One out of 19 Ferrari 500 TRC Spiders will get on the auction block on August 18, and the seller claims it was the marque’s last vehicle in history to be equipped with a four-cylinder engine. The price is currently estimated at 8-10 million USD.
Having debuted in 1957, the 500 TRC Spider was an evolutionary move forward from the iconic 500 TR model, which had claimed more than 30 track victories in one season. The old car used a four-cylinder engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. The 500 TRC model was developed for private racing teams and had 190 PS (187 hp / 140 kW) under the hood.
This example also took part in historical competitions, but since its owner imported it into the USA less than a year after production, most of its races took place in North America, rather than Europe. The car changed hands and continents often, returning from the United States to Europe and back again, was resprayed in a different color, and even lost its engine in early 1960s.
The engine broke during a race and was considered a write-off. The owner ordered a Ford V8 for the replacement, which was later removed to make room for an aftermarket version of Ferrari’s own 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It then proceeded to participate in shows and competitions, shoveling in awards and prizes.
Eight years ago, Oscar Davis, the current owner and seller of the car, located and fully restored the original engine. The Ferrari 500 TRC is now being sold in its original body paint scheme with all authentic OEM parts bearing serial numbers.