A 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti sold for US$22m at RM Sotheby’s Petersen Automotive Museum sale after a prolonged bidding contest between three bidders. It boasts an enviable racing history on three continents with many of the greatest drivers of its decade.
The present Ferrari 290 MM, with a chassis no. 0628, was raced as an official Scuderia Ferrari Works car for the 1956 and 1957 seasons. Built specifically as a Scuderia Ferrari Works car, its first outing would be one of the world’s most significant motor racing spectacles: the Mille Miglia. Ferrari claimed the top five places in the race, with 0628 piloted by Peter Collins took the 2nd place.
The Ferrari 290 MM driven by Peter Collins won the 2nd place
Of the four 290 MMs built, three have survived, in addition to only two 315 Ses and three 335 Ses, for a total of only eight cars from what can be considered the golden era of the Scuderia Ferrari’s two-seater sports racing barchettas.
The Ferrari 290 MM was piloted by other world’s best drivers in different occasions. In its final race of 1956, 0628 was piloted by Juan Manuel Fangio and Eugenio Castellotti at the Swedish Grand Prix, but unfortunately the pair failed to finish due to engine problems. 0628 was also driven by Phil Hill and Wolfgang Von Trips for the 6th annual 12 Hours of Sebring in 1957, but unfortunately the car was forced to withdraw on lap 106 due to a battery failure.
The 12 Hours of Sebring in 1957
Sebring would be 0628’s last race with the Scuderia as in the summer of 1957, the car was sold through Luigi Chinetti. Then the car was resold for a few time and travelled overseas before it returned to the Mille Miglia in 1988, entered and driven by Chinetti and his son, Luigi Chinetti Jr.
0628 returned to the Mille Miglia in 1988, driven by Chinetti and his son, Luigi Chinetti Jr.
During 2016 and 2017, 0628 was kept in Maranello and put on display
290 MM driven by Fangio sold for US$28.05m in 2015
Upon the current owner’s acquisition of the 290 MM in 2011, it was decided that the car would be certified and fully restored by Ferrari Classiche. Upon the completion of the work, 0628 was granted Red Book certification by Ferrari Classiche. The Classiche binder itself states that the car maintains its original chassis, the Tipo 130 V-12 fitted to the car by the factory in 1957, its original gearbox, and original body.
After the completion of the restoration, 0628 was kept in Maranello and put on display in both the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and at the Casa Enzo Ferrari in Modena in 2016 and 2017. Another Ferrari 290 MM driven by Juan Manual Fangio sold for US$28.05m in 2015.
1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti
Lot no.: 241
Created in: 1956
Chassis no.: 0628
Engine no.: 0628
Estimate: US$22,000,000 - 26,000,000
Price realised: US$22,005,000
Auction house: RM Sotheby's
Sale: The Petersen Automotive Museum Auction
Sale date: 8 December 2018