<< Prev Page 2 of 2 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. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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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.