IN the pantheon of Ferrari legends, the 500 TRC holds a unique place: it was the final four-cylinder sports racing car ever built by Maranello.
Lightweight, elegant, and fiercely competitive, the TRC marked the end of an era – and did so in spectacular style.
Born from the famed Lampredi four-cylinder engine that carried Alberto Ascari to consecutive Formula One titles in 1952 and 1953, Ferrari’s four-cylinder sports cars were known for their agility and power-to-weight balance.
By 1956, the 500 “Testa Rossa” debuted with its signature red cam covers and svelte Scaglietti bodywork.
A year later, the 500 TRC arrived – compliant with new FIA regulations and boasting a wider cockpit, full-width windscreen, and one of the most graceful designs to wear the Prancing Horse badge.
Under its sleek alloy skin, the TRC housed a revised 2.0-litre engine with upgraded internals and a 120-litre fuel tank – ideal for endurance racing.
Despite being built solely for privateers, it made a strong debut in 1957 with class wins at Sebring, the Mille Miglia, Nürburgring, and Le Mans.
Only 17 examples were made. Chassis 0658, the very first, was sold through Ferrari’s US importer Luigi Chinetti to Carl Haas – future co-owner of the Newman-Haas IndyCar team.
It was soon acquired by Edmund P. Lunken of Ohio, who raced it at Sebring just weeks after delivery.
Lunken continued racing 0658 throughout 1957 with notable success, but by 1958 the had car changed hands several times, before eventually returning to Haas in 1960.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, 0658 passed through a series of esteemed Ferrari collectors. In 1992, it returned to Italy, underwent a meticulous restoration by Carrozzeria Brandoli, and later earned Ferrari Classiche certification.
With over two decades of Mille Miglia participation and immaculate provenance, 0658 isn’t just a gorgeous relic – it’s a living piece of Ferrari history.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
