52 replies to this topic

[Writer2]

I have a question: In 1949/1950, Ferrari built a monoposto 212, (2.7 litres).  Why? It did not fit into any of the F1/F2 capacity limits.

[Sterzo]

It seems the 2.0 engine could be bored out, as Colombo mentions working on a 2562 version intended for the 212 Export road car and racing use (p89 of Origins of the Ferrari Legend).

 

The Temporada series was not, of course, run to F1 or F2. Laiseca's book "The Argentine Temporada Motor Races 1950 to 1960" lists the winning Ferraris in two series, 49/50 and 1951, as 2.0 s/c. In a way, it's strange if they didn't bore out the blocks to give more power and make the cars more saleable.

[Writer2]

I'm just completing my book on early Ferrari F1/F2/FL cars and my last area of "Discovery" is what happened to the Tipo 375 F1 cars of 1950/51.  As far as I can see, there were seven total built.  4(?) of them became Indycars for the 1952 Indianapolis 500.  They had slightly different engine displacements, longer chassis. Kendall Merritt, who has worked on F1 chassis number 3, which became Indycar chassis number 4, tells me that the Indycar chassis was lengthened by welded on extensions to the old F1 chassis, they were not newly built chassis.

Bearing this in mind, I now believe chassis number 1 of 1950 became chassis 010 Thinwall Special of 1952 onwards. The dates of races match.  1950 F1 chassis number 2  was sold to Chico Landi.  1951 F1/03 became Indycar chassis number 4, for Howard Keck. F1 number 4 became ? Apparently, Indycar chassis number 5 is in the Indianapolis museum. Number 6 became an Indycar? F1 chassis number 7 was sold to Louis Rosier.

Can anyone add anything more? Particularly which F1 cars were re-numbered to what? as Indycars.