car.
The auction lived up to its billing, with an enthusiastic audience and
The auction lived up to its billing, with an enthusiastic audience and
an excellent sales rate. Unfortunately, our subject car was not one of
an excellent sales rate. Unfortunately, our subject car was not one of
the first-round sales. While chassis 0081S is rare, important, and good
the first-round sales. While chassis 0081S is rare, important, and good
looking, the market for early Ferrari production cars is quite thin.
looking, the market for early Ferrari production cars is quite thin.
It took RM Sotheby’s some after-auction work to put together a sale.
It took RM Sotheby’s some after-auction work to put together a sale.
The final number was short of the estimate. The buyer got a great car
The final number was short of the estimate. The buyer got a great car
at a good price, but he’ll have to hold it awhile if he wants to profit on
at a good price, but he’ll have to hold it awhile if he wants to profit on
his investment. ♦
his investment. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.)
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.)
seat time
seat time
I bought my Ferrari 195
I bought my Ferrari 195
Inter (chassis 0101) in the
Inter (chassis 0101) in the
beginning of 2011. Its body is
beginning of 2011. Its body is
by Ghia, and it was the 1950
by Ghia, and it was the 1950
Turin Show Car and has been
Turin Show Car and has been
certified by Marcel Massini.
certified by Marcel Massini.
I still find its 2,341-cc
I still find its 2,341-cc
DOHC V12 alloy engine impressive today, let alone what its power was like in 1950.
DOHC V12 alloy engine impressive today, let alone what its power was like in 1950.
When the car is cold, everything is a little stiff, but once up to temperature it is a
When the car is cold, everything is a little stiff, but once up to temperature it is a
pleasure to drive, as the mechanics of the car all mesh together very well.
pleasure to drive, as the mechanics of the car all mesh together very well.
I love the pure lines of the car. It’s a clean design uninterrupted by any over-
I love the pure lines of the car. It’s a clean design uninterrupted by any over-
styled features.
styled features.
With only 25 examples produced, I’m very happy to own one of the more
With only 25 examples produced, I’m very happy to own one of the more
unknown models in Ferrari history. — Renaat Declerck
unknown models in Ferrari history. — Renaat Declerck
December 2017 67
December 2017 67