If I were making a production run of something, this isn’t how I would do it. Ferrari made thousands of “250″ series cars all with these goofy water pipes for the cooling system which vary drastically throughout the 10 year production run.  They are so complex and hard to duplicate that re-making them nearly impossible. This “J” shaped pipe has a compound curve with barbs that have to be welded on in exactly the right location even though they appear to be stitched on at random locations. If they are off one millimeter, they will hit the oil filter or run into the fan.

These pipes are for the Lusso/GTE series of 250, but I can make a number of other styles from 166 up through the 275 cars utilizing my incredible and growing stockpile of bends and flared ends. Right now I am making a short run of the water pipe that connects the thermostat housing to the engine on a 275 GTB/GTS Two-Cam engine.

Water pipe for Ferrari

Water pipe copied for Ferrari

We cleaned out the attic over the holiday and discovered a number of items that we’ll be putting on eBay in the coming weeks. Currently listed are a Bosch Voltage Regulator (black box BOSCH) 6v 12v volt for returning your classic back to the original configuration – or just the look.

A Ferrari Bonaldi Brake Booster for rebuild will only stop you in your tracks in it’s current condition – not working – but in very nice cosmetic shape.

A rare Ferrari 275 GTB and GTB/4 Egg-Crate Grille Brandoli reproduction isn’t easy to come by and is in good condition.

Marchall 660 Fog Lights for Ferrari 250, 225, 212, 166 will actually look at home on a variety of other cars including Porsche 356, Mercedes 300, etc.

Car Show Classics also put together this engine bay porn from Mille Miglia. It’s a lot of detail.

Car Show Classic did a piece with Marcel Massini on the 212 at Mille Miglia. This is a great description of the history of the car from the master himself.

See http://carshowclassic.com/car-models/classic-car/146 for more.

Chopard has been a long time sponsor of the Mille, so of course, the Chopard website has a wide variety of Mille Miglia related products, as well as a gallery, and a video. The Ferrari 212 0086E that we restored makes a cameo appearance at about 1:01 on the video. It’s just in front of the cream colored featured car, heading out of Rome in the morning of the third day.

Click this pic to get to the Chopard site, from there, click "movie."

We rarely have to repair rear axles and usually just clean and inspect the bearings and install new oil seals. Be it a Jaguar, Chevrolet or Alfa Romeo, it is rare that we see a ring and pinion that is damaged or bearings that are worn out. I hate to disturb the factory relationship between the ring and pinion gears so if the bearings check out ok, I keep the thing together.

Additionally, most car companies have figured out how to make the final drive robust and problem free because they are aware of the forces involved with the ring and pinion bevel gears – except for Ferrari. They used a deep groove ball bearing and sliding inner race roller bearing that cannot handle the axial loads on the pinion shaft. Other companies used tapered roller bearings that can handle a tremendous amount of this fore-and-aft thrust while spinning with ease but the Ferrari style comes apart and destroys the gears.

My solution is to replace the sliding inner race roller bearing and the deep groove ball bearing with a pair of tapered roller bearings. This photo is a 250 GT Lusso center section with the “chicklet” style limited slip differential. On some axles I’ve install tapered roller bearings to support the differential but on the later axles there isn’t much room to install this type of bearing and I have found the original ball bearing set up to be adequate. I have done this conversion to many cars that have gone many thousands of miles with no issues.

Final drive Ferrari

GT Ferrari 250 Axle Center section

GPS Classic had a lot going on when we arrived in Soragna to uncrate the 212. They operate a shop very much like RPM, but in Italy. Within the shop are a large number of Ferraris, Alfas, Oscas, and about 5 vintage Formula 3 cars. During Mille Miglia, GPS Classic takes care of a number of cars. We followed the 212 0086E in our service vehicle, while the first of the GPS Classic vans followed a couple of the other cars.

Other GPS Classic posts are here: http://www.ferraricraft.com/2010/05/mille-miglia-day-0/

and

here: http://www.ferraricraft.com/2010/05/ferrari-250-mille-miglia/

The plate that RPM made for the 212 in Vermont. Looks just like the original.

These are 175/550-13 tires on Campagnolo wheels... these were some of the narrower ones. The big ones got into the 15" wide territory.

Formula 3 - I think this was a Manta. There were Loti as well, and lots of Cosworth bits everywhere.

There are a few of these racks.

Peter Markowski and Marcel Mancini revel in their work on the restoration and accuracy of 0086E

Scrutineering at Mille Miglia is a great excuse for one of the best car shows in the world. To be eligible, cars need to be from 1927 to 1957 – the years that the Mille Miglia was run as an all out competitive race. Cars ranged from Bugattis, to Frazer Nashes, many Ferraris, and a flock of Gullwings – of course, many had raced Mille Miglia themselves.

0086E was unloaded from the trailer and brought into the building – immediately, photographers from all over the world surrounded the little Ferrari never seeming to let up. Peter Markowski and Marcel Mancini congratulated each other on the project and even the scrutineers were thrilled with the car, with many pats on the back, handshakes, and high marks.

Within minutes of bringing in 0086E, the phototographers emerged - and surrounded the car

Questions, congratulations, and praise

Every detail of the 212 is documented

Ferrari 212 throttle steers out of a hairpin at Virginia International Raceway test

We tested the Ferrari 212 at Virginia International Raceway about a month ago to prepare for the 83rd running of the Mille Miglia in Italy this May. The Osca came along to the track as a benchmark of performance as it was accepted to run the Mille just a few years ago. The testing went very well, with the 212 making enough power to warrant upgrading the tires to Avon vintage racing tires like the Osca. It is amazing the difference a few years makes, the OSCA is 5 years newer than the Ferrari and handles so much better. It is deserving of the Ferraris V-12 engine rather than the 1500cc 4 cylinder mill.

Casey and Peter remove the hood of the 212 while a pack of track marshals look on like wolves

For the first time in over 50 years, these former Marzotto team cars are sitting side by side,  prepared once again to compete in the Mille Miglia.  Are these cars like working dogs, border collies or sled dogs who are anxious to work almost to their own demise or are they dreading the stress of the event?

The lighter red car is a Ferrari 340 America serial number 0030MT that belonged to my father, Peter Markowski for 35 years. He bought it as a worn out race car when he was in his late teens and restored over the course of many years then driving it for close to 100,000 miles. In the late 90′s our shop restored it again, overhauling the engine, transmission, brakes and other components. We performed a flawless pant job on the car and Peter sold it shortly after all that work was completed because he was not comfortable driving the car with reckless abandon as he used to.

The car sold to its current owner in Europe who disliked the perfection so performed some magic to make the car look more original followed by competing in many driving events which added some true “battle scars”.  My father was probably quite emotional seeing this old piece of his history next to a car that he and his sons built from the ground up.

A well known Ferrari historian is working to make arrangements to have the two cars shipped to the home of  Giannino Marzotto at Lake Como for a photo shoot and possible magazine article.  I hope this works out as Signior Marzotto may have some incredible stories of racing these cars in the early 50′s.

Ferrari Marzotto 340

Marzotto Team cars 212, 340 Ferrari