STORY OF THE DAY: Ferrari’s New Lampredi V12 Meets a Harsh Debut

Luigi Villoresi and Pasquale Cassani started the 1950 Mille Miglia in the number 731 Ferrari 275 S, one of two examples entered by Scuderia Ferrari. The powerful new car did not reach Brescia: contemporary result records classify it as a retirement following an accident. Both works 275 S entries failed to finish, contrasting with Ferrari’s victory in the smaller 195 S.

The race exposed the risks inherent in introducing a substantially more powerful sports car on public roads. The 275 S promised greater speed, but the Mille Miglia demanded stability, reliable transmission components and control across mountain passes, towns and unpredictable surfaces. Villoresi and Cassani’s retirement made the model’s first major appearance a development lesson rather than the success its performance suggested was possible.

The 275 S introduced Aurelio Lampredi’s long-block V12 to Ferrari sports-car competition. Displacing roughly 3.3 litres, it was installed in a short-wheelbase tubular chassis derived from the 166 MM and clothed with Touring barchetta bodywork. Independent front suspension, a live rear axle and drum brakes accompanied a powertrain whose output placed heavy demands on the early chassis and transmission.

Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix and sports-car driver admired for his speed, resilience and long friendship with Alberto Ascari. He joined Ferrari during the marque’s formative years and became one of its senior works drivers. Cassani, also Italian, was an experienced Mille Miglia co-driver whose navigation and roadside assistance were essential in an event still conducted across ordinary roads.