1952 Ferrari 225 Sport Spider by Vignale

The 225 S should be on every Ferrarista’s shopping list: it has 12 cylinders, a five-speed gearbox, egg-crate grille, and it makes all the right noises

by Simon Kidston

Developed in a period of triumph and passion, Ferrari’s big-engine sports racers from the mid-1950s personify the company’s racing legend.

Tipo 340 Tuboscocca chassis 0160ED was assembled on January 10, 1952, the only 225 Sport fitted with double parallel springs on the rear axle, probably to handle the 40-gallon fuel tank. It was prepared for the XXII Tour of Sicily with Piero Taruffi and Mario Vandelli as number 443—the number it wears today. After posting fastest time of the day, it DNF’d with a blown head gasket.

It was then sold to Count Bruno Sterzi who raced in the XIV Aosta Gran San Bernardo hill climb, and later tested by Ascari at Imola before being sold to Mrs. Piano in Buenos Aires in late 1952.

0160ED spent the next 20 years in Argentina, winning numerous races and changing colors to blue, back to red, then to blue again. Australian Kerry Manolas bought 0160ED in 1982, restored it, and painted it red again. Manolas showed it at...