Tag Archives: Daytona

Leading From The Front – Ferrari 550 Maranello

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In 1996 the Ferrari 550 Maranello saw the return of a model with a motor in the front to the top of the Ferrari range for the first time, since the much loved Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB4, in 20 years.

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This top end vehicle was powered by a 485 hp twin cam 48 valve V12.

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Featuring a tubular steel chassis the 550 Maranello was clothed with an aluminium body.

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Capable of reaching 60 mph from rest in just 4.2 seconds the F550 could cover 402 meters in 12.5 seconds and had a top speed of 199 mph.

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The 550 Maranello was also used in sports car racing by several private entrants including Prodrive who built 10 vehicles for themselves and BMS Scuderia Italia. Victories included a Class win at Le Mans for Prodrive in 2003 and the FIA GT Championship for BMS Scuderia Italia in 2004.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s front engine Ferrari Friday edition of ‘Gettin a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now🙂

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Not available in the USA – Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer !

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Friday time for some more Marranello V12 vibes.

Just 387 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB’s were made from 1973 to 1976 with the model continuing in production first in 512BB and then 512 BBi guise until 1984.

Designed to replace the front engine Daytona and rival the technically more complex Lambourghini Muira with its transverse V12 mounted behind the driver, the 365 GT4 BB features a 180 degree V12 developed from the 60 degree V12 Daytona, not a boxer as the model name would suggest, mounted longitudinally behind the driver.

None of the 365 GT4 BB’s were originally sold in America by Ferrari as Enzo would not sanction the cost of federalisation, though a few are now in US ownership.

With it’s 344 prancing horses pulling at maximum capacity it is thought the 365 GT4 BB was capable of over 185 mph.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s 70’s edition of ‘Gettin a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow for some 1950’s Girl Power and an OSCA. Don’t forget to come back now !

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2 miles a minute – 1905 Darracq 200hp

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Using the profits from the sale of his Gladiator cycle factory, Alexandre Darracq founded Automobiles Darracq S.A.in 1896.

In 1905 he built a 200hp V8 specifically for setting Land Speed Records.

Straight out of the box Victor Hemery set an LSR on the V8 Darracq at 109 mph at Aries in France.

The Darracq was then shipped to Ormond – Daytona where Hemery’s belligerent behaviour did not go down well with officials so Louis Chevrolet was drafted in to drive the car to a 1 mile petrol powered LSR of 117.65 mph only 10 mph slower than Frank Marriott on his Stanley Steamer ! Finally Victor Demogeot set a 2 mile LSR beating the Stanley Steamer with an average speed of 122.5 mph becoming the first vehicle to cover 2 miles in less than 1 minute.

Sir Algernon Lee Guiness of the famous Brewing company became the next owner of the Darracq and he used it to set many records in the UK and France until 1909.

The car then fell into the hands of someone who scrapped the axles for no particularly obvious reason and somehow Sir Algernon retrieved the remaining car which was kept stored until 1956 when his widow sold the car to Gerald Firkins who recreated the vehicle as we see it today.

When the pistons were replaced it was found that the engine volume was 25400 cc / 1495.1 cui not 22.5 litres as had been thought for nearly 100 years !

Mark Walker purchased the vehicle in 2006 and has campaigned it regularly in hill climbs and races ever since. Notice anything missing from the front axle ? This vehicle has never had brakes acting on the front wheels yet still gets driven competitively in the rain !

Despite having no front brakes, or reverse gear, a rear axle recreated from a drawing in a 90 year old book and being well known for spitting flames the Darracq is road legal and Mark drives it to and from competitive events.

Hope you have enjoyed todays Edwardian edition of Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres, looking forward to Ferrari Friday when I’ll be presenting a Ferrari that allegedly served time as a mini van on the dark side of the moon ! Don’t forget to come back now !

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