STORY OF THE DAY: Ferrari’s Five-Litre Hope Fails on the Italian Roads

Umberto Maglioli started the 1954 Mille Miglia in the number 545 Ferrari 375 Plus but did not finish. The powerful works entry was expected to challenge Lancia’s D24s, yet it disappeared from the classification as Alberto Ascari won and Vittorio Marzotto’s two-litre Ferrari placed second. The race formed the third round of the World Sportscar Championship.

The retirement exposed the difficulty of applying nearly five litres of power to a course that demanded far more than maximum speed. Maglioli had to manage tyres, brakes and drivetrain components through mountains and towns, and the 375 Plus could not complete the task. Its failure at Brescia preceded much greater success for the model later in the season.

Ferrari created the 375 Plus by enlarging the Lampredi V12 to approximately 4.95 litres and installing it in a strengthened tubular chassis. The front-engined car delivered immense torque through a rear transaxle and used open sports bodywork. It was particularly suited to long fast sections, but its weight and output made narrow roads and repeated braking physically and mechanically severe.

Maglioli was an Italian sports-car specialist introduced to competition by Giovanni Bracco. He became closely associated with Ferrari in major road and endurance races and was especially accomplished on unfamiliar circuits. Later in 1954 he used a 375 Plus to win the Carrera Panamericana, converting the same model’s formidable speed into one of Ferrari’s greatest road-racing victories.