Monterey, :
Kaga Bandoro Auctioneer says: "14.9M dollars, SOLD. Ladies and Gentlemen, you just witnessed a new World Record for a car in an auction, right now. Thank you very much".
http://blumberger.net/jobs/ Most recent record set by us was 1958 California Spider. You can read more about it here.
Record, 16.39MUSD was paid for this Ferrari. We, at Dennison International, are proud to be an important part of this car’s past. How did this car end here?
Let's rewind the clock back to 1956:
1956 was an excellent year for Ferrari in competition, winning both the Sports Car Constructors' Championship and the F1 Drivers' Championship for Juan Manuel Fangio in the Ferrari-Lancia D50.
The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype, Chassis 0666 TR started it all as the prototype and test-bed for the Testa Rossa line, which is arguably the most successful series of sports racing cars in history. Based on the 290MM, the prototype TR was assembled in 1957 featuring the classic V12 engine, de Dion rear axle and right-hand drive.
The car debuted at the Nurburgring 1000kms where Masten Gregory and Olindo Morolli finished in 10th place.
The car was also due to race in 1957 Le Mans race by Stuyart Lewis-Evans and Martino Severi but it didn’t start. Apparently the engine lacked pistons…
As a factory team car, 0666 TR practiced in Sweden and ran the GP of Sweden but didn’t finish due to engine problems. The car was driven by Olivier Gendebiem and Maurice Trintignant.
After receiving pontoon-fender coachwork by Scaglietti, Ferrari campaigned the car in the Venezuelan Grand Prix and was driven by Wolfgang Von Trip and Wolfgang Seidel. Car finished 3rd.
Next was the 1000kms of Buenos Aires and the car finished 2nd.
Last and 3rd factory race was Targa Florio in May 11th, 1958. The car did not finish.
Picture below is the last picture as a team car:
After Targa Florio, the car was purchased by Luigi Chinetti and then the car came to US and became a part of his North American Racing Team, also known as NART.
In June 1958, 0666 TR was sold to Luigi Chinetti Motors of New York, thereby joining the legendary NART Racing Team, which was essentially a factory-backed operation. Following the appearance at Targa Florio, the Testa Rossa was carefully prepared and delivered to Chinetti at Le Mans, fashioned with a telling white-and-blue center stripe. As usual, Chinetti had hired two of the best American drivers he could find— Dan Gurney and Bruce Kessler.
Car was restored to this state:
That year, Le Mans was plagued by a devastating storm that caused great attrition. Bruce Kelller was driving and around 22:00, on lap 64, disaster struck. It was very dark and raining in the, collision with a D-Type Jaguar. 0666 was engulfed in flames. Since water wasn’t available, the fire was put down by filling the whole car with sand as seen from the pictures below.
On March 9, 1959, 0666 TR entered a new phase of its career when it was sold to Rod Carveth, a talented privateer from San Carlos, California.
In May, 1962, 0666 was next sold to Bev Spencer and was actually registered and driven on the street.
The last known race for the Testa Rossa was in May 1964 at an SCCA event at Santa Barbara.
The 0666 was then traded along some Lotus racing parts to late Pete Lovely and suffered a fire damage.
In September 1970, it was purchased by Charles Betz and Fred Peters and was restored.
In 2002, 0666 arrived to Dennison International and we started working on it. Below are some pictures from the restoration.
Yellow voltage regulator:
From earlier pictures, we noticed that Ferrari used a special, yellow voltage regulator. Yellow regulators were modified for Marelli regulators with lower charging voltage to prevent the battery from boiling over.
2006 Pebble Beach:
Between February 2005 and July 2006, 0666 TR was returned to its former splendor, with great care taken to ensure authenticity and exemplary attention to detail in every respect. Regarded by many as the finest Ferrari specialists in the US, the skilled team of Dennison International was given free reign throughout the process to prepare the Testa Rossa for further concourse and vintage racing competition.
In its freshly restored form, the prototype 250 TR made its debut in August 2006 at the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance. Having impressed the judges with its historical significance and remarkable originality, 0666 TR earned a prestigious First in Class, a deserving honor for this legendary car.
NART delivery:
In preparation for the Cavallino Classic in January 2007, the Ferrari was refinished in its 1958 NART Le Mans livery, complete with the patriotic center stripe and large roundels. In this livery, the Testa Rossa took home an FCA Platinum Award as well as the coveted TR Cup.
This remarkable streak continued onto the 2007 Ferrari Club of America Annual Meet in Corning, New York, where the Testa Rossa received the Coppa Bella Macchina award, the Coppa GT award and its second Phil Hill Award. These are the most impressive achievements in FCA competition.
0666 back at the track 2009
TR 0666 is an important piece of Ferrari history continues to live. Thanks to Dennison International, everybody can still enjoy these historic cars in their original splendor.
Specification:
ENGINE NO. 0666 TR
Internal No. GES N 6
2,953 CC Tipo 128 LM SOHC V-12 Engine
Six Weber 38 DCN Carburetors
300 BHP at 7,200 RPM
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
Independent Front Suspension with A-Arms and Coil Springs
De Dion Tube Rear Axle with Transverse Leaf Springs
• The First 250 Testa Rossa Built
• An Exceedingly Rare Scuderia Ferrari Team Car
• Eight-Year International Racing History at Premier Venues
• Driven by the Greatest Names in Motor Sport
• Known, Continuous Ownership History from New
• Multiple-Award-Winning Restoration by Dennison International
• First in Class at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
• Presented in Stunning 1958 Le Mans NART Livery
• Offered with Extensive Documentation, Race Engine and Spares
• Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini
• Fully Certified by Ferrari Classiche
![Click to enlarge image Le_Mans_1958_wreck_2[1].jpg](/media/k2/galleries/28/Le_Mans_1958_wreck_2[1].jpg "Click to enlarge image Le_Mans_1958_wreck_2[1].jpg")
