This is my first post, though I have followed the forum for a long time. Please bear with me.
I have always been interested in the old Italian grand prix cars that ended up in New Zealand in the 1950s. Especially the Ferrari 375 Louis Rosier sold to the Roycrofts. Here, in New Zealand, it is still believed by many that this was the famous 'muletto' that won the British and German Grand Prix in 1951. A couple of recent publications have stated this. The story goes that before the German Grand Prix the 'muletto's' single plug engine was changed to a twin plug version. It was then fitted with the new 'camelli' body for the Italian Grand Prix where Villoresi drove the car. The 'muletto' was then sold to Louis Rosier in 1952, who thought he was buying an almost new car. The Ferrari, now with a sportscar body, then made it to New Zealand in 1955, purchased by Ron Roycroft's father.
I wrote to the publications, querying this storyline and pointing out that there is a photo showing the 'muletto' in its original form in the pits at the Italian Grand Prix in 1951. The car was driven briefly by Chico Landi in the race. So the 'muletto' couldn't be the car Rosier purchased.
To help with this, I was wondering if any forum members had or knows of an image showing the exhaust primaries coming out of the engine of Ascari's 1951 German Grand Prix 375. This would indicate whether it had a single or twin plug engine. In all the photos online or in books I've seen, the shadow cast by the spray guard makes it almost impossible to tell.
I've also wondered, when the car was sold back to European owners, was it as the British an German Grand Prix winner? Surely the value of the car would have been different if it had had a lesser pedigree.
Thank you. Allan Morris
