1957-Ferrari-250 TRC Testa Rossa Recreation

Description

1957/1963 Ferrari 250 TRC Testa Rossa Recreation
s/n 3887, Engine no. 3887
Rosso Corsa with Brown Leather

Prior to the more widely recognized pontoon fendered 12-cylinder 250 Testa Rossa, Ferrari built a series of four-cylinder racing cars that culminated with the 500 TRC, one of the earliest cars to bear the Testa Rossa name. The cars were light and met with good success in the two-litre class, including class wins at Le Mans and the Targa Florio. Legendary California Ferrari dealer and racer John Von Neumann sought to make his two TRC’s more competitive by squeezing the three liter 12-cylinder engine from the 250 into them, creating a pair of marvelously balanced and very quick cars that went on to win a string of major races along the west coast in 1957 and 1958 in the hands of Von Neumann and Richie Ginther.

This particular car is a recreation of the cars he built, employing the shapely 500TRC bodywork and the 3 liter V12 of the 250. The car was built in the 1980’s by the highly regarded Ferrari specialist DK Engineering in the United Kingdom, using a shortened 250GTE chassis as a basis to ensure that the car carries a proper Ferrari serial number with 1963 build date. The car displays superlative attention to detail and craftsmanship with high tensile round and oval tube chassis clothed in a hand-wheeled aluminum body. The car is superbly documented (including original sales brochure) and is one of approximately ten cars that DK Engineering built. It has been fastidiously maintained by professional shops and comes with receipts outlining the work performed.

Cosmetically the car is stunning with high quality paint that is in excellent condition. The trim and accessories are correct and attractive throughout, including the Borrani wire wheels and Marchal headlamps. The alloy body is straight and has excellent gaps. The level of detailing is high and the car is extremely evocative.

The interior is also excellent, trimmed in high quality saddle-colored leather. The instruments period Ferrari items, down to the Jaeger mechanical tachometer, whose non-linear action adds to the feeling of authenticity in the interior. There is also a 3-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel. The remainder of the interior is quite spare, in keeping with the racing spirit of the car, and very tidy throughout.

The engine compartment is equally evocative, with the famous red valve covers and no fewer than six dual choke carburetors. The craftsmanship and preparation of the car are particularly evident here, and the whole engine compartment is extremely clean and tidy. The car has jet hot coated headers. The rear compartment is very space, with matching spare Borrani and polished aluminum fuel tank.

The car operates and performs marvelously, with the racy feel you would expect of a faithful recreation of the 1950s most outstanding racing machines. The exhaust note is marvelously raucous, gear changes mechanical, and acceleration aggressive. A tall final drive ratio is installed such that the car can effortlessly cruise at 110 mph. Even at this speed, the suspension is nicely settled and the car can be steered calmly with one hand! The brakes are effective, and the chassis composed and solid. The seating position is low, the windscreen high, and consequently, the ride is surprisingly free of direct buffeting.

This is a very rare opportunity to acquire an outstanding, high quality replica of an extremely rare Ferrari race car. A bit more unusual than the often-replicated pontoon bodied 250TR, this car has been beautifully executed and is extremely sorted. It is very well documented as well, and will be a pleasure to use on weekend drives or in events. It is titled as a 1963 Ferrari, and emulates a 1957 model, built using Ferrari components, which ensures that this example a likely to be accepted to the premier historic rally events Stateside.