1957 Ferrari 500 TRC

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC
SOLD: $3,080,000 Including Commission
Gooding Auction, Pebble Beach, CA. 2013
Sports racer, Body by after Scaglietti; S/N 0690MDTR; Engine # 1586/62E; Yellow, Black stripe and front wheel coves/Black leather; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,080,000. -- RHD. Chrome spoke Borranis, Engelbert tires, full width windshield, Plexiglas hood scoop, driver's head fairing, covered Marchal headlights -- 3rd in class driven by Siro Sbraci in the 1957 Mille Miglia, crashed by Armando Garcia Cifuentes in the 1958 Cuba GP and confiscated by the authorities. Sold to Colin Crabbe in 1985 less body, engine and other parts. Restored by Neil Twyman with new body and outside plug V-12. Good older restoration to attractive touring and historic racing condition. -- There is not a lot of 0690MDTR left in this car although buyers even of 7-figure Ferraris seem to pay less and less attention to niggling details like that. It would have been a decent value at $2 million.
◾One of Only 19 Examples Originally Produced
◾Among the Most Beautiful Racing Cars Ever Designed
◾3rd in Class and 12th Overall in the 1957 Mille Miglia
Chassis 0690 MDTR would be one of the 17 500 TRCs built by the factory and made available for customers. Shipped to Scaglietti in April of 1957, the chassis would be completed in its entirety in May and would be the 12th in the series.

Completed in early May, 0690 MDTR wouldn't be long waiting for its first competitive outing. Entered in the Coppa Consuma hill climb, and driven by Siro Sbraci, the car would go on to finish 8th overall and 6th within its class.

Just a week later, 0690 MDTR would take part in the Mille Miglia painted in an overall red livery with a blue stripe. Entered in the race with number 453 and under Idriz sponsorship, Sbraci would go on to an incredible 12th place overall finish and 3rd in class! Having had his fun with the car, Sbraci would return the car to the factory to prepare it for sale.

A wealthy cigar-maker from Havana, Cuba by the name of Armando Garcia Cifuentes would end up purchasing the Ferrari and would have the vehicle shipped to the island nation in order to take part in the Cuban Grand Prix held in February of 1958.

The Cuban Grand Prix would take place amidst a lot of national turmoil. Cuban rebels would be involved in a number of attacks throughout the country at the time. The rebels would also look to any opportunity for the government to heed their demands. Therefore, the 1958 race would become infamous for the unfortunate mixture of sport and politics.

The race would become infamous for being the event in which Juan Manuel Fangio would be taken prisoner and held for ransom. The event would take place right after the Argentinean had set the fastest lap in qualifying in a Maserati 300S. But while it would be the kidnapping of Fangio for which the race would be remembered, the event would become infamous as a result of 0690 MDTR.

More Info Here:

Robert Myrick Photography