Page 13 - Steve Ahlgrim Collection sample

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n n e e a a r r l l y y $ $ 1 1 0 0 m m i i l l l l i i o o n n f f o o r r a a c c h h i i l l d d r r e e n n’ ’ s s c c h h a a r r i i t t y y . .
Enzo Ferrari was already 49 years old when he took the fifirst drive
i i n n h h i i s s 1 12 25 5 S S . . W Wo o r r l l d d W Wa a r r I I I I w w a a s s j j u u s s t t o o v v e e r r, , t t h h e e c c o o m m m m u u n n i i s s t t t t h h r r e e a a t t i i n n I I t t a a l l y y h h a a d d b b e e e e n n s s u u b b d d u u e e d d , , a a n n d d t t h h e e c c o o u u n n t t r r y y w w a a s s p p o o i i s s e e d d f fo o r r a a n n e e x x c c i i t t i i n n g g f f u u t t u u r r e e . .
F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i w w a a s s w w e e l l l l e e s s t t a a b b l l i i s s h h e e d d a a s s a a c c a a p p a a b b l l e e r r a a c c e e d d r r i i v v e e r r, , r r a a c c i i n n g g t t e e a a m m m m a a n n a a g g e e r r, , a a n n d d a a m m a a n n u u f f a a c c t t u u r r e e r r. . H H i i s s A A u u t t o o A Av v i i o o C C o o s s t t r r u u z z i i o o n n i i C C o o m m p p a a n n y y w w a a s s p p r r o o d d u u c c i i n n g g p p a a r r t t s s f f o o r r t t h h e e a a u u t t o o m m o o b b i i l l e e a a n n d d a a v v i i a a t t i i o o n n i i n n d d u u s s t t r r y y. . T T h h e e t t i i m m e e w w a a s s r r i ig g h h t t t t o o b b u u i i l l d d h h i i s s r r a a c c i i n n g g e e m m p p i i r r e e . .
F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i b b e e l l i i e e v v e e d d t t h h e e k k e e y y t t o o a a s s u u c c c c e e s s s s f f u u l l r r a a c c e e c c a a r r w w a a s s t t h h e e p p r r o o p p e e r r e e n n - - g g i i n n e e . . A A s s t t u u d d e e n n t t o o f f e e n n g g i i n n e e d d e e s s i i g g n n , , F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i e e n n l l i i s s t t e e d d t t h h e e h h e e l l p p o o f f G G i i o o a a c c c c h h i i n n o o C C o o l l o o m m b b o o t t o o d d e e s s i i g g n n a a 1 1. . 5 5 - - l l i i t t e e r r, , 1 12 2 - - c c y y l l i i n n d d e e r r e e n n g g i i n n e e t t h h a a t t c c o o u u l l d d b b e e u u s s e e d d b b o o t t h h i i n n a a s s p p o o r r t t s s c c a a r r a a n n d d i i n n a a F Fo o r r m m u u l l a a O O n n e e r r a a c c e e c c a a r r. .
F F e e r r r r a a r r i i ’ ’ s s c c h h i i e e f f s s , , G G i i u u s s e e p p p p e e B B u u s s s s o o a a n n d d L L u u i i g g i i B B a a z z z z i i , , t t u u r r n n e e d d C C o o l l o o m m b b o o’ ’ s s d d e e s s i i g g n n a a n n d d E E n n z z o o F F e e r r r r a a r r i i ’ ’ s s v v i i s s i i o o n n i i n n t t o o r r e e a a l l i i t t y y , , b b i i r r t t h h i i n n g g t t h h e e 1 12 2 5 5 S S . .
ferrari and the v12 engine
F F e e r r r r a a r r i i s s t t u u d d i i e e d d t t h h e e r r u u l l e e s s f f o o r r F F o o r r m m u u l l a a O O n n e e a a n n d d d d e e c c i i d d e e d d t t h h e e 1 12 2 - - c c y y l l - - inder V confifiguration was technically superior to other designs. The V V 1 12 2 a a l l l l o o w w e e d d a a l l o o w w c c e e n n t t e e r r o o f f g g r r a a v v i i t t y y a a n n d d s s u u p p e e r r i i o o r r s s t t r r u u c c t t u u r r a a l l r r i i g g i i d d i i t t y y . . I It t o o f f f fe e r r e e d d s s m m o o o o t t h h t t o o r r q q u u e e a a n n d d l l o o w w r r e e c c i i p p r r o o c c a a t t i i n n g g w w e e i ig gh h t t , , w w h h i i c c h h a a l ll l o o w w e e d d a light flflywheel. The lighter flflywheel saved weight and provided faster r e s p o n s e t o t h r o t t l e i n p u t .
