One of the 1950s Ferrari iconic race cars by Scaglietti

Iconic Car As we know that since beginning the Italian prancing horse logoed premium car manufacturer produces a lot of racing cars. And one of them is the Ferrari 121 LM (also known as the Ferrari 735 LM). It was a racing car produced by Ferrari in 1955, and was converted from the Ferrari 376 S sports car was participated of the Mille Miglia racing event for the 1955 season.

The Ferrari 121 LM was specifically developed to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1955 converted from the Ferrari 376 S sports car and bodied by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. (Picture from: Italianways)

The Ferrari 121 LM sports car was specifically developed to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1955, while a year earlier, Ferrari had won with the Ferrari 375 Plus. At that time the Maranello-based car manufacturer made those sports cars in limited numbers of only 4 units. The first example was converted before Mille Miglia, the rest after the race. Most of the specifications remained the same apart for the engine, which received a much bigger displacement and power output.

The Ferrari 121 LM driven by Eugenio Castellotti while speeding at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1955 at the Circuit de la Sarthe. (Picture from: Wallpaperup)

Unlike its predecessor, the Ferrari 121 LM name referred to the displacement of one cylinder, as was the naming convention. The models 'LM' suffix invoked of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the intended to be the racing event participated by those cars. Inherited chassis numbers also had an 'LM' suffix.

The Ferrari 121 LM name referred to the displacement of one cylinder, as was the naming convention, while its 'LM' suffix invoked of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the intended to be the racing event participated by those cars. (Picture from: Italianways)

The car body and chassis similar to that from the Ferrari Mondial Series II with lesser aerodynamics and outdated braking technology than the competition, as Enzo Ferrari had firmly believed in engine power to win at racing, meanwhile all the work is done by Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Modenna.

The Ferrari 121 LM is known as a single-seater race car which has a shrouded-cockpit coupled with the tiny perspex wind deflector and a shrouded roll hoop behind the RHD steering setup. (Picture from: Italianways)

As the result, the Ferrari 121 LM powered by an Aurelio Lampredi-designed inline-6, 4,4 liter engine called Tipo 121, and was created as a larger displacement evolution to the engines used in the Ferrari Monza race cars of the 1950s.

The Ferrari 121 LM powered by an Aurelio Lampredi-designed inline-6, 4,4 liter engine called Tipo 121. (Picture from: Italianways)

Speed, speed, and more speed was the aim for this racing sports car as its four-cylinder engine produced 360 hp and as the results, it recorded as the fastest with a top speed of 181 mph on a straight during the practice trial for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1955 race at the Circuit de la Sarthe. 

Unfortunately, all three 121 LMs had to withdraw from the race early, due to their tires being worn and unfit to support the model’s power, and left Sir Stirling Moss, the British driver at the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR finished at first, while the prancing horse only finished at third place with the Ferrari 376 S.

The 1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider is just one of four LMs built and only one of two cars converted from the 118 LM by the factory. (Picture from: Italianways)

The 4.4-litre iteration was also the final capacity step in the inline-six model lineage. After the Le Mans disaster (the worst accident in motorsport ever, causing 84 deaths and leaving 120 people hurt), the new race regulations forced a 2.5-litre cap, so Ferrari returned to the 625-engined Monza models for the 1956 season. Ferrari would also never return to the inline-six configuration and focused instead on a new V6 Dino engine.

Its four-cylinder engine produced 360 hp and as the results, it recorded as the fastest with a top speed of 181 mph on a straight during the practice trial for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race at the Circuit de la Sarthe. (Picture from: Italianways)

After leaving the Scuderia Ferrari, the car found its new owner named William Doheny, CEO of Superior Oil, who restored the car after the tragic accident that claimed the life of racing driver Ernie McAfee in 1956. The 1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider was only one of four LMs made and only one of the two cars converted of the Ferrari 118 LM by the prancing horse sports car breeder.

In the following years, the Ferrari 121 LM remained alive under Doheny ownership and competed in the historic first race at Monterey in 1974 and continued to appear at various other racing events and shows with subsequent owner Bill Ziering until 1997.

As an iconic Ferrari race car, it is not surprising that when presented at an annual automotive event such the Monterey Car Week 2017 then, there're a lot of eyes staring to its iconic figure. At that time the car was on display and then auction by RM Sotheby's. As quoted of CarThrottle, the mentioned classic Ferrari 121 LM sports car is sold for $5,720,000 (approx Rp. 80 billions). Wow!! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FERRARI | ACQUIREMAG | SPORTSCARMARKET | CARREVSDAILY | CARTHROTTLE | ITALIANWAYS | WIKIPEDIA ]

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