21 replies to this topic

[Megatron]

We have all seen Dallara, Lola, Minardi, Sauber, and Prost use Ferrari engines in their respective chassis, but how about a Ferrari chassis with alternative power.

There are only two occasions that I can think of, once in 1950 when the mysterious Ferrari/Jaguar entered the GP of Monza and in Sports Cars, the Ferrari 333 was took out of retirement and fitted with Judd power in Grand Am.

Are there any more?

[Frank de Jong]

IIRC some American owners of Ferrari sportscars (probably late 50's) swapped the expensive engine for an American V8.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Technically though, the 333sp is built by Dallara for a company called Mikleauto(sp?)

[ghinzani]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Technically though, the 333sp is built by Dallara for a company called Mikleauto(sp?)

Michelloto??

[Ross Stonefeld]

Yeah that sounds closer

[Vitesse2]

After "retiring" to Argentina, Froilan Gonzalez campaigned a Ferrari with a Chevrolet V8 installed - I've seen the car described as both a 500 and a 625: anyone know any more?

[Kaha]

How about the Lancia-Ferrari D50 and the Ferrari 801?

While the D50 didn't really have a "Ferrari chassi", at least 801 can be considered as a Ferrari chassi with a Lancia engine.

[Michael Müller]

Quite a few Ferrari monoposti had been equipped with V8 big bangers in their later life, mainly as the the original engines had been too expensive to repair or exchange by privateers. The Formula Libre races we had in South America during the 50s had been a perfect playing field for such "bastards".
And in sports cars, I believe the number of conversions is nearly uncountable. Nearly every log of cars which stayed in the US for part of their active life report such conversion. This was logical, most cars after some years of professional racing service found their way into the hands of amateur drivers, very often at bargain prices, and the only way to keep them running was Amercian V8 power.
But talking about new racing cars, I think the 801 example is really the only one, although it can be discussed how much of the chassis was already Ferrari, and how much of the engine still Lancia.

[leegle]

The same thing happened in Australia and New Zealand but only a couple of cars were involved.

[David McKinney]

Didn't Ferrari try a V8 Lancia engine in a Supersqualo in Argentina in January 1956?

[VDP]

Cooper Castellotti, Ferrari squalo engine
Cooper Ferrari in the late 60's a 250 gt engine
Maserati birdcage with ferrari v12 engine used by
A Connell

Robert

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by David McKinney
Didn't Ferrari try a V8 Lancia engine in a Supersqualo in Argentina in January 1956?

Yes, this was Gendebien's car. He finished 5th, but seven laps down. They don't seem to have tried it again ...

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by Kaha
How about the Lancia-Ferrari D50 and the Ferrari 801?

While the D50 didn't really have a "Ferrari chassis", at least 801 can be considered as a Ferrari chassis with a Lancia engine.

The D50 and the "801" were the same car. The D50 chassis built by Scuderia Ferrari for the 1956 season -- 0007 thru 0010 -- were replicas of those built by Scuderia Lancia.

If interested, here is where there is a bit more info on the D50:

http://8w.forix.com/d50.html

[Michael Müller]

Originally posted by VDP
Cooper Castellotti, Ferrari squalo engine
Cooper Ferrari in the late 60's a 250 gt engine
Maserati birdcage with ferrari v12 engine used by
A Connell

Robert

Yes, but we are discussing the other way round ...

[Kaha]

Originally posted by Don Capps


The D50 and the "801" were the same car. The D50 chassis built by Scuderia Ferrari for the 1956 season -- 0007 thru 0010 -- were replicas of those built by Scuderia Lancia.

If interested, here is where there is a bit more info on the D50:

http://8w.forix.com/d50.html

Thanks Don,

Interesting reading.

I have a question, are the chassi numbers in your list the original Lancia chassi numbers or the Ferrari chassi numbers (or are they the same)?

Lancia did indeed keep two D50s. Both still exists today, one at the Lancia museum, and the other at the Biscaretti museum.

[Roger Clark]

Originally posted by Don Capps


The D50 and the "801" were the same car. The D50 chassis built by Scuderia Ferrari for the 1956 season -- 0007 thru 0010 -- were replicas of those built by Scuderia Lancia.

I still wonder about this. By the time Ferrari settled the specification of his 1956 cars at Syracuse they were considerably modified from the Lancia design. The bodywork was changed. The rear suspension was changed, the fuel tanks had moved from the sides to the tail and he had abandoned the use of the engine as a fully stressed chassis member. So what was left of the Lancia chassis? The front suspension, which was modified by the addition of an anti-roll bar, and the frame from the back of the engine to the back of the cockpit.

And, in some cases, the chassis plate and the documentation tht went with it.

[Don Capps]

So do I, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it....

Actually, as Roger (strongly & correctly) suggests, the 801 was best thought of as the D50 Evo -- Scuderia Ferrari carried out a number of modifications and detail changes on the D50 based on its own experience and by 1957 the basic D50 was rather blurred in amongst all the changes that are part and parcel of racing.

Sadly, we know far less about the D50 than we would lile to know since they were unceremoniously scrapped at the end of the 1957 season. And the game of Musical Chassis plates is perhaps far more off-key than I want to think about.

[Paolo]

Michelloto??

Actual spelling is Michelotto.
This is a race shop working sometimes closely with Ferrari. They usually modify touring or sports cars BEFORE Maranello officially steps in (it has happened with 550 ), INSTEAD (F40) or AFTER (333)

[Ali_G]

Wasn't it back in the 80's that Ferrari made a car to compete in Indy Car as a sort of political posturing to get their was with teh FIA.

I couldn't imagine that Ferrari would have built an engine for this.

I know it never ran but this could have been another Ferrari without a Ferrari engine.

Niall

[leegle]

You can bet that had a Ferrari engine it might have been based on the 308 block or something simple like that but it was certain to be a Ferrari engine ;)

[VDP]

I wonder if this engine was the base of the march alfa romeo
who was racing a year later


Robert

[Megatron]

It was a Ferrari engine, to CART requirements, and yes it was the Alfa Romeo turbo that did nothing in 2 1/2 years of racing. One and the same.