This Classic Ferrari Could Be The Most Expensive Four-Banger In The World

Nevertheless, the Prancing Horse has built a number of four-cylinders that were immensely successful in Formula 1, Formula 2, and sports car racing, among them a 1957 500 TRC crossing the auction block May 27–29. Although it has only half or a third the cylinders of other Ferrari racing cars, this four-banger is still expected to pull between $7 million and $9 million by the time bidding ends.

A member of the famed Lampredi engine family, the Tipo 500 four-cylinder engine under the hood features all the hallmarks of a high-performance Ferrari engine. Although displacing just 2.0 liters, the powerplant still makes an impressive 180 horsepower at a shrieking 7,000 rpm, more than enough to get the 1,499-pound 500 TRC to a top speed of 152 miles per hour according to Ferrari. Like all Lampredi inline-fours, there's a dry-sump lubrication system to maintain steady oil supply even during high-G corners, and the distinctive Testa Rossa cylinder heads feature dual overhead camshafts and two spark plugs per cylinder.

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Racing Footage 1957 12 Hours of SebringRevs Institute, Inc
The Lampredi four-cylinder was specifically designed for sports car and Formula 2 racing, meaning reliability was a high priority since the cars would have to endure hours and hours of abuse on the track. It seems as though the engine achieved that goal, because the car RM Sotheby's is auctioning has lots of racing provenance, including the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring, several class wins with the Sports Car Club of America, and a seventh-place overall finish at the Road America 500 miles in September 1957 (behind such heavy machinery as a Phil Hill–driven Ferrari 315S and a Maserati 300S driven by none other than Carroll Shelby).

A Long Line Of Four-Cylinder Ferraris
The 500 TRC in question, chassis number 0658 MDTR, was the very first in its series. Built as a successor to the 500 TR, the TRC more closely resembled a road car, with a full-width windscreen, a wider cockpit, and a passenger-side door. The TR and the TRC both featured a number of improvements over their predecessor, including four-wheel coil springs and a lighter live rear axle that replaced the 500 Mondial's rear leaf springs and de Dion tube rear axle. Despite the relatively modern underpinnings, the TRC still used four-wheel drum brakes, though they're probably adequate for the time given the car's supremely light weight.

The four-cylinder engine wasn't just intended for the likes of racing sports cars. The 1954 Formula 1 World Championship featured several Lampredi-designed inline-fours, as did the 1952 and 1953 Formula 2 championship (which served as the de facto F1 series since very few teams opted to enter).

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Auction 5RM Sotheby's

But as impressive as its engineering resume and racing history is, the 1957 500 TRC is a classic Ferrari first and foremost, which means it's draped in some seriously beautiful Scaglietti sheetmetal. The high-peaked fenders and driver fairing look like they're ripped right off the Mulsanne Straight, and the egg-crate grille and side fender vents draw a very clear lineage to the legendary 250 GTO. Even if its new owner doesn't drive it, the Ferrari 500 TRC would make a lovely piece of art. Still, we hope the Lampredi sportster continues to show its pert little butt in public, because hearing its distinctly snorty, non-V12 engine note will be sure to give onlookers some pause.