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375 Indy Ferrari at Monza 500


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#1 cabianca

cabianca
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Posted 13 December 2015 - 19:57

In the 1958 Monza Race of Two Worlds, Luigi Chinetti entered a single-seat 375 s/n 0388 for Harry Schell. The car had previously been entered at Indianapolis. Terry O'Neil's new NART book claims that car was fitted with a 4-cam 335 sports car motor for that race. I have never seen any reference to this. However, the car had a 4.5 liter single cam engine when it came to Monza and that same engine when it returned to the states. Since the Indy rules in force limited displacement to 4.2 liters, the question becomes, how was the car allowed to run with the larger displacement.

My theory has always been that since the car was completely non-competitive, the organizers accepted it as presented to have another entrant to add to the meager 12-car field. Is there any written or photographic evidence that the car ever had a 4-cam engine?

 

While on the subject of 0388, there are two theories about the car. One says it was made from scratch, while the other says it was modified from 375 Indy chassis No 1 that Ascari drove at Indy. That chassis had previously had been numbered in the GP series. I lean toward the latter, because chassis No 1 has never turned up. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

 

Many thanks.