Ferrari 125 S

Infobox Automobile
name=Ferrari 125 S
manufacturer=Ferrari
class=Sports car
layout=FR layout
production=1947
2 produced
predecessor=Auto Avio Costruzioni 815
successor=Ferrari 159 S
engine=1.5 L "Colombo 125" V12
designer=Gioacchino Colombo:"See also the 125 F1, a Formula 1 race car sharing the same engine"

The Ferrari 125 S (commonly called the 125 or 125 Sport) was the first vehicle produced and built by the famed Ferrari company of Modena, Italy. Although preceded by Enzo Ferrari's Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 of 1940, the 125 S was the first vehicle to bear the Ferrari name when it debuted on May 11, 1947 at the Piacenza racing circuit. Like the 815, it was a racing sports car, but unlike its Fiat-powered 8-cylinder predecessor, the 125 S had a new V12 engine (the "125") like most Ferrari cars of the following decades. The 125 S was replaced by the 159 S for 1947.

The 125 S used a steel tube-frame chassis [cite web|url=http://www.gilcodesign.com/doc/des/Ferrari125.htm|title=GILCO Ferrari 125 chassis|work=Gilco Design|accessmonthday=August 10 |accessyear=2006] and had a double wishbone suspension with transverse leaf springs in front with a live axle in the rear. Hydraulic power drum brakes were specified front and rear.

The 125 S was powered by Gioacchino Colombo's 1.5 L (1497 cc/91 in³) 60° V12. This engine produced 100 hp (74 kW) at 7,000 rpm with a compression ratio of 8.5:1. It was a dual overhead camshaft design with 2 valves per cylinder and three double-choke Weber 30DCF carburettors.

Examples

No 125 S exists today, except for an exact replica built by Michelotto for Ferrari in 1987. It uses serial number 90125 and engine number 1.

Of the two 125 S cars built in 1947, both were dismantled and parts are thought to have been reused in the production of the Ferrari 159 or 166.

S/n 010I, or 01C, has recently been restored to its original condition. The car contains the chassis of the very first Ferrari.

It is rumored that 01C was rebuilt as 010I, but forensic evidence has not proven this as yet.

Rumours also say 01C was restamped 010I and sold to a customer in 1949 as a new car.

Upon receiving the car, the owner immediately exclaimed "Muletta", or "mule", as he could clearly see his new car was in fact well raced. Ferrari made a new invoice for the car, which included a considerable rebate for being a second hand car.

Still in its 166 Spyder Corsa configuration, the car was sold to Symbolic Motors a few years ago. Close inspection of the chassis and the serial number in particular led to the amazing discovery of an old stamping that could very well read 01C. For many years it was covered by a layer of aluminum, which featured the 010I stamp. It was subsequently sold to its current owner who had the car refitted with a body similar to the factory’s 125 S replica. It made its public debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and was entered as a "Ferrari 125 S". No doubt this car will be the subject of a lot of debate among Ferrari historians and enthusiasts as news has already reached us that the restamp was in fact done to rectify a mistake made. The debate of in regard to the history of this car can be seen on FerrariChat.com, in the vintage section, under Ferrari 125/159/166.

Racing

The 125 S debuted at the Circuito di Piacenza with driver, Franco Cortese, but was unable to finish the race although it showed admirably against the strong Maserati 6CS 1500s.

14 days later the 125 S claimed the first victory for Ferrari at the Grand Prix of Rome on Caracalla, also driven by Cortese. The car had spun a bearing in practice, and was repaired in the shop of Tino Martinoli, who later came to America with the Ferrari Indy car team.

Although it was unable to win the Mille Miglia in 1947 with drivers, Clemente Biondetti and Giuseppe Navone, the 125 S did win six of its 14 races that year.

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