Ferrari 225 S Spider Vignale

The Ferrari 225 S Spider Vignale, chassis 0194 ET, was completed in spring 1952 and is one of six 225 S Spiders built by Carrozzeria Vignale on the lightweight Gilco Tuboscocca chassis. Its body was designed by Giovanni Michelotti and originally finished in red with brown corduroy upholstery. The 225 S represented the final development of Ferrari’s early competition cars powered by Gioachino Colombo’s V12 before the introduction of the 250 series. The 2,715 cc engine, developed under the direction of Aurelio Lampredi, used three Weber carburettors and produced approximately 210 hp, coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox. While most 225 S examples used a conventional tubular frame, a small number were constructed with the Tuboscocca chassis developed by Gilberto Colombo’s Gilco company. This semi-monocoque tubular structure was designed to increase rigidity while reducing weight. Cars equipped with this chassis carried the ET suffix. Vignale produced both berlinetta and spider bodies for the 225 S. Chassis 0194 ET featured several details typical of Michelotti’s competition designs for Vignale, including three oval openings in each front fender, small rear brake-cooling intakes and a dashboard with two large Jaeger instruments. Scuderia Ferrari retained 0194 ET for the 1952 Mille Miglia, where Piero Scotti and Giulio Cantini started with race number 610 but retired following mechanical problems. Soon afterwards, the car was sold to Anglo-American racing driver Tommy Cole, who repainted it dark blue with a contrasting white bonnet and campaigned it extensively during the remainder of the season. Cole finished 11th overall and fourth in class at the Targa Florio, followed by 15th overall and seventh in class at the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti. At the Daily Mail International Trophy at Boreham, he finished fifth overall and third in class. The car’s strongest result came at the inaugural Goodwood Nine Hours in August 1952. Shared by Cole and Graham Whitehead, 0194 ET finished second overall behind the works Aston Martin DB3 of Peter Collins and Pat Griffith. The following month, Cole finished second overall at the Gran Premio di Bari, behind Chico Landi in another Ferrari 225 S. For the 1953 Mille Miglia, 0194 ET was entered for Ecurie Francorchamps founder Jacques Swaters and Charles de Tornaco. Running as number 556, the Ferrari failed to finish. This was its final known competition appearance in period. Following Tommy Cole’s death at Le Mans in June 1953, the car passed to his family and subsequently to his brother Nigel Cole. In 1962 it was acquired by London Ferrari dealer Dan Margulies and later passed to Peter Gibson, under whose ownership it was restored. Subsequent owners included John Sturgis, David Shute and Peter Sachs. Exported to the United States during the late 1970s, 0194 ET subsequently remained in the same collection for approximately 45 years. Later appearances included the 1988 Mille Miglia Storica, the 1991 Ferrari Club of America National Meet, where it received the Forza Ferrari Award, and the 1992 FF40 International Ferrari Concours in Brussels.