Under the Hood- Ferrari 500

With the 90th anniversary of the Scuderia Ferrari being earlier this week, and being marked unfortunately by the accident between Leclerc and Vettel in the Brazilian Grand Prix, I’m going to focus on them with this Under the Hood. This car pictured is one of Enzo’s first F1 cars- the 500. In 1952, the F1 championship was run to F2 specifications to allow more cars to enter. Enzo developed this car specifically for this class. Indeed, in 1952 and 1953 Ferrari had the only specifically designed car. The car was also used from 1954 to 1956 with a 2.5L 625 engine rather than the original one.

In 1952, Ferrari won every race, and Alberto Ascari won all bar one, which he was absent from due to commitments at the Indianapolis 500, which was won by Piero Taruffi. In 1953, Ferrari won all bar one race, with Ascari retiring and Juan Fangio winning for Maserati from the three other Ferraris in 2nd, 3rd and 4th. However, Ferrari’s wins were slightly more spread out with Mike Hawthorn and Nino Farina also winning at France and Germany respectively.

Ferrari was never quite quick enough again until 1958 and while Hawthorn occasionally won at later times, as well as Maurice Trignitant taking the Monaco Grand Prix, the championships rained down for Maserati and Mercedes-Benz. This car, despite not being the Ascari car, is still an immaculate throwback to a past time where men were men and death could be lurking around the next corner.