Image Unavailable, Please Login I found another pic of 0310MM with number 8 that looks like to the same place than the post #2022 (27 March 1955, Coupe de vitesse de l’USA, Montlhéry)
Dear Dinosaur followers, 70 years ago today the following assembly data page (ADS) for my old car (500 Mondial S2 0556(stamped0446)/MD was dated. This is the first page of documentation I have. It reflects the tipo 509 five speed transaxle serial #30 installed. Best regards, Robert Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Fantastic doc and fantastic car ! The shape of the body that will soon be fitted on the frame is timeless !
Dear Dinosaur followers, At the risk of repeating myself and for the information of those not familiar with the history of my old car, I shall provide a quick overview of the first days of its life. The first Ferrari with Serial 0446MD, completed in July 1954, was the second 735 Sport (chassis type 501, motor type 735, transaxle type 501) originally owned and raced by François Picard of Nice, France. It is distinguishable by two cowl mounted air scuttles unique to that car alone. In the spring of 1955 Picard traded his 735 Sport back to the factory towards a new 500 Mondial Series II. The original 0446MD was renumbered with the serial number 0556MD for an as yet unconfirmed reason, although it is generally thought to be tax or carnet related. The second Ferrari with serial number 0446MD was completed in May 1955. I refer to this car as 0556(0446) representing first the sequence number of its actual date of manufacture (which is the number given to the renumbered original 0446 as noted above) and second, the actual chassis number, even though previously used. This newer car fits all of the qualifications of a 500 Mondial Series II: chassis type 510, motor type 111, 5 speed transaxle type 509. It was painted light blue, or French racing blue in keeping with the then practice of racing in your country colors, and it had red plastico upholstery for the headrest, the seats, cockpit trim, and the dashboard covering. It was fitted with two driving lights. Best regards, Robert Chassis stamp on my old car: Image Unavailable, Please Login Chassis stamps on the 735 Sport, obvious attempt at grinding off the original 0446/MD Image Unavailable, Please Login
Dear Dinosaur followers, The next document reflects that the car was reintroduced for tuning on the 3rd of Aprll 1955 but was not dated (perhaps not typed) until the 16th. The next several shots are of the car in the race on 4/15/55 entitled Gran Prix de 24 Heures de Paris, Montlhery, or Bol d’Or. At some point Francois Picard’s co-driver Paul Maret “ran out of road” and damaged the right front suspension and incurred some body damage to the right front fender headlight area resulting in a DNF. This occurred sometime between the 3rd and 6th hour of the event after standing 3rd overall at the three hour point, and Maret sustained a broken hand as a result. Best regards, Robert Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Many thanks for posting this very interesting stuff. In this video, we can see your car at Monlthéry : https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=557368521353084
Spelling errors: François Picard, not Françoise which is female. Archive Maurice Louche not Lauche. He is very helpful solved an enigma of two confused cars for me once, thanks to a photo he had.
" Dear Dinosaur followers, At the risk of repeating myself and for the information of those not familiar with the history of my old car, I shall provide a quick overview of the first days of its life. The first Ferrari with Serial 0446MD, completed in July 1954, was the second 735 Sport (chassis type 501, motor type 735, transaxle type 501) originally owned and raced by François Picard of Nice, France. It is distinguishable by two cowl mounted air scuttles unique to that car alone. In the spring of 1955 Picard traded his 735 Sport back to the factory towards a new 500 Mondial Series II. The original 0446MD was renumbered with the serial number 0556MD for an as yet unconfirmed reason, although it is generally thought to be tax or carnet related. The second Ferrari with serial number 0446MD was completed in May 1955. I refer to this car as 0556(0446) representing first the sequence number of its actual date of manufacture (which is the number given to the renumbered original 0446 as noted above) and second, the actual chassis number, even though previously used. This newer car fits all of the qualifications of a 500 Mondial Series II: chassis type 510, motor type 111, 5 speed transaxle type 509. It was painted light blue, or French racing blue in keeping with the then practice of racing in your country colors, and it had red plastico upholstery for the headrest, the seats, cockpit trim, and the dashboard covering. It was fitted with two driving lights. Best regards, Robert" What spelling mistake? Regards, Alberto
Dear Admiral, Alberto, I was not referring to your texts but to the captions of photos 2,3 and 4 in post 2081 Thank you for sourcing these, I have been to Monthlery many times since the 80's, often for the Grand Prix de l'age d'Or vintage racing weekend and even raced there in Formula Ford once so it is special to see. One time back then I walked the entire old road course, 90% of which has not been used for races since the seventies. Here a map showing the complete course. Since the seventies they turn at the 2 ponts hairpin and after two corners; la ferme, le Faye and a chicane they rejoin the oval.
Image Unavailable, Please Login 17 April 1955 Coupes de Paris, Montlhéry, France Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login #27 375 Sport Scaglietti Spyder 2 Alfonso de Portago 4th #29 750 Monza Scaglietti Spyder 0508M François Picard 3rd #30 750 Monza Scaglietti Spyder 0514M Luigi Piotti 5th #28 750 Monza Scaglietti Spyder 0440MD ? Jean Lucas DNS ? Winner : #44 Gordini T16 André Pilette
de Portago drove Rosier's 375 sportscar which was built on an ex-F1 chassis with central-seat bodywork. The car went to Ron Roycroft in 1956. I have this as chassis 375 / 6.
As discussed before, chassis numbers on (ex) F1 cars are always tricky. Please have a look at this site Nürburgring, 29 Jul 1951 « Formula 1 (1948-1953)
This 375 and its sister car first appeared at the 1951 Italian GP, driven by Villoresi and Ascari. The AC Milano offered bonus money for new car designs. Presumably the two cars were numbered 1 for Ascari's and 2 for Villoresi's in order to qualify for the bonus. Ferrari Classiche restored the Ascari 375 several years ago and declared it as having chassis no 5 and I assume engine no 5. Despite the document, I think it is likely the car in question is chassis no 6 and engine no 6.
"Carrozzeria sport Posti N. 2 comp. conducente." Comp. must b e compreso = including - two seats including driver - wonder how the passenger seat looked like.
Supposedly, the passenger seat from the Rosier 375. Removed by the Roycrofts when it was converted back to a single-seater. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login 20 April-1 May 1955, Turin Show, Italy Image Unavailable, Please Login 375 MM Ghia Coupé speciale 0476AM in salmon pink over anthracite grey with a two-tone salmon/black interior. Image Unavailable, Please Login 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta speciale 0490AM in grigio chiaro with nero roof, Pelle naturale.
On april 17th, the day of the Coupe de Paris, the Trento-Bondone hillclimb took place. It was still a mostly regional event at this point, but I have two unidentified Ferraris there : Randaccio with a Sport 3-liter (presumably the same car he drove at the Torricelle), and Pizzaga with a Sport 2-liter. They finished way down the order, behind a bunch of Fiat and Lancia GTs (Randaccio 9th o/a).
