1958 Ferrari 412 S Scaglietti Spyder - Images, Specifications and Information

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In the 1950s the V12 engines used by Ferrari were either of the Colombo (short block) or Lampredi (long block) design, with only a few, but very notable exceptions. Both these single overhead camshaft engines had proven successful in sportscar and GT-racing, securing wins in all major races. Halfway through the decade a new breed of much more capable machines was developed, headlined by the incredibly powerful quad-cam V8 engined Maserati 450S. At the same time, Ferrari's engineering department was reinforced by the legendary Vittorio Jano, who had come over from Lancia together with the D50 Formula 1 cars. Under his guidance young designers Vittorio Bellentani, Alberto Massimino and Andrea Fraschetti set about to develop the Colombo V12 engine for the 1956 season.

In the previous season, Ferrari mainly fielded four and six cylinder engined racers, which especially in large displacement form proved hopelessly unreliable. That's why the Jano's men turned back to the trusted V12 configuration for their new engine. Instead of giving them time to properly develop the engines, Ferrari insisted on fielding their work as soon as it was completed. First to roll out of the workshop were four 290 MMs, powered by a long stroke version of the 3-litre Colombo engine. These 3.5 litre engined machines proved immediately successful, clinching both the Swedish Grand Prix and the Mille Miglia in 1956. For Le Mans, Ferrari again turned to the four cylinder machines and all four 290 MMs were sold to privateers in the fall of 1956.

Replacing the 290 MM for 1957 was an altogether more sophisticated machine. While the 3.5 litre displacement was retained, the Type 130 V12 fitted in the '290 S' sported brand new heads with twin camshafts. Breathing through six massive twin-choke Weber carburetors, the new engine produced a commendable 330 bhp. This was still well shy of the 400 bhp claimed for Maserati's 450S. Like its predecessors, the 290 S used a tubular ladder frame with independent front suspension, a DeDion rear axle, drum brakes and a sleak Scaglietti designed two-seater body. Two of these machines lined up for the season opener at Buenos Aires in January, but neither car managed to make it to the finish. Back in Italy, the quad-cam engines were further increased in size to 3.8 litre (a unitary displacement of 315 cc).

For the next world championship round at Sebring in March, a brand new 315 S was constructed and one of the cars raced in Argentina was upgraded to the latest 360 bhp spec. All three cars were fielded, but could do no better than fourth, sixth and seventh in a race dominated by Juan Manuel Fangio in his 450S. For the all important Mille Miglia another 315 S was constructed and the first 290 / 315 S received more work still and it had its engine increased to just over 4 litre; it was now known as the 335 S. Ferrari also constructed a brand new 390 bhp 335 S to join the two 315 S racers and the one 290 / 315 / 335 S in the four car Works team. At the hands of Alfonso de Portago, the latter suffered a terrible fatal crash, which effectively ended the Mille Miglia. The two 3.8 litre cars were more successful, finishing first and second. It was the brief highlight of these advanced machines' Works career as starting in 1958 sports cars were limited to three litre.

The surviving machines were sold to the United States, where sports car racing was still free of displacement limits. Together with the also obsolete in Europe Maserati 450S, the hugely powerful Ferraris successfully fought off the mighty V8-engined American Specials. Ferrari had not quite given up on the twin-cam design and had a three litre car constructed, which was raced at Spa in 1958. It was not noticeably faster than the single-cam 250 TR and less reliable, so it was ditched after one race. Ferrari also had the four litre engine from De Portago's destroyed car laying around and found a good purpose for it in June of 1958; the second Race of Two Worlds at Monza. Run under Indy regulations, this event was intended to pitch the best the States had to offer against Europe's finest. While the Americans all brought well honed machines to the banked Monza track, the Europeans had to improvise.

Initially Ferrari was not interested in competing in the event at all as they really had no car, which came close to the 4.2 litre Indy Roadsters. Pressure from the Italian Automobile Club persuaded Ferrari to enter the race. Two cars were prepared; one with the 335 S V12 engine and one closely related to the V6-engined Dino F1 cars of the day. The V12 engine was further refined and thanks to an increased compression ratio, power was upped to 415 bhp. The engine was fitted in a chassis fairly similar to that of the 335 S, but clothed in a single seater body. Following Ferrari's single seater naming policy the purpose built racer was known as the 412 MI (four litre, 12 cylinder, Monza Indianapolis). Even though its drivers, Mike Hawthorn in particular, loathed the 412 MI's handling characteristics, it was the first European car to match the Americans for speed, breaking spokes and shredding tires in the process. Eventually the car finished a commendable third behind two American specials.

The success of the quad-cam Ferraris in the United States inspired Ferrari to build another two cars. One was a standard 335 S and was sold to Luigi Chinetti late in 1958. For the second car, the Monza Indianapolis car was stripped of its engine. Remember, this was the same engine as used in the first 290 S raced in January of 1957. The V12's compression was further raised to an incredible 9.9:1, hiking the power to 440 bhp. It was fitted in the chassis used at Spa earlier in the year with the experimental three litre engine. The packaged was completely with a beautiful two-seater body constructed in Scaglietti's workshop. Dubbed the 412 S and the most powerful front-engined Ferrari sportscar ever, it was entrusted to the company's West Coast representative John von Neumann. He had Phil Hill and Richie Ginther race it and when the car held together, it proved victorious, scoring two wins in 1959. In the fall of that year, the car was sent back to Ferrari and fitted with disc brakes. It was raced well into the 1960s, recording several podium finishes.

After the unique machine's retirement it passed through the hands of some of America's finest collectors like Jack Nethercutt and Bill Harrah. In the 1970s, it was owned for a brief period by the Monterey Historic Automobile Races founder Steve Earle, who used in the inaugural event in 1974. In the 1990s the car was subjected to a complete restoration, bringing it back to its late 1950s glory. Since then the car was both used in historic races and entered in several concours d'elegance. In 2005, the car was offered in the high profile Sotheby's Auction in Maranello, but an offer of �7.1 million was not enough to convince the owner to let it go. A year later RM Auctions grabbed headlines by claiming the 412 S could break the Ferrari auction record. It found a new owner for $5.61 million, which was considerably less than offered just over a year earlier. Fortunately the new owner is an avid racer and he skillfully piloted his newest purchase during the 2007 Monterey Historics, where it is pictured above.