Period magazine articles noted the 12-cylinder design allowed lower p p i i s s t t o o n n s s p p e e e e d d s s t t h h a a n n e e n n g g i i n n e e s s w w i i t t h h f fe e w w e e r r c c y y l l i i n n d d e e r r s s . . T T h h e e t t h h e e o o r r y y g g o o e e s s t t h h a a t t l l o o w w e e r r p p i i s s t t o o n n s s p p e e e e d d e e q q u u a a l l s s l l e e s s s s s s t t r r e e s s s s a a n n d d b b e e t t t t e e r r r r e e l l i i a a b b i i l l i i t t y y. .
F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i h h i i s s t t o o r r i i a a n n D D a a v v i i d d S S e e i i e e l l s s t t a a d d i i l l l l u u s s t t r r a a t t e e d d t t h h e e d d i i f f f f e e r r e e n n c c e e i i n n a a 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 t t r r a a v v e e l l e e d d 2 2 , , 5 5 8 8 4 4 f f e e e e t t , , a a l l b b e e i i t t a a t t a a s s l l i i g g h h t t l l y y l l o o w w e e r r 7 7, , 5 5 0 0 0 0 r r p p m m . .
Ferrari specififically chose the 1.5-liter size for his fifirst engine be- c c a a u u s s e e F Fo o r r m m u u l l a a O O n n e e r r u u l l e e s s a a l l l l o o w w e e d d a a s s u u p p e e r r c c h h a a r r g g e e d d v v e e r r s s i i o o n n o o f f t t h h a a t t s s i i z z e e e e n n g g i i n n e e . . I I n n t t h h e e 1 1 2 2 5 5 S S s s p p o o r r t t s s c c a a r r , , t t h h e e 1 11 1 8 8 - - h h p p , , n n o o r r m m a a l l l l y y a a s s p p i i r r a a t t e e d d 1 1 2 2 5 5 S S w w a a s s w w i i n n n n i i n n g g r r a a c c e e s s j j u u s s t t w w e e e e k k s s a a f f t t e e r r i i t t s s i i n n t t r r o o d d u u c c t t i i o o n n , , b b u u t t F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i k k n n e e w w t t h h e e y y w w o o u u l l d d n n e e e e d d m m o o r r e e p p o o w w e e r r t t o o k k e e e e p p c c o o m m p p e e t t i i t t i i v v e e o o n n a a n n I In n t t e e r r n n a a t t i i o o n n a a l l level.
Improved variations of the 125 S engine came quickly. A second c a m s h a f t w a s a d d e d — t h e n m o r e d i s p l a c e m e n t , m o r e c a r b u r e t o r s , , and anything else that gave more power. The Ferrari Colombo engine b b e e c c a a m m e e a a s s t t a a p p l l e e o o f f c c o o m m p p e e t t i i t t i i o o n n a a n n d d G GT T F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i s s , , b b e e c c o o m m i i n n g g t t h h e e m m o o s s t t f fa a m m o o u u s s a a u u t t o o m m o o b b i il l e e e e n n g g i i n n e e e e v v e e r r p p r r o o d d u u c c e e d d . .
