Ferrari 735 LM
Ferrari 735 LM | |
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Ferrari 625 LM |
The Ferrari 735 LM (also known as the 121 LM) was a sports racing car produced by
Development
The Ferrari 735 LM was converted from the 376 S sports car, that contested the Mille Miglia race for the 1955 season. The first example was converted before Mille Miglia, the rest after the race.[3] Most of the specifications remained the same apart for the engine, which received a much bigger displacement and power output.[4]
The 735 LM was developed to compete in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans race, that a year earlier, Ferrari had won with the 375 Plus.[4] With lesser aerodynamics and outdated braking technology compared to the competition, as Enzo Ferrari had firmly believed in engine power to win at racing, the 735 LM with its new 4.4-litre engine, was designed to outpower the competitors. In the practice trial for the 24 Hours race, the 735 LM was the fastest.[5]
Unlike its predecessor, the 735 LM name referred to the displacement of one cylinder, as was the naming convention. The models "LM" suffix invoked the intended race – 24 Hours of Le Mans. Inherited chassis numbers also had an "LM" suffix.[4]
The 4.4-litre iteration was also the final capacity step in the inline-six model lineage. After the
Specifications
The enlarged engine was identified as the Tipo 121, hence the common "121 LM" name of the car.
The tubular steel chassis identified as the Tipo 509 was the same as on the 376 S predecessor. The whole car weighed only 850 kg (1,874 lb) when unladen. The fuel tank had 150-litres capacity.[7]
The front suspension was independent with unequal-length wishbones. Coil springs with hydraulic shock absorbers were also mounted at the front. Suspension at the rear consisted of a
Racing
The first example of the 735 LM series raced in the 1955 Mille Miglia among smaller capacity 376 S and Monza siblings. Eugenio Castellotti entered the race as a privateer, but had to retire due to an engine problems.[8]
For the
Still in 1955, Umberto Maglioli entered the Aosta-Gran San Bernardo hillclimb and scored a first place overall. Later the same year, two cars were entered in the Swedish Grand Prix for sports cars.[10] One finished third, driven by Eugenio Castellotti. The second, entered by Hawthorn, did not start.[13]
After the failed Le Mans and imposition of the capacity caps for the 1956 season, all four cars ended up in the States.
In April 1956, during the Del Monte Trophy in
In 1957, three 735 LMs were entered in the Cuban Grand Prix. Two had retired and one had not arrived at all.[16]
Collectability
Only fours cars were made and all are in the hands of avid Ferrari collectors.[4] The s/n 0546LM was sold in 2017 on RM Sotheby's auction for US$5.72 million.[17]
References
- ^ "Ferrari 121 LM Scaglietti Spyder". ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "1955 Ferrari 735 LM". supercars.net. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Acerbi, Leonardo (2012). Ferrari: All The Cars. Haynes Publishing. pp. 90–91.
- ^ a b c d e "Ferrari 735 LM". auto.ferrari.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "Ferrari 121 LM". supercars.net. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Ferrari 121 LM - Register". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "121 LM (446 S) Spyder Scaglietti". mitorosso.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "1955 - Mille Miglia". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "Le Mans 24 Hours 1955 - Race Results". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d Eaton, Godfrey (1983). Ferrari: The Road And Racing Cars. Haynes Publishing. pp. 172–173.
- ^ "All Results of Ferrari 121 LM". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "1955 - Le Mans". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "121 LM s/n 0532LM". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "121 LM s/n 0558LM". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "121 LM s/n 0546LM". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "121 LM Scaglietti Spyder 0484LM". barchetta.cc. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider by Scaglietti". rmsothebys.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
Bibliography
- Eaton, Godfrey (1983). Ferrari: The Road And Racing Cars. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 0-85429-367-1.
- Acerbi, Leonardo (2012). Ferrari: All The Cars. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84425-581-8.