1956 Ferrari 500 TR Spider
- Engine
- Four-cylinder, high-revving configuration

Ferrari 500 TR chassis 0610 MD-TR is the third of only 17 examples produced and an ancestor of the celebrated Testa Rossa lineage. Delivered new in March 1956 to Sicilian nobleman Prince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinelli, it competed in at least ten races in its first year. Passing through Swedish and French ownership over subsequent decades, the car participated in numerous historic events before an Italian collector ran it regularly in Shell Historic Ferrari Challenges. It remains in well-preserved, climate-controlled custody.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €3,717,500 (≈ $4.09M)
- 1956-03-01 → 1957Factory deliveryPrince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinellifull documentation
Italian nobleman and amateur racer who took delivery new and actively campaigned the car in at least ten events during his single year of ownership.
- 1957 → 1959Private saleTore Bjurströmpartial documentation
Swedish importer who purchased the car after factory updates and loaned it to various local drivers for competition over approximately two years.
- 1959 → 1962Private saleHolger Norrmanpartial documentation
Swedish owner who continued to race the car in local events before storing it long-term at a Stockholm garage around 1962.
- 1970 → 1974Private saleMarc Nicolosipartial documentation
Co-founder of the Rétromobile show who refurbished the mechanical components and began campaigning the car at vintage events.
- 1974 → 1978Private saleFrench collector (second French owner)partial documentation
Unnamed France-based owner who held the car briefly before selling it on to Maurice Sauzay.
- 1978 → 1989Private saleMaurice Sauzaypartial documentation
Noted French collector who regularly entered the car in prominent historic motorsport events over roughly eleven years of ownership.
- 1989 → 1994Private saleFrance-based collector (final French caretaker)partial documentation
Unnamed owner based in France who held the car for approximately five years before selling it to an Italian buyer.
- 1994 → 2011Private saleItalian collectorpartial documentation
Retained ownership for seventeen years and regularly took part in Shell Historic Ferrari Challenge rounds at various celebrated circuits across Europe.
- 2011 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Has used the car sparingly and stored it in a climate-controlled environment, keeping it in maintained condition.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCarl-Johan Askolin's scuderiapartial documentation
The car was leased to Askolin's team during the Bjurström period; a practice accident in May 1958 caused significant bodywork damage requiring extensive replacement.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSwedish owner, identity unknown (first of at least two post-Norrman)none documentation
One of at least two unidentified Swedish owners through whom the car passed between approximately 1962 and 1970.
Competition
- 1956Grand Prix Supercortemaggiore1st overall
Described as the model's first significant international victory, held at Monza; specific driver not identified in the prose.
- 1956Giro di SiciliaDriver: Prince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinelli3rd overall
One of ten races entered by Starrabba during his single year of ownership.
- 1956Circuito di SassariDriver: Prince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinelli3rd overall
Another of the ten races entered by Starrabba during his ownership period.
- 1956Circuito di CasertaDriver: Prince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinelli2nd overall
One of at least ten races entered by Starrabba in 1956.
- 1957-05-01Eläintarhanajo1st in class
Entered by one of Bjurström's loaned privateers; specific driver not named.
- 1957-07-01Midnight Sun race1st in class
Contested approximately two months after the Eläintarhanajo, again by an unnamed privateer under Bjurström's arrangement.
- 1958-05-01Helsinki Grand Prix (practice)DNF — practice accident
Significant collision during qualifying while the car was in the hands of Askolin's team; extensive bodywork replacement followed, including a new aluminium nose modelled on the 500 TRC.
- —Mille Miglia StoricaDriver: Maurice Sauzay
One of several historic events regularly attended by Sauzay during his ownership from 1978 to 1989.
- —Targa Florio StoricaDriver: Maurice Sauzay
Entered regularly by Sauzay alongside other vintage events during his tenure.
- —Monaco Historic Grand PrixDriver: Maurice Sauzay
Among the prominent historic events regularly contested by Sauzay between 1978 and 1989.
- —Shell Historic Ferrari ChallengeShell Historic Ferrari Challenge — Spa-Francorchamps
One of multiple venues at which the Italian owner competed between 1994 and 2011.
- —Shell Historic Ferrari ChallengeShell Historic Ferrari Challenge — Le Mans
Attended during the Italian collector's seventeen-year ownership period.
- —Shell Historic Ferrari ChallengeShell Historic Ferrari Challenge — Mugello
Attended during the Italian collector's seventeen-year ownership period.
- —Shell Historic Ferrari ChallengeShell Historic Ferrari Challenge — Nürburgring
Attended during the Italian collector's seventeen-year ownership period.
- —Shell Historic Ferrari ChallengeShell Historic Ferrari Challenge — Pau
Attended during the Italian collector's seventeen-year ownership period.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1957ModificationFerrari factory
Returned to the Ferrari factory and updated to comply with revised Appendix C regulations; changes included a broader windscreen and installation of anchor points for a cover over the passenger area.
- 1958Bodywork
Substantial coachwork replacement following accident damage sustained during Helsinki Grand Prix practice; a new aluminium nose styled after the later 500 TRC was fabricated by a Finnish craftsman working under the guidance of Ferrari factory mechanic Aldo Bertani.
Work supervised by factory mechanic Aldo Bertani.
- 1970Mechanical
General overhaul of mechanical components carried out after Marc Nicolosi acquired the car to recommission it for vintage event use.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.