1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti

Vintage cars are something that are immediately alluring to almost any eye regardless of whether you’ve got a soft spot for all things automotive and, quite frankly, it is entirely impossible not to fall head over heels for this stunning steed going up for sale as part of the Peterson Automotive Museum Auction with RM Sotheby’s. The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti truly is a sight to behold and is a piece of motoring history which, as you may well expect, isn’t going to come cheap.

The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti at RM Sotheby’s took part in the Scuderia Ferrari for the 1956 and 1957 seasons and has all the hallmarks of a classic racing machine but is still in immaculate condition today and will become the cornerstone of some vintage car lover’s collection. This Ferrari Classiche-certified 290 MM was piloted by an amazing array of team drivers which included Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, Peter Collins, Wolfgang von Trips, Olivier Gendebien, Eugenio Castellotti and later, Sir Stirling Moss, in was part of the some of the most prestigious race events on the planet.

Fantastic Ferrari

When it comes to vintage cars, few are more eye-catching than those from Ferrari and this 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti really is the pick of the bunch in our opinion here at Coolector HQ. It was developed by Ferrari to take part in the 1956 World Sports Car Championship and the Mille Miglia, which is why it has the MM initials. Designed to reclaim dominance over past and present competitor—Mercedes-Benz—and its great domestic rival, Maserati. For Enzo Ferrari, this was just as crucial as his desire to win the Formula One World Championship.

The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti at RM Sotheby’s boasts an all-new powertrain, made up of the Tipo 130 V-12, 3,490 cc engine, with highly developed cylinder heads, high-lift camshaft, bigger valves, twin spark plugs, 9:1 compression ratio and dry sump, coupled with the Tipo 520 transaxle. As a result, the 290 MM was the car to bring the manufacturer title back to Maranello for the third time. With bodywork by Scaglietti, the 290 MM is a aesthetically stunning with an impressive, brutal, and beautiful performance.

It debuted at the 1956 Mille Miglia in 860 Monza specifications, chassis no. 0628 and came 2nd overall while wearing number #551, piloted by Peter Collins and Louis Klemantaski. In that same year, Olivier Gendebien and Hans Hermann took the car to 4th at the Targa Florio in Sicily, while Umberto Maglioli finished in 2nd place with the car in the XVIII Aosta-Gran San Bernardo Hillclimb, also in Italy – so as you can see, this RM Sotheby’s lot certainly has an automotive backstory beyond compare.

American Dream

Now under private ownership, Sir Stirling Moss got behind the wheel at the 1957 Bahamas Speed Weeks and drove the car to victory in both the Memorial Race and the Nassau Trophy Race. Following on from this, the 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti spent the next five decades in America, first earning multiple podium and first-in-class finishes at a variety of national races between 1958 and 1961, and then spending time in a variety of highly notable private collections.

If you’ve got particularly deep pockets and a love for iconic racing cars, this 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti is definitely going to be a stand out lot for you at the Peterson Automotive Museum Auction with RM Sotheby’s. A real part of motoring folklore, this amazing machine truly is a one in a million offering and will soon become a key part of some lucky collector’s line up of vintage machines.