Description
The Ferrari 735 S Spider Monza was one of the rarest and most experimental sports racing Ferraris of the early 1950s. Built in 1953, it was part of the celebrated “Monza” series, which were lightweight racing barchettas designed specifically for endurance road races and international sports car competitions. The 735 S carried Ferrari’s pursuit of ever more powerful engines into new territory, as it was fitted with a massive four-cylinder unit developed by Aurelio Lampredi.
The engine was a 4.4-liter inline-four, an enlarged version of the Lampredi design that had already powered Ferrari’s successful Formula 2 and sports racers earlier in the decade. This huge displacement for a four-cylinder engine produced immense torque and around 330 horsepower, which was extraordinary for the time. The choice of a four-cylinder over a V12 was unusual but reflected Ferrari’s strategy of creating lighter, simpler engines that delivered a strong punch in racing categories.
The chassis was derived from Ferrari’s established tubular frame designs, and the bodywork was crafted in barchetta (little boat) style by Carrozzeria Vignale. The 735 S Spider Monza featured clean, low-slung lines, with an open two-seat cockpit, simple fenders, and purposeful proportions. Like other Monza-series Ferraris, its design emphasized lightness and aerodynamics, allowing it to exploit the power of its large four-cylinder engine on long straights and winding roads alike.
The car was entered in important races such as the Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but its career was very short-lived. It debuted at the 1953 Mille Miglia, where the immense power of the four-cylinder engine showed promise, but mechanical problems soon surfaced. The engine’s size and stress proved difficult to manage, leading to reliability issues that limited the car’s competitiveness. As a result, Ferrari quickly turned its focus to refining smaller-displacement four-cylinders, such as the 500 Mondial, and returned to developing V12-powered sports cars for its most ambitious racing campaigns.
Only a single example of the Ferrari 735 S Spider Monza was produced, making it one of the rarest Ferraris ever built. Despite its short and somewhat troubled racing career, it remains historically significant as an experiment in extreme engine design and as part of Ferrari’s constant search for racing dominance in the 1950s. Today, the car stands as a fascinating reminder of Ferrari’s willingness to innovate boldly, even if only a handful of projects like the 735 S saw the light of day. Its rarity, unique engineering, and place in Ferrari’s experimental history make it a prized collector’s item and an important chapter in the marque’s story.