1952 Ferrari Tipo 500 F2 (625 F1) Monoposto
s/n 0210F engine no. 4
Racing Red with Tan Corduroy Interior

For the 1952 Grand Prix Season, Ferrari used their direct experience in the 1951 season to field a full team of Tipo 500 Formula 2 cars to contest both the Constructors and Drivers World Championship Series. Eight such cars were built, and Ferrari easily won the Contructors and Drivers World Championship in both 1952 and 1953. However, for 1954, the Formula 1 displacement cap was reduced from 4.5 liters to 2.5 liters, and consequently, several of the 500 F2 cars were completely rebuilt to 2.5 liters Formula 1 specifications, and were accordingly renamed 625s.

This particular car was one such car. The 8th and last of the 500 Formula 2 cars, the factory build sheets from 1952 indicate that this car this car suffered an engine failure (of the number one connecting rod) while the engine was being broken in at the factory. The crank case was replaced at this time, and the car is currently fitted with motor numbered 4. The car was first raced in June of 1954 in the Roma GP where it was driven by Guido Mancini. It was then converted to a 625 F1 car at the end of the 1954 season. In its initial guise, it was delivered to Antonio Checcachi, the Ferrari dealer in Rome. He displayed the car in his showroom before it passed on to Scuderia Centro Sud of Milan, who had Giorgio Scarlatti drive the car in approximately seven Grand Prix events during the 1955 and 1956 seasons. 

The car ran the 1955 GPs at Naples, Albi, and Syracuse, and in 1956, the GPs at Naples, Syracuse, Monaco, and the N�rburgring (all driven by Scarlatti). The car also ran the GP of Argentina in January of 1957, driven by Alejandro de Tomaso, and the remained in Argentina afterwards. The car was raced in Argentina into the 1960's, and then fell into disuse. Well-known racing automobile enthusiast Alain de Cadenet discovered the car in Argentina in the early 1970's, and purchased it and took it back to England, where it was restored by Greypaul Motors to its 625 F1 specification for a new owner. It was then raced in historic events in the 1980's. It then passed on to well-known American Ferrari enthusiast Sherman Wolf in 1985. Mr. Wolf continued to campaign the car in historic events in the 1980s, during which time the car was cared for by DK Engineering.

The car was comprehensively restored by DK Engineering in the late 1980's, and then found its way to the United States, where it has remained in the hands of several Ferrari collectors. There are many thousands of pounds of invoices from DK Engineering from 1985-1997 showing thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration. Naturally, the car is widely eligible for the most prestigious historic racing events in the world.

The car is in very nice cosmetic condition, with cosmetics done to the high standards required of historically significant vintage race cars. The paintwork was done to high standards and remains in very nice shape, with only two stars noted and no other significant damage. It still presents quite strongly. The suspension and brakes are nicely detailed, while the wheels are excellent. The small amount of metal trim is excellent. The interior is also excellent, with the wonderfully vintage corduroy upholstery on the seat. There is no other upholstery to speak of, and the chassis and mechanical bits are finished in a combination of light grey and polished finishes. The pedals and gearchange are of the beautifully wrought type that characterizes race cars of the period, while the dashboard is beautifully turned aluminum. The gauges are lovely Jaeger items and are in lovely condition.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a widely eligible vintage Formula 1 Ferrari. 
Given its provenance, the car is eligible for the world's most prestigious historic events including the Goodwood Revival, Monaco Historic Races, and Monterey Historics. Additionally, the car was restored to high standards by highly regarded marque experts DK Engineering, and the car has period Formula 1 history and is thoroughly documented with copies of the build sheets from the Ferrari factory, photos of the restoration, and many invoices from the restoration. It is also worth noting that the car represents outstanding value. It is a genuine vintage Ferrari race car, and compared to other competition Ferraris of the period, the car is quite literally a fraction of the price, and even compared to the sister car (s/n 208) which sold for 950,000 Swiss Francs in 2000, the car is an exceptional value.