Our subject 195 inter
O O u u r r s s u u b b j j e e c c t t 1 19 95 5 0 0 F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i 1 19 95 5 I I n n t t e e r r c c h h a a s s s s i i s s 0 0 0 0 8 81 1S S i i s s a a d d i i r r e e c c t t d d e e s s c c e e n n - - d d a a n n t t o o f f t t h h e e o o r r i i g g i i n n a a l l 1 12 25 5 S S . . I I t t w w a a s s r r o o u u g g h h l l y y t t h h e e 4 4 0 0 t t h h p p r r o o d d u u c c t t i i o o n n F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i . . I I t t r r e e t t a a i i n n e e d d m m u u c c h h o o f f t t h h e e m m e e c c h h a a n n i i c c a a l l a a r r c c h h i i t t e e c c t t u u r r e e o o f f t t h h e e 1 12 25 5 S S , , b b u u t t i i t t b benefifited from nearly one liter of additional displacement, an extra a c c a a m m s s h h a a f f t t a a n n d d a a m m o o r r e e - - a a t t t t r r a a c c t t i i v v e e b b o o d d y y. .
C C h h a a s s s s i i s s 0 0 0 0 8 81 1S S f f e e a a t t u u r r e e s s a a c c o o u u p p e e b b o o d d y y b b u u i i l l t t a a t t T To o u u r r i i n n g g S S u u p p e e r r l l e e g g g g e e r r a a . . The Superleggera designation identififies chassis 0081S as having been b b u u i i l l t t w w i i t t h h T To o u u r r i i n n g g’ ’ s s s s u u p p e e r r - - l l i i g g h h t t c c o o n n s s t t r r u u c c t t i i o o n n t t e e c c h h n n i i q q u u e e . . T T h h e e b b o o d d y y i i s s q q u u i i t t e e a a t t t t r r a a c c t t i i v v e e , , f fe e a a t t u u r r i i n n g g a a d d i i s s t t i i n n c c t t i i v v e e h h o o r r i i z z o o n n t t a a l l b b o o d d y y l l i i n n e e d d o o w w n n i i t t s s
side. This line is similar to the line that gave the Touring Barchettas t t h h e e i i r r “ “L L i i t t t t l l e e B B o o a a t t” ” n n i i c c k k n n a a m m e e . .
Our car’s history
T T h h e e h h i i s s t t o o r r y y o o f f c c h h a a s s s s i i s s 0 0 0 0 8 81 1S S i i s s w w e e l l l l k k n n o o w w n n . . I I t t w w a a s s s s h h o o w w n n a a t t t t h h e e T To o r r i i n n o o A A u u t t o o S S h h o o w w . . I I t t w w a a s s n n e e v v e e r r r r a a c c e e d d , , a a n n d d i i t t k k n n o o c c k k e e d d a a r r o o u u n n d d E E u u r r o o p p e e a a l li i t t t t l l e e b b e e f fo o r r e e c c o o m m i i n n g g t t o o t t h h e e U Un n i i t t e e d d S S t t a a t t e e s s w w i i t t h h a a r r e e t t u u r r n n i i n n g g s s e e r r v v i i c c e e m m a a n n . .
A l a t e r o w n e r s t a r t e d a n e v e r - c o m p l e t e d r e s t o r a t i o n , w h i c h d o o m e d the car to a garage for more than 30 years. Tom Shaughnessy, a Ferrari car and parts dealer, fifinally rescued the car and famously displayed it i i n n b b a a r r e e m m e e t t a a l l a a t t t t h h e e 2 2 0 0 0 07 7 C C a a v v a a l l l l i i n n o o C C l l a a s s s s i i c c . .
M M o o r r e e r r e e c c e e n n t t l l y y, , c c h h a a s s s s i i s s 0 0 0 0 8 81 1S S w w a a s s w w e e l l l l r r e e s s t t o o r r e e d d , , s s h h o o w w n n a a c c o o u u p p l l e e t t i m e s a n d r e p a i n t e d f r o m g o l d t o r e d a n d t h e n t o b l u e .
In 2011 it was sold at auction — for $990,000 — to a collector who p p u u t t i i t t b b a a c c k k o o n n t t h h e e m m a a r r k k e e t t f f o o r r a a r r e e p p o o r r t t e e d d $ $1 1, , 9 9 0 0 0 0 , , 0 0 0 0 0 0 . . I I t t s s h h o o w w e e d d u u p p a a t t t t h h e e Barrett-Jackson 2016 Scottsdale auction, where it was a no-sale.
