One to Buy: ex- Carlos Enrique Diaz Saenz Valiente 1953 Ferrari 375 Mille Miglia
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Three years after Enzo Ferrari had begun to build cars under his own name, a second type of V12 engine joined the existing Giacchino Colombo unit that had served the company so well since the spring of 1947.
Similarly, the new big block Aurelio Lampredi power unit was another 60° V12, but unlike Colombo’s design, it could be stretched to a far larger capacity and therefore developed considerably more power.
Initially conceived for use in Grand Prix racing, the Lampredi motor also found a home in Ferrari’s flagship sports racing and road cars of the 1950s.
A 4.5-litre ‘375’ iteration of the Lampredi engine made its sports car debut at the 1953 Reims 12 Hours, after which Ferrari built a batch of 375 Mille Miglias between late ‘53 and early ‘55. Most of these were destined for a life of competition, but a good number were commissioned by VIP customers as the ultimate road cars of their day.
Chassis 0374 AM, currently on offer with Fisken’s, was a Pinin Farina-bodied Spyder originally delivered to the Argentine shooting world champion and Olympic silver medallist, Carlos Enrique Diaz Saenz Valiente.
Between 1954 and ‘57, the handsomely configured Ferrari (originally painted the Argentine national racing colours of blue and yellow) went on to have a spectacular career in South America.
Enrique Diaz Saenz Valiente was crowned Argentine National Champion with 0374 AM in 1954. New owner Cesar Rivero went on to repeat the feat after a successful 1955 campaign.
Today, chassis 074 AM is offered in spectacular condition fresh from an exacting restoration at the Ferrari Classiche department in Italy.
