Images: Christian Martin, courtesy of Artcurial
With its outstanding engineering, perfectly sketched lines, charismatic proportions, breathtaking race results, and great drivers, the 335 S perfectly symbolizes Ferrari in the 1950s.
The heart of sporting Italians beats to the rhythm of the Mille Miglia, which was “the greatest race in the world.” In 1956, Ferrari entered a new V12 sports racer with their 4-cylinder cars to contest the event. The new 290 MM featured an overhead-cam, dual-ignition, 340-hp, 3.5-liter V12 engine derived from Ferrari’s Grand Prix single-seaters. The engine powered Eugenio Castellotti to victory.
The 290 MM evolved into the quad-cam 290 S, then into a 3.8-liter 315 S. The final evolution of the line was the 4-liter Tipo 141 335 S. This four-cam, double-ignition, six-carb, 380-hp monster represented the most advanced engineering of its day.
Ferrari chassis 0674 was built as a 315 S Barchetta. After a run in the 1957 Sebring and Mille Miglia, 0674 was returned to the factory and upgraded to 4-liter 335 S specs for the Le Mans 24 Hours race. After Le Mans, the Ferrari went back to the factory again, where the front was modified in the 250 Testa Rossa “pontoon fender” style to help cool the brakes for the Venezuelan Grand Prix.
Venezuela was a battle between Ferrari and Maserati for the World Championship. The 2nd-place finish of Hawthorn-Musso in chassis 0674 played a significant part in winning the title. The Maseratis all retired, clearing the way for Ferrari, who finished 1-2-3-4.
Luigi Chinetti then bought 0674, sending it to Cuba, where, sporting the NART livery of blue with a white stripe, it drove to victory with Masten Gregory and Stirling Moss at the controls. After Cuba, Chinetti rented the car for various races — often with Gaston Andrey and Lance Reventlow as drivers. They had some excellent results, including a victory in the Road America 500 and on Thompson and Watkins Glen circuits.
In 1960, the Ferrari was sold to Robert N. Dusek. Dusek sold the car to Pierre Bardinon, one of the most knowledgeable Ferrari collectors in the world.
Bardinon sent the car to Fantuzzi to be restored to its original, non-pontoon configuration. The pontoon nose was restored for display and accompanied the car.
Despite several lucrative offers, Bardinon refused to sell the 335 S. He saw this car as an essential part of his collection.
A racing car of this caliber is rarely available for purchase. It has a clear and direct history, with no uncertainty and few owners. Such provenance, racing history, and importance make this one of the most significant Ferraris in motorsport history.
Source: Artcurial Motorcars