857 S s/n 0203 M

Racing cars, those with licenze plates to drive on roads that participated in races on the circuit as well as on roads like the Mille Miglia and the Carrera Panamericana, or uphill, were and always will be a magnificent symbol of 1950s motoring. Their name, the category they participated in, was Sport and the majority of them were open top cars. 

In those years Enzo Ferrari and his small but highly qualified team of technicians were capable of interpreting the different types of Sport Races participated in, often adapting or modifying the same car depending on the race it was competing in. The story of the 1955 857 S which appears on the cover of Cavallino 262, is a fascinating example. An unpublished and unmissable story of an Ex-Works car that explains the spirit of those heroic years. This very car participated in the racing scenes of the recent film "Ferrari," and it was also once owned by the unfortunate Alfonso de Portago.

 

 

The 857 S Engine

To understand how work was carried out in Maranello to win, it is necessary to remember that this 857 S had three different chassis number, 0584 M - 0578 M - 0203 M, introduced in response to its evolutions over time, both mechanical and in terms of bodywork. The engine displacement also changed radically from one version to the other (the 875 had a displacement of just under 3500cc) originally it had a small straight-four 2000 cc engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. This is the engine with the barrels screwed to the head to eliminate the seals, which won two Formula 1 World Championships with Alberto Ascari and reached an astounding 3428cc on the 875. Many aesthetic changes were also made including the clever idea to paint the front of the car using different colors. The front of the 857 S which aggressively bursts onto the cover of Cavallino 262 is white. Why? It was not because of an aesthetic reason but to immediately recognize which car was entering the pits for refueling and driver change. One of the multitude of brilliant ideas from Maranello and the unforgettable Enzo Ferrari. 

 

 

The Carrozzeria Zagato

Andrea Michele Zagato, current CEO of the third generation famous Atelier founded in Milan in 1919 which moved to Rho after the First World War, explained the reason for the friendly and solid relationship between Enzo Ferrari and his grandfather Ugo Zagato. Inspiration for this exclusive story is a photo that shows the Scuderia Ferrari's 1932 stand in Bologna. Among the partners, in the photo the Zagato logo can be seen right in the center, a sign of the modernity of Ferrari’s vision, who really understood how important they were. Alfa Romeo cars in the years preceding the Second World War which brought the symbol of the Prancing Horse to success around the world, were in fact made by the Milanese Atelier with the lightness technique coming from aeronautics. An original document not to be missed and a real plus for Cavallino issue 262.

Finally, as always, Cavallino brings you the voices of several editorialists, discussing a variety of topics, as well as a full and updated list of Ferrari market values (also of the latest models) compiled by specialists analyzing the values and market trends of different Ferrari cars.

 

 

Read more in Cavallino Magazine issue 262