Miguel Sánchez
Just as in the cinema it is always interesting to know who is the main creator for this or that director, in motorsports it is no less juicy to know who certain engineers look at. In this way, analyzing the private collections of certain designers can be most illustrative. In fact, even the brands themselves do something similar by spying on each other. Coming to buy units of models to those who seek to be approved to break them down and analyze them with an inquisitive eye. Thus, today we are going to focus on the career of the American Sterling Edwards.
Known for his active presence in West Coast sports car racing during the XNUMXs, this millionaire belonging to a major steel clan decided to build his own sports car. Something that he started immediately after the Second World War, presenting a prototype called R26 with tubular chassis and V8 engine from Ford. Interesting, but still in need of a more refined design, both visually and mechanically, to be able to reach the series, competing with the models that came from England, Germany and Italy.
For this reason, in 1952 he presented the R62. One of the first vehicles with fiberglass bodies -the arrival of the Corvette C1 was a year away-, although this time it had a chassis taken from the Kaiser Henri J much more suitable for mass production. Scenario that Sterling Edwards wanted to get to. Thinking of his best dreams, unseating the Porsche 356 and Jaguar XK120 in California thanks to the combination of more power - he mounted a Chrysler V8 - and national manufacturing.
However, his adventure followed the same path as that of so many small manufacturers. Choked by lack of supplies and the need to advance a lot of money before starting to receive benefits, if any. With all this, the Edwards sports car was left in something even more testimonial than the kaiser darrin from 1954 also bodied in fiberglass. a pity Then his excellent taste in buying sports cars heralded interesting developments, a fact demonstrated by having been the first owner of this Ferrari 340 MM Spider Vignale, one of the protagonists of the auction that will be held tomorrow, Saturday, May 14, by RM Sotheby's in Monaco.
THE GOLDEN AGE OF FERRARI AT THE MILLE MIGLIA
Although before the Second World War the dominator in the Mille Miglia was Alfa Romeo, after this it was its offspring Ferrari. In this way, a year after assembling his first own model, Enzo Ferrari managed to win a 166 with Clemente Biondetti at the wheel. One of the few successful humble extraction pilots in those years, who repeated the feat in the following edition. After this came four more Ferrari victories until the closing of the test in 1957, after the accident where Alfonso de Portago and ten spectators died.
With all this, the Mille Miglia was one of the races where Ferrari made the most effort to reach the top. In this way, not a few of her racing models were devised for her. Recurrently mounting the huge V12 signed by Aurelio Lampredi. One of the basic engine engineers in the early days of Maranello, characterized by his large naturally aspirated engines compared to the smaller ones of Gioacchino Colombo, often supercharged.
In fact, in the early 4,1s, Ferrari opted for the 340-litre big block designed by Lampredi in its endurance cars. Something well exemplified by the 1952 Mexico destined for the XNUMX Pan-American, of which four units were made, all of them bodied by Vignale with interesting aerodynamic solutions for the time. Like the air channeling on the side to vent the rear brakes. Undoubtedly the model that served as the clearest precedent for the Ferrari 340 MM.
FERRARI 340 MM, A CAR BORN FOR RACING
With so many variants, short series, specifications and other peculiarities, diving into the genealogy of the first Ferraris can be complicated. However, we have as an ally a fundamental clue when it comes to chassis numbers. And it is that during at least its first two decades Ferrari marked with an odd number those destined for road GTs. What could be said their "dealership" cars. While the even figures were reserved for chassis focused on competition.
In this way we can perfectly distinguish which cars were designed by and for the competition with respect to those that, even though they can occasionally enter the circuit, were designed for the majority public. Knowing this, just looking at the number 0350 on the frame of this Ferrari MM 340 gives us sure clues about his intentions. In fact, of the 340 MM only ten units were made. Almost all of them with an excellent track record thanks to the 280CV produced at 6.600rpm for just 850 kilos on the scale.
Of the ten units, four were Pininfarina berlinettas, two Touring Spiders, and four Vignale Spiders. The coachbuilder from Turin founded in 1948 where Giovanni Michelotti was forged as a designer, being behind many unique Ferrari-based pieces. In the case of the 340 MM precisely one of these Vignale was the winner of the 1953 Mille Miglia, being the unit that it's auctioned tomorrow in Monaco a twin. Directly served to the United States, it boasts a track record associated with SCCA racing with Sterling Edwards at the wheel. Pure history of motoring.
Images: RM Sotheby's
