Ferrari Tipo 500
The Ferrari 500 was a Formula 2 racing car, built and used by the Scuderia Ferrari.
1952 changed the conditions under which the World Cup races of the largest single-seater racing series were played. Ferrari responded quickly and let develop Aurelio Lampredi new 4- cylinder engines. The 2- liter version came in the new Ferrari 500 used, a racing vehicle for two years dominated the Formula 2 race. At its debut, the Grand Prix of Syracuse in 1952, occupied four 500s the first four places. 1953 celebrated Mike Hawthorn in France his first victory at a Grand Prix also on a Ferrari 500
The engine was straightforward. The factory motors with double overhead camshaft, contributed up to 180 hp. To obtain a better weight distribution, the engine is further added to the tube frame to the back. The suspension was taken over by Ferrari 375F1. With a wheelbase of 2160 mm, a length of almost four meters and a height of 1050 mm, the 500 with a curb weight of 560 kg was a highly maneuverable single-seater. Alberto Ascari won with the Ferrari 500 twice, in 1952 and 1953, the World Drivers' Championship. Only the private drivers were opponents. However, their 500s were delivered with a speed limit and the engines had significantly less power than the factory cars. Only Juan Manuel Fangio finished end of the season in 1953 with his victory on a Maserati A6GCM the Grand Prix of Italy 's winning streak of the Ferrari 500