STORY OF THE DAY: A Vignale Spider Lost from the Classification

Piero Scotti and Giulio Cantini started the 1952 Mille Miglia in the number 610 Ferrari 225 S Vignale Spider. Their car retired before returning to Brescia, while Giovanni Bracco and Alfonso Rolfo won for Ferrari in the new 250 S. The withdrawal left the 225 S as one of many fast sports cars defeated by the race’s combination of distance, weather and public-road hazards.

Scotti’s entry represented the substantial private Ferrari presence behind the headline factory battle with Mercedes-Benz. The open car offered strong acceleration on the climbs and straights, but the Mille Miglia allowed no recovery from serious mechanical trouble or an incident far from organised pits. Its disappearance from the running was typical of an event in which finishing itself remained an achievement.

The 225 S developed the Colombo V12 to about 2.7 litres while retaining a tubular chassis and front-engine, rear-drive layout. Vignale’s lightweight spider body gave the car low mass and good visibility on twisting roads. Independent front suspension, a live rear axle and drum brakes made it a direct evolutionary link between the 212 Export and Ferrari’s emerging three-litre sports cars.

Scotti was an Italian gentleman driver with extensive sports-car experience, including significant Ferrari appearances in road races and endurance events. Cantini was his Italian co-driver, responsible for navigation and practical assistance across the immense course. Their pairing illustrates how the Mille Miglia united established competitors with indispensable local companions rather than relying solely on factory Grand Prix stars.