Ferrari 553
 | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Ferrari | ||||||||
| Predecessor | 500 | ||||||||
| Successor | 625/D50 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Single-seater, tubular frame | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,278 mm (50.3 in) Rear: 1,250 mm (49 in) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,160 mm (85 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Lampredi 1,984.86 cc (121.1 cu in) (1953) 2,497.56 cc (152.4 cu in) (1954) L4 naturally aspirated, front engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Ferrari 4-speed manual | ||||||||
| Weight | 590 kg (1,300 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Shell | ||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Scuderia Ferrari | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Giuseppe Farina  Mike Hawthorn Jose Froilan Gonzalez | ||||||||
| Debut | 1953 Italian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. | |||||||||
The Ferrari 553 was a racing car produced by Ferrari which raced in 1953 (when the World Championship was run to F2 regulations) as a Formula Two car and in 1954 as a Formula One car.
553 F1
The 1953 553 F2 car was raced in the 1953 World Drivers' Championship by Umberto Maglioli and Piero Carini. It was first raced at Monza in the 1953 Italian Grand Prix on September 13, 1953.[2] In 1954 the Ferrari 553 F1 car replaced it when the World Championship returned to F1 specifications.
The car competed in six World Championship Grands Prix over the two seasons, making ten individual entries. Its only points finishing position was a win for Mike Hawthorn at the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix.
The engine was a Lampredi inline-four, producing 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) at 7200 rpm, from 2497.56 cc of total capacity. Because of the distinctive rounded bodywork and air-intake it was nicknamed Squalo, meaning Shark in Italian.[3]
555 F1
In 1955, Ferrari updated their existing 553 F1 car. New helical springs were used for the front suspension, instead of the transverse leaf-springs. The rear saw the replacement of a lower leaf-spring to an upper one. It also received a five-speed gearbox instead of a four-speed. It used the same capacity as before and the power output also remained the same.
Because of the extended, rounded bodywork it was further nicknamed as a Supersqualo (Super shark). The car was first used at the Bordeaux GP on 24 April 1955. In 1956, Peter Collins was still using the 555 F1, whilst the rest of the Scuderia drove the Lancia-Ferrari D50.[4]
Technical data
| Technical data[5] | 553 Squalo | 555 Super Squalo |
|---|---|---|
| Engine: | Front mounted 4-cylinder in-line engine | |
| displacement: | 2498 cm³ | |
| Bore x stroke: | 100 x 79.5 mm | |
| Compression: | 13.0:1 | 11.9:1 |
| Max power at rpm: | 260 hp at 7 200 rpm | |
| Valve control: | Double Overhead Camshafts, 2 valves per cylinder | |
| Carburetor: | 2 Weber 50 DCOA/3 | |
| Gearbox: | 4-speed manual, transaxle | 5-speed manual, transaxle |
| suspension front: | Double cross links, transverse leaf spring | Double cross links, coil springs |
| suspension rear: | De Dion axle, double longitudinal links, transverse leaf spring | |
| Brakes: | Hydraulic drum brakes | |
| Chassis & body: | Fackverks frame with aluminum body | |
| wheelbase: | 216 cm | |
| Dry weight: | 590 kg | |
| Top speed: | 280 km/h | |
Gallery
Ferrari 553 "Squalo", 2.5-litre I4 Lampredi engine
A Ferrari 555 Super Squalo
A Ferrari 555 at the Museo Ferrari
Formula One World Championship results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Driver | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Scuderia Ferrari | 553 | Ferrari 553 2.0 L4 | P | ARG | 500 | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | ||
| Umberto Maglioli | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Piero Carini | Ret | ||||||||||||||
| 1954 | Scuderia Ferrari | 553 | Ferrari 554 2.5 L4 | P | ARG | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | ESP | ||
| Giuseppe Farina | Ret | WD | |||||||||||||
| José Froilán González | Ret | Ret | Ret | ||||||||||||
| Mike Hawthorn | Ret | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Umberto Maglioli | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| Robert Manzon | DNS | ||||||||||||||
| Maurice Trintignant | Ret | ||||||||||||||
| 1955 | Scuderia Ferrari | 555 | Ferrari 555 2.5 L4 | E | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL | NED | GBR | ITA | ||||
| Harry Schell | Ret | ||||||||||||||
| Paul Frère | 82 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Piero Taruffi | 82 | DNS | |||||||||||||
| Giuseppe Farina | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Maurice Trintignant | 6 | Ret | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Eugenio Castellotti | 5 | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Mike Hawthorn | 7 | Ret | |||||||||||||
| Umberto Maglioli | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| 1956 | Scuderia Ferrari | 555 | Ferrari 555 2.5 L4 Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8 |
E | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | |||
| Peter Collins | Ret | ||||||||||||||
| Olivier Gendebien | 5 | ||||||||||||||
References
- ^ a b "Ferrari 553". Stats F1. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ "Ferrari 553 F2". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Ferrari 553 F1". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Ferrari 555 F1". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ "ferrari.com". Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. pp. 94, 136, 161, 179, 239 and 244. ISBN 0851127029.
- ^ "Ferrari 555". StatsF1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
External links
