Ferrari 290MM
The Ferrari 290MM was a racing sports car, the Scuderia Ferrari in 1956 and 1957 began in sports car racing.
History of development
Mid -1950s grew Scuderia by the high-volume sports cars by Maserati in the World Championship considerable competition. In this environment, the 290MM was born. 1955, the Scuderia had taken the motor sports department of Lancia, Vittorio Jano so returned to Ferrari.
Externally resembled the 290MM, the body Scaglietti built, the Ferrari 860 Monza. Distinguish could the two types only by the air intakes on the front hood and the two eye-catching exhaust pipes of 290MM. Technically, the two vehicles, however, differed significantly, even if the front suspension and the De - Dion rear axle were taken from the 860 Monza. The main difference was the engine. The 860 Monza had the 3.5-liter 4- cylinder in-line engine from the 857S, 290MM, however, came in a V12 engine for use.
Vittorio Jano had developed a new 3.5 -liter unit, which / min 320 bhp at 7300 rpm. Jano had in the construction of the two concepts of Aurelio Lampredi and Gioacchino Colombo - combined with an engine - long or short block.
1956 were four pieces of 290MM built. With the new race car, the Scuderia once again secured the World Sportscar Championship. His name " MM" was the 290 by the victory of Eugenio Castellotti at the Mille Miglia 1956 also 1957 290MM were used, this came the 290S -. A single piece - and the two four- camshaft "Miracle Car" (also the 290S had a Four overhead camshafts ) 315S and 335s.
Racing applications
His first race was the Giro di Sicilia 1956 290MM where Eugenio Castellotti and Luigi Musso drove the 0616MM 0606MM and chassis. Castel Lotti, who went into the race with co-driver Giuseppe Rota, fell by damage to the power transmission and Luigi Musso failed due to a faulty electrical system. The first victory was a 290MM Castellotti early as the second application at all, the Mille Miglia, it. In the 1000 km race at the Nürburgring, it was only enough for third place in the overall standings. The victory went to the factory Maserati 300S by Piero Taruffi and Harry Schell. Also the factory Ferrari 860 Monza, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Eugenio Castellotti, was after more than seven hours of driving faster than the 290MM by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien.
At the conclusion of the World Sportscar Championship in 1956, Scuderia with the vehicle celebrated the victory at the 1000 km race of Kristianstad. The two 290MM led to a Ferrari quintuple. Behind the two 290MM Hill / Trintignant and Collins / von Trips was followed by a work -860 Monza and a reported out of doors Bjurström Ferrari 750 Monza and another Bjurstörm - car; a Ferrari 375MM, driven by Allan Borgefors and Carl- Gunnar Lund hammer.
The end of 1956 were issued till all but one chassis to privateer teams. The Scuderia Temple Buell won in 1957 with the chassis 0626 and the riders Castellotti, Musso and Masten Gregory in the 1000 km race from Buenos Aires. The last victory with this vehicle type Stirling Moss celebrated in December 1957 with the Temple Buell chassis at the Bahamas Speed Week.
The last time was driven in a race a 290MM in 1964 at a United States Road Racing Championship race at Mid-Ohio. The American racing driver James Flynn had previously acquired some years the chassis 0626 and was in the race 18th in the overall standings.