A worthy contender for the title of "one of the fastest cars ever," for some time, the 1958 Ferrari 250 TRS truly lives up to its name. Issued in 1958, the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is a product of the Ferrari sports division and was in production from 1956 to 1961. This division manufactured roughly forty cars under the same brand name. The Ferrari 250 TRI6 is one such example.
The 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa came into the limelight thanks to Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the company's branch in Italy whose job description was to mainly design and construct outer bodies for the cars. This unique Italian racing car is estimated at a whopping sum of $172,260. Its price fully justifies its rare features and its unbeaten winning streak in races. Ferrari itself is known for creating unbeatable race cars, one of which is The Ferrari 250 Grand Turismo Omologato.
Here's a glimpse into the features of the 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.
The Body Structure Of The 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa was fitted with two-seater spider bodies. This design made it one of the lightest and most aerodynamic structures for a sports car. Its new body design allowed a unique cut-away nose instead of the usual fully closed front end.
The exterior part of this racing car was designed with beautiful body lines that caught the light and gave the car an exotic look. Its body style is known as the Spyder, and its layout includes a front mid-engine and a rear-wheel-drive. A similarly attractive fast car is the McLaren 600LT.
The 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa has a wheelbase that measures 2,350mm (92.15 in) and a full length of 3,959 mm (155.9 in). Its width is estimated at 1,523 mm (60.0 in) and has a total curb weight of 1,760 lbs. Its wheel rims, spoiler, and headlights were all located on the hood.
This ride was equipped with drum brakes on all four wheels as they were considered more productive and reliable in the way they faded compared to newer disc brakes. The front hood was fitted with a huge bulge and air intake, designed to ensure clearance for the vertically oriented carburetors.
A special fin design was placed behind the driver, and this fin easily takes its place as one of the car's best features; its streamline. Ferrari, renowned for designing classic cars like the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, never fails to deliver!
Inside The 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Its superior interior design made the Ferrari 250 a huge eye-catcher in the car market. It was equipped with an open gated shifter and a three-spoke wooden steering wheel. Behind this three-spoke steering wheel was a dashboard equipped with the largest tachometer, with an outstanding value of 8,000 rpm.
The controls and instruments in the car were all designed to entirely focus on the driver, making it easier to navigate, especially during an increase in speed. A bonus addition to this race car's unique features was a pillow placed on the driver's side to enable ample contact with the transmission tunnel.
The 1958 Ferrari Testa Rossa used a tubular steel frame chassis that gained a reputation for its durability. Its headlights were set into pontoon-like fenders that fully encircled each front wheel; this was done to channel cooling air towards the brake drums, thereby reducing the constant issue of heat-related fade. The bodywork on the rear area of the car was more subtle. It included a tapered fairing positioned directly behind the driver's head and two mini brake lights set into vertical fins.
A cylinder was also installed under the hood of the 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. This 12-cylinder V-shaped was infused with an atmospheric unit, with a volume of 3.5 liters and a full capacity of 300 hp; this brings the car's maximum speed to 161 mph.
Brief Racing History
The year 1957 marked a year of massive competitions between Ferrari, Maserati, and Jaguar. The talk of an upgrade in the engine of race cars by FIA, making it a three-liter engine displacement unit, made Ferrari up their game on the then-current 500 Testa Rossa, one of the greatest Ferraris ever made so it would not only remain in the competition but also be able to dominate its competitors.
Chief designer at that time, Carlos Chiti, who was known for his ingenuity, was fully involved in this massive upgrade. The car was constantly modified, and this, in turn, led to the creation of the 1958 model.
The 1958 Ferrari Testa Rossa dominated the World Sportscar Championship and won four out of the six races, which included the famous 24 hours of Le Mans.
Final Thoughts
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The 1958 Ferrari Testa Rossa, initially manufactured to compete in the World Sportscar Championship racing season, is one of Ferrari's most successful projects.