R R M M S S o o t t h h e e b b y y’ ’ s s L L e e g g g g e e n n d d a a e e P P a a s s s s i i o o n n e e A A u u c c t t i i o o n n w w a a s s t t h h e e r r i i g g h h t t p p l l a a c c e e t t o o s s e e l l l l c c h h a a s s s s i i s s 0 0 0 0 8 81 1S S . . T T h h e e M M a a r r a a n n e e l l l l o o a a u u d d i i e e n n c c e e w w a a s s f f u u l l l l o o f f h h a a r r d d - - c c o o r r e e F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i followers. They were in the holy land, with Ferrari history everywhere t t h h e e y y t t u u r r n n e e d d . . T T h h e e y y h h a a d d e e a a t t e e n n t t h h e e f fo o o o d d , , b b e e e e n n t t o o t t h h e e m m u u s s e e u u m m s s , , a a n n d d t t a a k k e e n n their pictures at the factory gate.
S S o o m m e e b b o o d d y y t t h h e e r r e e w w o o u u l l d d l l o o v v e e t t h h i i s s c c a a r r. .
T T h h e e a a u u c c t t i i o o n n l l i i v v e e d d u u p p t t o o i i t t s s b b i i l ll l i i n n g g , , w w i i t t h h a a n n e e n n t t h h u u s s i i a a s s t t i i c c a a u u d d i i e e n n c c e e a a n n d d a a n n e e x x c c e e l l l l e e n n t t s s a a l l e e s s r r a a t t e e . . U U n n f f o o r r t t u u n n a a t t e e l l y y, , o o u u r r s s u u b b j j e e c c t t c c a a r r w w a a s s n n o o t t o o n n e e o o f f t the fifirst-round sales. While chassis 0081S is rare, important, and good l l o o o o k k i i n n g g , , t t h h e e m m a a r r k k e e t t f f o o r r e e a a r r l l y y F Fe e r r r r a a r r i i p p r r o o d d u u c c t t i i o o n n c c a a r r s s i i s s q q u u i i t t e e t t h h i i n n . .
I I t t t t o o o o k k R R M M S S o o t t h h e e b b y y’ ’s s s s o o m m e e a a f f t t e e r r - - a a u u c c t t i i o o n n w w o o r r k k t t o o p p u u t t t t o o g g e e t t h h e e r r a a s s a a l l e e . . T The fifinal 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 profifit on h h i s i n v e s t m e n t . ♦
( ( I I n n t t r r o o d d u u c c t t o o r r y y d d e e s s c c r r i i p p t t i i o o n n c c o o u u r r t t e e s s y y o o f f R R M M S S o o t t h h e e b b y y’ ’s s . .) )
seat time
I I b b o o u u g g h h t t m m y y F F e e r r r r a a r r i i 1 19 9 5 5 I I n n t t e e r r ( ( c c h h a a s s s s i i s s 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1) ) i i n n t t h h e e
b b e e g g i i n n n n i i n n g g o o f f 2 2 0 0 1 11 1 . . I I t t s s b b o o d d y y i i s s b b y y G G h h i i a a , , a a n n d d i i t t w w a a s s t t h h e e 1 19 9 5 5 0 0 Turin Show Car and has been c e r t i f i e d b y M a r c e l M a s s i n i .
I I s s t t i i l l l l f f i i n n d d i i t t s s 2 2 , , 3 3 4 41 1- - c c c c
DOHC V12 alloy engine impressive today, let alone what its power was like in 1950.
W W h h e e n n t t h h e e c c a a r r i i s s c c o o l l d d , , e e v v e e r r y y t t h h i i n n g g i i s s a a l l i i t t t t l l e e s s t t i i f f f f, , b b u u t t o o n n c c e e u u p p t t o o t t e e m m p p e e r r a a t t u u r r e e i i t t i i s s a a pleasure to drive, as the mechanics of the car all mesh together very well.
I I l l o o v v e e t t h h e e p p u u r r e e l l i i n n e e s s o o f f t t h h e e c c a a r r. . I I t t ’ ’s s a a c c l l e e a a n n d d e e s s i i g g n n u u n n i i n n t t e e r r r r u u p p t t e e d d b b y y a a n n y y o o v v e e r r- - styled features.
With only 25 examples produced, I’m very happy to own one of the more unknown models in Ferrari history. — Renaat Declerck
December 2017
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