Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Raced1957–1958
EngineV12
Power400 PS
Top speed300 km/h
Units built4
The Ferrari 335 S was the direct answer to the Maserati 450S, whose 4.5-liter engine threatened to outpace the 3.8-liter 315 S and 3.5-liter 290 MM. Its Jano V12 displaced 4023 cm³ and produced 400 PS, designed to propel it to roughly 300 km/h. Its history is overshadowed by disaster: during the 1957 Mille Miglia, a tire blew on a 335 S driven by Alfonso de Portago, killing nine spectators, and the race series was abolished amid public outrage. Enzo Ferrari was prosecuted and only acquitted in 1961. Four cars were built.
Summarized from the sources cited below; every figure in the text was automatically verified against the sources.
Good to know
- Because of its extraordinary performance, the 335 S was also dubbed the "Super Testarossa."
- Alfonso de Portago only took the wheel in 1957 because Luigi Musso had fallen ill; his co-driver Edmund Gunner Nelson also died in the crash.
- The 3-liter limit starting in 1958 was a reaction to the Mille Miglia crash and earlier tragedies; it rendered the 335 S ineligible.
- At the 1957 Venezuela race, a 335 S driven by Collins and Hill took victory; the results earned Ferrari the World Sportscar Championship title once again.
Learn moreThe engine · Drivetrain and suspension · The 1957 season · Title and end
The engine
The 335 S was the third and final race car of the four-camshaft Ferraris of 1957. Like the 290 S and 315 S, it was based on the 290 MM, but featured the reinforced chassis of the 290 S. The engine was bored out to 4023 cm³, with a 77 mm bore and 72 mm stroke. Six Weber type 44 DCN carburetors and dual ignition produced 400 PS at 7400 rpm with a 9.2:1 compression ratio. The cylinder head and block were made of light alloy, and lubrication was handled by a dry sump.
Drivetrain and suspension
The multi-plate clutch sat directly below the starter; from there, the driveshaft ran at engine speed to the rear to the four-speed gearbox with a ZF limited-slip differential on the De Dion axle. A high-mounted transverse leaf spring was intended to reduce body roll. The riveted aluminum fuel tank held 180 liters and was positioned as far forward as possible. At the front, there were double wishbones with coil springs and an anti-roll bar; the ZF steering operated with a worm and sector.
The 1957 season
Following the Mille Miglia tragedy, only one 335 S started at the 1000 km Nürburgring, finishing second behind an Aston Martin DBR1 with Collins and Gendebien. At Le Mans, both 335 S cars retired, and the Jaguar D-Types swept the top four places. Collins and Phil Hill finished second in Sweden behind a Maserati 450S. At the finale in Venezuela, Collins and Hill won, while Hawthorn and Musso crossed the line in second place.
Title and end
Together with the Mille Miglia victory of a 315 S and the success of a 290 MM in Buenos Aires, Venezuela secured the title for Ferrari—a championship the marque had won in every season since 1953, except in 1955, when Mercedes competed. A 3-liter limit was then introduced for 1958, a consequence of the Mille Miglia, the 1955 disasters at Le Mans and Dundrod, and other tragedies. The 335 S was thus no longer eligible to compete; Ferrari replaced it with the 250 TR.
Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.
Frequently asked questions about the Ferrari 335 S
When was the Ferrari 335 S raced?
The Ferrari 335 S was raced from 1957 to 1958.
How much power does the Ferrari 335 S have?
Power of the Ferrari 335 S: 400 PS.
What engine does the Ferrari 335 S have?
Engine of the Ferrari 335 S: 4023 cm³ Tipo 141 Jano V12. It is mounted at the front.
How fast is the Ferrari 335 S?
Top speed of the Ferrari 335 S: 300 km/h.
How many Ferrari 335 S were built?
4 units of the Ferrari 335 S were built.
Who engineered the Ferrari 335 S?
Engineering of the Ferrari 335 S: Carrozzeria Scaglietti.
What are the predecessor and successor of the Ferrari 335 S?
Predecessor: Ferrari 315 S. Successor: Ferrari 250 TR.
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