1957 Ferrari 625 TRC Spider
Ferrari
has always had a famed bloodline of racecars, but few hold the amount
of clout of the 1957 625 TRC Spider. There were only two of this famed
roadster ever built, chassis 0680 MDTR and 0672 MDTR. If you so happen
to have a large chunk of money laying around, you can own a piece of
racing history in the form of chassis 0680 MDTR, as RM Auctions has just
listed it for their 2012 auction in Monaco.
In
August of 1957, this Ferrari and its owner, Johnny von Neumann, ventured
to Austria, Germany and took 1st place in its class in just its first
time on the track. In its second race, at Laguna Seca, the 625 TRC took
2nd place. In all of the 11 races it ran in the 1957 to 1958 season,
this Ferrari took 1st place three times, and landed in second or third
place four times. It continued on to have a prolific career, even in
vintage races all the way up to 2011 Montery Historic Races.
UPDATE 0516/2012:
The 1957 Ferrari 625 TRC Spider was sold in Monaco for a staggering
€5,040,000, or about $6.4 million, a record for this particular model.
This was the first time in 30 years that this model was available for
auction and it is one of the only two models ever built.
Read the full review after the jump.
Exterior
In 1983, the vehicle’s original grey finish was changed
over to red with the number “211” painted in white. While this classic
Ferrari is a racecar at heart, on the outside it simply looks like a
piece of artwork. Swooping front and rear fenders help it cut through
the air and give it an awesome appearance.
There are
scoops and heat extractors galore on this Ferrari. On the hood there is a
large functional hood scoop. Just behind the front wheels are a set of
heat extractors. Above each rear wheel is a single air scoop that likely
ducts downward toward the brakes to keep them cool.
The
last owner also fitted the Ferrari with a full-length windscreen. You
also have a set of wire rims on the corners wrapped in performance
rubber.
Interior
1957 Ferrari 625 TRC Spider
On the inside, it is a racecar. You are getting a pair
of tan upholstered seats, a steering wheel, and the important gauges.
There’s no audio, A/C, cruise control, navigation, etc. However, you do
get a pretty stylish chrome shifter.
Engine and Drivetrain
1957 Ferrari 625 TRC Spider
Under the hood, there is one of the smallest V-12
engines found in a vehicle. This 2,953 cc V-12 engine cranks out 320
horsepower, while six Weber
40 DCN twin-choke carbs feed it fuel. The engine is in operating
condition and seems to be race ready, as the owner takes meticulous care
of it cosmetically and mechanically. In fact, the engine was just
recently rebuilt and a new set of cylinder heads installed.
Throwing the power to the rear wheels is a four-speed transmission, a 9-inch rear differential, and a live rear axle.
Suspension and Brakes
The front suspension is independent with unequal length
A-arms to help in the twisties. The front end also has an anti-roll bar.
The rear suspension has parallel trailing arms and coil springs.
The brake system is a four-wheel finned drum brake system with steel
liners. The complete brake system was overhauled in 2011 and carbon
fiber shoe linings were installed.
Price
1957 Ferrari 625 TRC Spider
Ahhh, now it’s time for the real kicker. The 1957
Ferrari 625 TRC Spider is expected to fetch between €3,000,0000 and
€3,700,0000 ($3,976,195 to $4,903,974). This means you had better bring
your big boy wallet if you’re planning on going home with this machine.
Competition
There’s no competition to speak of for the Ferrari 625
TRC Spider, as this is an extremely limited production racecar with a
tradition that dates from the 1950s through 2011. Nothing even comes
close to it.
Conclusion
The car is absolutely gorgeous and the drivetrain is
flat out amazing. Where else can you get a 2,953 cc V-12 engine that
cranks out 320 horsepower? Nowhere, that’s where. There are some serious
issues with the car though. The first issue is that it is not original,
but RM auctions states that installing the factory four-cylinder
drivetrain is simple, then you just need to repaint it. The other issue
is that $4 million plus price tag.
This car is
obviously strictly for the vintage auto racer, if it’s to be bought as
is. With a few tens of thousands dollars, a true collector could bring
the car back to its original condition, but that’s not really an
economical option.
Basically, if you are looking for a
turnkey vintage racing car and you have $4 million to spend, then this
is your car. If you are a collector looking for something original for
your collection, it’s best if to save your cash for something else.
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