Ferrari 500 TR expected to make $2.1 million at Gooding auction in Arizona January 20 and 21 at the Scottsdale Fashion Square

Images copyright and courtesy Gooding & Company. Photo by Pawel Litwinski.

Though Ferrari in the 1950s is usually associated with sophisticated V-12 engines, it was a straight-four that contributed greatly to the three world titles Maranello won in four years. That 1,985cc four-cylinder is under the hood of the 1954 Ferrari 500 TR that will cross the block at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction next month. This was the first car to bear the Testa Rossa name; it referred to the newly designed cylinder head, which was painted red. (The 500, in line with Ferrari practice, refers to the displacement of each cylinder, in cubic centimeters.) Other upgrades over its predecessor, the 500 Mondial, included coil springs over semi-elliptics, a dual-disc clutch and an all-synchronized four-speed gearbox. Nearly all of the 500 TRs were built by Scaglietti.

The example Gooding is selling is chassis number 0650 MTDR, which had an extensive racing campaign in the United States. Its first (and fourth) owner was John von Neumann; it was also raced by Bruce Kessler and Pete Lovely. It was raced at all the big-name tracks, Laguna Seca, Riverside, Pomona, Lime Rock, Palm Springs and Paramount among them. It was entered in more than 60 races, and finished all but a handful. Its original engine blew up in 1959, at which point it was replaced with the 500 TR engine of 0614 (that car, incidentally, then received a Chevrolet V-8).

In beautiful condition, and with an enviable competition history, the 500 TR is expected to bring $2.1 million to $2.6 million. Gooding’s Scottsdale Auction will take place January 20 and 21 at the Scottsdale Fashion Square.