1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider
- Engine
- 2.0L inline-four, naturally aspirated, dual spark plugs, twin magnetos, two twin-choke Weber carburetors
- Colour
- Rosso Corsa (red)
Ferrari 500 Mondial chassis 0406 MD is the second example of the first-series Pinin Farina-bodied spiders, assembled in March 1954 and powered by Aurelio Lampredi's inline-four engine. Sold new to Milan dealer and Scuderia Guastalla principal Franco Cornacchia, it was campaigned by former factory driver Franco Cortese at events including the 1954 Mille Miglia and Coppa della Toscana before passing through Italian and later American ownership. The car survives in race-damaged condition, retaining its original chassis plate and matching-numbers gearbox, and awaits full restoration.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,875,000
- 1954-04-01 → 1955-07-01Factory deliveryFranco Cornacchiafull documentation
Milan-based sports car dealer and head of Scuderia Guastalla; purchased the car directly from Enzo Ferrari and campaigned it in several Italian events. Factory build sheets list Franco Cortese as owner, suggesting the car may have been acquired specifically for Cortese's racing use.
- 1955-07-01 → 1956-07-01Private saleAngelo Benzonipartial documentation
Milan-based owner who actively raced the car in Italian events during 1956, including Monza and the Targa Florio.
- 1956-07-01 →Private saleDomenico Tramontanapartial documentation
Palermo-based co-driver who had raced alongside Benzoni at Monza; acquired the car from Benzoni shortly after that event.
- 1958 →Acquisition unknownAmerican owner who exported the carnone documentation
Car was exported to the United States in 1958; specific identity of the importer or first US owner is not stated.
- → 1962Acquisition unknownR.W. Devereaupartial documentation
San Francisco-based owner from whom the car was sold in 1962.
- 1962 → 1963Private saleHal Rudowpartial documentation
Washington-based owner who raced the spider at Pacific Raceways in late 1962.
- 1963 →Private saleStanley Surridgepartial documentation
Replaced the original engine with an American V-8; the car sustained crash and fire damage during roughly two years of subsequent racing activity.
- 1978 →Private saleWalter Medlinpartial documentation
Long-term custodian who preserved the car in its race-damaged state for roughly 45 years; the car remained largely secluded from the collector Ferrari market during this period.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownEd Nilespartial documentation
Ferrari marque specialist who acquired the car by the early 1970s and subsequently sold it without an engine.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFirst Maryland-based ownernone documentation
One of two successive Maryland owners through whom the car passed briefly after Ed Niles sold it.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSecond Maryland-based ownernone documentation
The second of two consecutive Maryland owners in the chain following Ed Niles.
Competition
- 1954-04-011954 Coppa della ToscanaDriver: Franco Cortese19th overall, 2nd in class
Co-driven by Perruchini; one of the car's earliest recorded competitive outings under Cornacchia's ownership.
- 1954-05-011954 Mille MigliaDriver: Franco Cortese14th overall, 4th in class
Co-driven by Perruchini; the car was subsequently rebodied by Scaglietti after this event.
- 1954-06-011954 Imola Grand Prix (Golden Shell race)Driver: Franco Cortese8th
- 1955-06-011955 Imola Grand PrixDriver: Joao Rezende Dos SantosDNF — retired on formation lap
Car had been repainted white with a tricolor hood stripe by this point; mechanical trouble prevented the car from racing properly.
- 1955-07-011955 Bolzano-Mendola HillclimbDriver: Joao Rezende Dos Santos4th
- 1955-08-011955 Daily Herald International TrophyDriver: Franco CorteseDNF — clutch failure
Held at Oulton Park; retirement came after approximately 10 laps.
- 19561956 Targa FlorioDriver: Angelo BenzoniDNF
Co-driven by Naust; the pair were unable to complete the Sicilian road race.
- 1956-03-011956 Vigorelli TrofeoDriver: Angelo Benzoni6th
Held at Monza.
- 1956-06-011956 Gran Premio SupercortemaggioreDriver: Angelo Benzoni
Held at Monza; co-driven by Domenico Tramontana, who subsequently acquired the car from Benzoni.
- 1962-10-011962 Evergreen TrophyDriver: Hal Rudow
Held at Pacific Raceways; one of the car's first documented competitive appearances in the United States.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1954BodyworkScaglietti
Original Pinin Farina spider coachwork was replaced by new bodywork from Scaglietti, carried out after the 1954 Mille Miglia.
- —Modification
Original Lampredi inline-four engine removed and replaced with an American V-8 unit, a modification common among US owners of the period.
Carried out by or during Stanley Surridge's ownership, sometime after 1963.
- —Repair
Car sustained collision damage and fire damage during racing use, leaving it in a deteriorated state that has not been addressed since.
Occurred within roughly two years of racing activity after the V-8 conversion; the car has remained in this condition for approximately 45 years.
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.