Ferrari 375MM

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Ferrari 375MM
Ferrari 375MM

The Ferrari 375 MM (MM = Mille Miglia ) was a racing car , which at the Scuderia Ferrari was developed and used from 1953 to 1964 in sports car racing.

Development and technology

The mechanics of the 375MM were based on the 340MM , which was also used in 1953. One of the 23 vehicles built was bodyworked by Vignale , the other 22 came from Pininfarina ; either as a Spider or as a Berlinetta . In contrast to the 340MM, the 375MM had a longer wheelbase and a synchronized four-speed gearbox. The engines were also different. Optionally, there were 4,5- or 4,6-liter Lampredi - V12 engines .

The engine was a V-12 cylinder derived from the Formula 1 engine with a cylinder bank angle of 60 °. However, he received a different crankshaft which reduced the stroke to 68 mm. At the same time, the cylinder bore was enlarged to 84 mm, so that the displacement was 4523 cm³. The type designation 375 indicates the displacement of the individual cylinders. The engine had an overhead camshaft per cylinder bank and two valves per cylinder. It developed 340 hp (250 kW) at 7000 rpm. The power was transmitted to the rear axle via a four-speed gearbox and a cardan shaft. According to the factory, the maximum speed of the car was 289 km / h.

At the front, the wheels were suspended from two wishbones of different lengths with transverse leaf springs, Houdaille lever shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. At the rear it was a rigid axle, also with leaf springs and Houdaill dampers. The wheelbase was 2600 mm, the front track 1325 mm, rear 1320 mm. The body was built on a tubular steel frame. The car weighed 900 kg when dry or without supplies, coolant, etc. The tank held 180 liters of fuel.

Racing history

The 375MM made its racing debut in June 1953 at the 12-hour race in Reims . In 1953 , the endurance race on the Circuit de Reims-Gueux was not part of the sports car world championship that was newly introduced that year . Nevertheless, it was able to come up with a strong field. Scuderia reported a 375MM with chassis number 0322AM that Piero Carini and Umberto Maglioli drove. In the race, the vehicle was disqualified after a mistake during the refueling stop.

The second race brought the first victory. In the 24-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps , Scuderia reported three 375MM. Luigi Villoresi and Alberto Ascari piloted the 0320AM chassis; the 0322AM chassis, disqualified in Reims, was driven this time by Giuseppe Farina and Mike Hawthorn , while Carini and Maglioli switched to the 0318AM chassis. Of the three Ferraris, two failed. Chassis 0320AM had clutch damage; Carini and Maglioli were stopped by broken valves. The third car won the race by a large margin. After a driving time of 24 hours, Farina and Hawthorn had a lead of 18 laps at the finish on the Jaguar C-Type reported by the Ecurie Lizard , driven by James Scott-Douglas and Guy Gale . On August 30th the ADAC 1000 km race took place on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring for the first time . Under the eyes of the German President Theodor Heuss, Ascari / Farina won on a 375MM. After the Scuderia did not take part in the Tourist Trophy , the Carrera Panamericana had to bring the decision in the world championship, as Ferrari was only two points ahead of Jaguar in the standings.

As in the previous year, the Ferrari dealer Franco Corrnachia led the operation. The race claimed nine lives, including the two Ferrari drivers Stagnoli and Scotuzzi, who had an accident after a flat tire. It ended with a triple victory for Lancia and their D24 , in the order Juan Manuel Fangio ahead of Piero Taruffi and Eugenio Castellotti . The two private drivers Guido Mancini and Fabrizio Serena di Lapigio , who drove a 375MM, secured the Scuderia the first title of a sports car world champion with fourth place overall.

In 1953 the Scuderia contested the 12-hour race of Casablanca with the 375MM , which ended with a victory for Giuseppe Farina and Piero Scotti . It was the last factory use with a 375MM.

After this race the remaining chassis were sold. Jim Kimberly drove with chassis 0364AM from victory to victory in the US American sports car championship in 1954 and Phil Hill finished second overall in the Carrera Panamericana on the chassis 0286AM reported by Allen Guiberson, together with partner Richie Ginther . The two Argentines Carlos Najurieta and César Rivero also finished second in the 1955 1000 km race in Buenos Aires .

In the 1950s, the 375MM was a popular and successful vehicle, especially in races in North America. A total of 56 racing victories were achieved with this type of Ferrari sports car. The last time a 375MM was used in a sports car race in the United States was in 1964.

literature

  • Pino Casamassima: Storia della Scuderia Ferrari. Nada Editore, Vimodrome 1998, ISBN 88-7911-179-5 .
  • Peter Braun / Gregor Schulz: The great Ferrari manual. Heel, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-501-8 .

Web links

Commons : Ferrari 375MM  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Ferrari website. Accessed April 22, 2020.
  2. ↑ 1953 Reims 12-hour race
  3. ↑ 1953 Spa 24-hour race
  4. ↑ Dziedzic, Hörner, Kistler, Braun, Ferrari Racing Cars and Prototypes, page 24, Ferrari World, autumn 1998
  5. ↑ 1953 Casablanca 12-hour race