1953 FERRARI 250 MILLE MIGLIA BERLINETTA
Chassis no. 0312 MM
Engine no. 0312 MM
Sold for US $7,260,000 Including premium
Bonhams Auction, Monterey, CA. 2014
The Ex-Phil Hill, Bill Devin, Count Vittorio Zanon
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Pinin Farina
*Superb example of marque and model
*A race winner in its debut meeting, driven by Phil Hill
*Front cover car in 'Road & Track' July, 1955, issue
*Feature story Ferrari in 'Road & Track' July, 1965, issue
*Defining Pinin Farina body style launched the Ferrari 250GT line
*Powerful 3-litre three-carburettor V12 engine
THE FERRARI 250 MILLE MIGLIA BERLINETTA
The Ferrari 250 Mille Miglia was tailor-made to compete in frontline long-distance races, following upon the success of the pioneering 3-litre V12-engined 250S Coupe driven by Giovanni Bracco in the 1952 edition of the round-Italy thousand-mile road race. At the 1952 Paris Salon de l'Automobile exhibition, Ferrari showed a more conventional chassis for the new modello 250 3-litre V12-cylinder engine, for which the artistry of Carrozzeria Pinin Farina then created two-seat closed-cabin bodywork with aggressive 'potato-chipper' nose-grille treatment, a muscular, tucked-down tail and panoramic rear window – the defining Ferrari Berlinetta form. The new model was launched at the 1953 Geneva Salon as the Ferrari 250 MM (for Mille Miglia).
It was based upon a longer-wheelbase chassis than the 250 S at 2420 mm (95.3 in), with the Berlinetta version some 50 kg (110 lb) heavier than the sister 850 kg (1,874 lb) open-cockpit Barchetta which accompanied it. The V12 engine's dry sump was omitted for the production car, and four-speed transmission was adopted instead of five-speed. Power output increased to 237bhp (177 kW; 240 PS).
The 250 MMs made their race debut in the early-season 1953 Giro di Sicilia – round-the island – road race in Sicily, driven by wealthy young gentleman-driver Paolo Marzotto. The veteran Clemente Biondetti then drove a Morelli-bodied 250MM Barchetta home fourth in the 1954 Mille Miglia.
In May 1954, 'Road & Track' tested future World Champion Phil Hill's own sister Ferrari 250 MM and recorded 0-60 mph acceleration in just 5.1 seconds, 0-100mph in 13.7. "Never before have I accelerated so rapidly, traveled so fast, or decelerated so suddenly," wrote R&T's Technical Editor.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Here Bonhams is delighted to offer this simply outstanding example of Ferrari's first 3-litre V12-engined Gran Turismo family – launching the line that extended over the following decade to give us the abiding 250 Tour de France, 250 GT Short-Wheelbase and 250 GTO models.
This magnificently-styled, Pinin Farina-bodied, two-seat Berlinetta was sold new to American enthusiast and racer Bill Devin of Fontana, California, in 1953. It was the 17th of 31 Ferrari 250 MMs to be built overall, and the 11th of the 250 MM Pinin Farina Berlinettas, being fitted with their body number '12230'.
Factory records tell us that mechanic Sghedoni completed the car's rear axle assembly on March 2, 1953, ready for fitting. Workshop foreman Amos Franchini signed-off the gearbox on March 13 and on April 14 the car's V12 engine was completed by mechanics Turchi and Zagni, under Franchini's watchful eye. The car's chosen steering box was date-stamped that same day, and on April 15 and 28 the engine was dyno-tested by Storchi and Agnani. On May 5 the chassis frame was readied by Cioni and Nicolini and two days later it was delivered to the Pinin Farina plant in Turin, to be bodied.
On July 1, 1953, '0312 MM' offered here was signed-off as complete, and it was sold through US agent Luigi Chinetti to his customer, Bill Devin. He made his public debut in this inspiringly aggressive-looking new Ferrari at the Sports Car Club of America San Francisco Region's 3rd Annual Members' Madera race meeting on September 20 that year. He promptly finished third in the novice event before handing over '0312 MM' offered here to fast-rising Santa Monica star driver Phil Hill who promptly won the main event there that day. The late, great, Phil Hill would of course go on to win the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship title as a works Ferrari team member in 1961.
Bill Devin subsequently appeared with this Ferrari 250 MM – resplendent in the American white-and-blue racing livery it still retains today – at Stead Air Force Base in October, 1953, while his brother Gene Devin drove it at March AFB that November. In June 1954 the car was advertised for sale in the monthly journal 'Road & Track' and it was snapped-up by Ken Heavlin who ran a luxury car garage at Grosse Point, Michigan. He part-exchanged a Deutsch-Bonnet Panhard for the Ferrari, which he took to Wacky Arnolt's showroom in Chicago. We understand it was then consigned to Ypsilanti, Michigan, dealer Tom Payne who loaned it to the Henry Ford Museum for their annual 'Sports Car in Review' show.
More Info Here: http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21917/lot/6/
Robert Myrick Photography
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