Ferrari 290 MM Spyder by Scaglietti
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Car producer : |
Ferrari |
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Model: |
290 MM Spyder by Scaglietti |
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Year: |
1956 |
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Type: |
Spyder |
The Ferrari 290 MM was a Ferrari race car produced in 1956. It was developed to compete in the 1956 edition of Mille Miglia, whence the acronym "MM", and produced in four units.
For 1956, at the suggestion of a returning engineer, the legendary Vittorio Jano, Enzo took the decision to revert to his thunderous trademark V-12 engine after developing various four- and six-cylinder Mondials, Monzas, and 118/121 LMs.
Jano and engineer Andrea Fraschetti created an all-new engine, although it followed the principles inaugurated by Aurelio Lampredi, with an integral block and cylinder heads with screwed-in wet liners. The new engine was shorter and wider than the previous Lampredi designs, with considerable effort being put into the combustion chamber design to improve inlet and exhaust valve function. Additionally, two spark plugs per cylinder were fitted, with the net result being a 40 brake horsepower increase over the similarly sized 860 Monza. Engine was a V12 at 60°, derived from the 4.5 liter which was then used in the scuderia's Formula One cars. Displacement was 3490 cm³, for a maximum power of some 320 HP at 7200 rpm, and a maximum speed of 280 km/h.
The car won the 1956 Mille Miglia, raced by Eugenio Castellotti, while another 290 MM, led by Juan Manuel Fangio, arrived fourth. Phil Hill and Maurice Trintignant also won the Swedish Grand Prix of that year, granting Ferrari the overall victory in the World Sportscar Championship. The following year a 290 MM won the 1000 km Buenos Aires.
