“Nothing can touch this Ferrari if it runs,” Shelby would later say. “It was the best Ferrari I ever drove.”
Almost as special as the 410’s racing pedigree are the meticulous mechanics bonnet. One of the standout ‘big-block’ sports car protoypes of the 1950s, the car was one of two designed to take on the final leg of the World Sports Car championship, the punishing Carrera Panamericana which ran across unforgiving Mexican terrain across five days.
The Ferrari is powered by a 4.9-litre V12, which came from the Superamerica road car produced 400bhp. Featuring a featured Formula 1-style twin-plug ignition for each cylinder and twin-choke Weber 46 DCF carburetors, the resulting power output was unprecedented for a Maranello machine at that time.
The 410 remains in near perfect condition from when it was originally produced, keeping the original chassis, engine and bodywork numbers.
Due to the Carrara Panamericana being cancelled after the 1955 Le Mans disaster, the car was used instead for the 1956 World Sportscar Car championship opening round at Buenos Aires, with Fangio fighting back from an earlier issue to almost hunt down Stirling Moss, before the car failed once more.
The car was subsequently refitted at Modena and then bought by Edgar, who shipped it to the US for his exploits with Shelby, Hill and others.
0598 CM produced unprecedented power for a Ferrari of its era
RM Sotheby's
Ferrari appeared to take great pride and enjoyment from the car’s second life, and sent telegrams to Edgar confirming as much. These are included in the file which comes from the car.
The car was sold on to Le Mans winner and American Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti, before going through the hands of several collectors.
The Ferrari 410 will got up for auction with RM Sothebys at Monterey, in its August 18–20 event – the lot and others at the auction can be viewed via the link here.