Ferrari is one of the biggest automobile brands in the world. The Italian brand has a rich legacy of producing some great historic cars as well as some modern-day marvels.

Speaking of great historic cars, the Ferrari 375 Plus is one name that stands out. Not only is the Ferrari 375 Plus extremely rare, but it is also arguably one of the most popular sports cars of all time. Produced in 1954, the 375 Plus is a sports legend that competed internationally, winning many major races, including 24 Hours of Le Mans, Carrera Panamericana, 1000 km of Buenos Aires, Agadir GP, and Silverstone.

Here's what makes Ferrari 375 Plus the rarest Ferrari of all time.

A Special Car

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The Ferrari 375 Plus is indeed a very special car. The retro race-car looks unreal, and not only is it the rarest Ferrari, but also one of the rarest cars in the world. The 375 Plus boasted the potent Lampredi V12 engine, with displacement enlarged to almost 5 liters. This new Tipo 113 was inspired by the classic Ferrari 375 MM model and partially inspired by the 375 Formula One car. This hybrid marriage of the two retro monsters created a whole new beast in the form of the 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus. This classic car's engine could generate a capacity of 4,954.34 cc. Furthermore, it could generate up to 325 horsepower at 6000 rpm. As a result, the 375 Plus was able to fire up to speeds of around 280 kmph - an impeccable feat back in the mid-fifties. The engine came with a single spark plug per cylinder configuration with twin magnets. It was fed by three Weber-46 DCF/3 carburetors.

The makers decided to improvise this rare Ferrari monster with the new Lampredi V12 engine, which came standard with a single camshaft per cylinder bank. The previous long-block powered 375 and 410S models used to come with dry slump lubrication. The Ferrari 375 Plus retained the same wheelbase as the Ferrari 375 MM - at 102.4 inches, but the chassis was the new type 505. This new chassis was made out of steel tubes, and was elliptical in section. The makers retained the same front suspension as its predecessors. The rear suspension came with a new de Dion axle, twin radius arms (with transverse leaf springs) and Houdaille shock absorbers. The 375 Plus was built with a new set-up, which was greatly improved to offer stable balance, and road handling at higher speeds. The supercar boasted a super capacity for fuel at 190 litres, making it a reliable friend for long races. The Ferrari 375 Plus featured standard drum brakes all around, and the shifting was smooth and easy, through either a 4 speed, or a 5 speed manual gearbox. The bodywork on this race monster was largely attributed to the 375 MM Pinin Farina Spyder, which was the base inspiration saving the exceptionally larger fuel tank bulge that the 375 Plus showed off. One of the only eight ever built Ferrari 375 Plus Cars, was a 375 MM convert, which was re-bodied by Sutton.

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The Royal Cabriolet

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The 375 Plus earned the unique distinction of having a unique, two-seater Cabriolet built on its chassis - the S/n 0488AM. Making of this Cabriolet was masterfully commissioned to Pinin Farina by King Leopold III of Belgium, himself. The finished product was a beautifully crafted hybrid of class and elegance. The majestic grand-tourer looked ravishing. It came with an imposing front portion that sported an impeccably wide front grille. This special road-going Cabriolet was a left hand drive, with covered headlamps, and was completed in the year 1955. The exteriors were smoothly done with black over ivory finishing, while the interiors were mostly all-leather. It was an incredible-looking beast that was also repainted red at one point in its history.

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Racing History

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The Ferrari 375 Plus got off to a rather forgettable start in its racing career, unable to finish the Giro Di Sicilia or the Mille Miglia races. However, in 1954, Jose Froilan Gonzalez and Maurice Trintignant drove the 375 Plus to a historical victory at the 24 Hours Le Mans. The car went on to win the Agadir GP, and the Silverstone International too. The biggest win for the car, however, came as the car won the Umberto Magliolis 1954 Carrera Panamericana. It also turned out to be the last year for the race, which was cancelled from the next year, following the Le Mans disaster. The 1954 World Sportscar Championship was rewarded to Ferrari in due honour of the Ferrari 375 Plus that won two out of the six rounds. The last major victory for the car came at the 1955 1000 km Buenos Aires race. The Ferrari 375 also won several races in North and South America.

The Ferrari 375 Plus is a perfect and almost unaffordable collectible today. Only 8 of these cars were ever built, and it has an extremely formidable racing history, making this monster one of the most adored cars in the world. The S/n 0384 AM Ferrari works car from the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and Silverstone was sold by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed Sale auction for 10.7 million pounds. Another one of these rare beauties is part of Ralph Lauren's collection since 1990.

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