Trying to identify this 156/85 Ferrari F1 | FerrariChat

Trying to identify this 156/85 Ferrari F1

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by bigodino, Jul 26, 2021.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    12,632
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
    I don’t know if this is the correct forum section to pose my question, but since most chassis number buffs and serious dealers are here, I might as well.

    I’m trying to identify a monoposto Ferrari, the 1985 156/85 pictured in this post. I saw it at the Motor Show Essen, Germany in 1987.

    At the time I wasn’t really into chassis numbers yet, so I didn’t search for it in the cockpit. The car has the race number 28, but the font is incorrect. It also has the name of Gerhard Berger on it, even though he never raced the 156/85. But this was 1987 and the organizers of the show probably tried to make the car more current, or maybe an actual 1987 Ferrari F1 car was promised, but didn’t materialize.

    Anyway, I’ve never been able to identify it, so I thought to give it a try by elimination. There were no less than 9 examples produced, chassis 078 through 086. That seems quite a lot for one season.

    Over the years I’ve spotted a couple of these 156/85 cars (081, 082, 083 and 086) and so I can eliminate a few already.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    12,632
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
    086 is certainly not it. It has the late version nose where the service panels are located differently. The Essen car has the early position of the service panels: two on top of the nose. The later versions like 086 have three service panels: two located on the sides of the nose and one on top of the nose.

    086 also has the later style side pods, but I’m not sure if these were interchangeable?


    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  3. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    12,632
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
  4. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    12,632
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
    I can’t find any pictures of 084 and 085, but since 083 and 086 have the later version nose, I assume 084 and 085 do as well. If anyone could confirm?
     
  5. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    12,632
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
    080 did not survive according to Ferraris Online (Michael Sheehan). If true, we can eliminate 080 as a candidate.
     
  6. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    12,632
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
    I haven’t seen 078 and 079 myself but did find pictures of them. 078 has the earliest style side pods and still do today. The 1987 Essen Motor Show car has the second style side pods where the holes are more squared off. So I don’t think it’s 078.

    picture of 078 courtesy of Ferraris Online (Mike Sheehan), 2019.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    12,632
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
    Which leaves 079, 081 and 082. I’ve seen 081 and 082 and they are both good candidates for the Essen car. 079 is in the video below.

    However, on 079 and 082 the kill switch decal (blue triangle) is positioned differently. On 081 it is positioned the same as the Essen car. I know it’s a small detail, but why would anyone reposition these decals over the years?

    So any guesses which car it could be? 081?

    video of 079:


    081:

    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    082: Image Unavailable, Please Login
     

Share This Page