Ferrari 375 Plus Carrera Panamericana 1954. Limited edition

Ferrari 375 Plus Panamericana 1954

Ferrari 375 Plus received the new Lampredi V12 engine with displacement enlarged to almost 5-litres. This new tipo 113 was partially based on the 375 MM with its 84 mm of bore and combined 74.5 mm of stroke from the 375 Formula One car. The resulting capacity was 4,954.34 cc (5.0 L; 302.3 cu in).

Most cars could produce 330 PS (243 kW; 325 hp) at 6000 rpm and some even up to 345 PS.[4] This was enough for a top speed of 280 km/h. The engine had a single spark plug per cylinder configuration with two magnetos and was fed by three Weber 46DCF/3 carburettors.

A single camshaft per cylinder bank was standard for the Lampredi V12s, unlike dry sump lubrication adopted for the last of the ‘long-block’ powered models: the 375 Plus and the 410 S. A 4-speed manual or 5-speed manual gearbox was used, mounted en bloc with differential.

Although the wheelbase on the 375 Plus and its predecessor, the 375 MM, was the same at 2,600 mm (102.4 in), the chassis was of a new type 505. Also created of a steel tubes, elliptical in section.

The front suspension was the same as on the previous models, independent with unequal-length wishbones and transverse leaf springs. The rear suspension however received a new de Dion axle, twin radius arms with transverse leaf springs and Houdaille shock absorbers in place of an old live axle with semi-elliptical springs.

New setup greatly improved balance and road-holding. The fuel tank had 190 litres fuel capacity, especially welcomed on long-distance races. Drum brakes were standard all round.

Bodywork was an evolution of the 375 MM Pinin Farina Spyder style with an exception of a bigger fuel tank bulge in the rear. One car, s/n 0478AM, was converted from 375 MM and rebodied by Sutton.

The Ferrari 375 Plus debuted slowly at first, not finishing the Giro di Sicilia nor the Mille Miglia races. José Froilán González and Maurice Trintignant won the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans, for the first time since 1949, ahead of the works Jaguar D-type. The Agadir GP and the Silverstone International were also won by the 375 Plus.

The most significant victory, however, was by Umberto Maglioli at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana. It would also be the last as the race was cancelled next year due to the Le Mans disaster. The 1954 World Sportscar Championship was achieved by Ferrari in due honour of 375 Plus that won two out of six rounds.

The last major victory was at the 1955 1000 km Buenos Aires. That year, the World Sportscar Championship was dominated by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.

The 375 Plus also won many races in both North and South Americas. In 1957-1958 Dan Gurney in 375 Plus scored wins in Paramount Ranch and Palm Springs and a second place in Grand Prix Riverside, part of 1958 United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars.

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History : See wikipedia article