412S production numbers?

there was no 412 S !

there have been four 410 Sport in 1955 - 3 spiders and one berlinetta, made for the carrera panamericana. the s/n suffix says "CM" for carrera messicana.

and there was one 412 MI in 1958 - MI für monza-indianapolis. the car was based on the remains of a 1957 335 Sport and raced in US-events.

 

that´s the (one and only) 412 MI chassis 0744MI.
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best looking ? its a tough decision

better looking than a 250 TR ?
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or a 250 TRI ??
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or a 166 MM Touring Barchetta ???
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the best looking spider EVER is the 330 P3/4 i.m.o. !!!
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Add 315 S to that list.

 

Good choice.

I'm partial to the 342 America.

 

its very similar to the non pontoon 250 tr's (which imo is slightly prettier than the pontoon car)

not pretty.
purposeful yes, but too bitsa to be pretty (imo of course)

thats nice, but not in the tr/250p/p4 league.

now we're talking - hubba hubba


512S is rather pleasant as well.

 

Well if you are ready for a real "balls out" ride !!!

In it's early configuration as the 412MI, it had 440+ HP, right around 2K lbs of mass and drum brakes.

A whole lot of go, without a lot of no.

Plus IIRC, the MI has one exciting facet to exuberant driving, if your left elbow drops between the seat backs, it might engage the starter.

 

voila !

to be honest - it´s a 335 S - 0700 - but not an important visible difference.
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Back in the late 70s/early 80s, a friend of mine acquired the 412 MI. I was fortunate to have spent a lot of time with the car, both on the track and just tinkering with it.

If there ever was a car that just plain made a statement, this had to be it. The car was drop-dead gorgeous, arrogant, loud, nasty, intimidating, temperamental, harsh, powerful and unbelievable fast – in other words, WONDERFUL!!!!

Try and imagine a car that weighs about the same as an MG and is not much bigger. Now, add a magnificent 4-liter, 4-cam, 6–carb V-12 that has no flywheel and makes 475 horsepower. Yes- the flywheel was apparently deemed unnecessary. The driveshaft attaches right to the back of the crankshaft ad goes back to a multi-disc clutch pack, the latter having a small ring gear to interface with the starter. The starter is between the seats, well aft in the cockpit. Pulling up (or pushing down - can't remember) on a handbrake type lever engages the starter pinion and then turns on the motor.

When the starter does its job, all hell breaks loose. The engine explodes into life and the combination of crankshaft acceleration and exhaust noise will scare the dickens out of you!! As you blip the throttle, the chronometric tachometer just jumps between 3 and 6 thousand, seemingly in milliseconds.

Crunch the gearbox into first and gently let up the clutch and yep, you stalled it!! No flywheel, remember? OK, start again and this time you give it proper throttle before engaging the clutch. The car shudders as the metal clutch plates engage and you’re off. Shift into second and be aggressive, continuing up through the gears. When you downshift, you MUST double clutch – but you remember that from your track lessons right?

Spending more time with the car, you realize that it has a singular purpose in life – to go as fast as possible – PERIOD!!

Also, consider this – as you’re pushing the car to some ridiculous speed (no speedometer of course), you’re doing so on skinny little racing tires and with a 50 gallon magnesium gas tank about a foot behind you.

Other details – don’t hold me to this but as I recall, the gearbox, in unit with the differential, was mounted transversely in the frame. Pretty sure it was non-synchro. We thought it might be from the Lancia D-50.

So, any comments??????????????

Bob Z.

 

very impressive read of an unforgettable expierience - thank you bob !

 

I was lucky enough to get a ride with Steve Earle for a couple of laps around Laguna Seca the day before the first Monterey Historics in 0744. As you said, Bob, the complete lack of insulation combined with the fierce motor and the howls of the gearbox contrasting with the sensual beauty of the bodywork made for a ride I'll never forget. Thanks, Steve.
Anton

 

It raced at the 2007 Monterey Historic Races in anger. It's also commonly referred to as a 410 S, and it shares its engine with the 412 MI, the Monza/Indianaplis single seat race car:

http://www.*************/Gallery?cmd=viewCarGallery&carID=3172&pgID=1

 

Thanks, Bob, for that very lucid description--it was great. I, too, have been fortunate enough to have a fast ride in that one-of-a-kind car. I remember coming away with black paint on my hand from gripping the sub-frame bar so tightly. And I don't scare easily! Once, Pierre Bardinon asked me what my favorite Ferrari was, and this car was my answer. He then showed me his 315 or 335 (don't remember) as if to say he had one too. But his had a less attractive body. I couldn't help thinking, "close, but no cigar". Is it still my fave? Well, I agree that the P-cars were gorgeous, but somehow the 412MI still gets my vote, maybe because I witnessed that epic, lead-changing-every-lap race with the Scarab at Riverside. Thanks again for the memories, Bob.

 

The car supposedly uses a 315/335 Sport chassis and a 412 MI engine, how can you say there was no 412 S?

I've heard those four '410 S' are split up too, into Sport and Speciale.

 

the car was never called 412 S but 412 MI !

 

Both auctions listed that car as '412 S'