[circuittaps]

Searching the entire www for classic F1 Ferrari RTR, kits, shells etc. I can come up with loads of 500, 625 and 555 "Supersqualo" solutions.

But nowhere can I find a 553 "Squalo". Anybody out there knows a site where I can order a resin or fibreglass shell?

The funny part is, that I do not intend to build a 553, but I need a body to try and make the Arzani-Volpini Special from the Italian Grand Prix on Monza 1955.

/Holger

 

[vfr750]

Betta & Classic make one:

http://www.bettaandclassic.com

Cheers

John

 

[circuittaps]

John - thanks, but I do not agree. The Betta & Classic shell is the 555 "Supersqualo". I need the 553 "Squalo".

Cheers, HOlger

 

[Diogenes]

Holger,

Have you tried Dave Sykes who covers 'interesting' subjects including 1950s F1 and earlier. Maybe Tony Condon also might do one of these I am not sure. Mac Pinches used to do a nice one but he stopped making his excellent shells which made me sad.

Try a PM to one of the above.

Cheers

Dio

 

[circuittaps]

Dio - I have checked David Sykes as well as Tony Condon. None of them offers a 553 "Squalo". Mac Pinches is not known to me, but I read your mail as he is not on the market any longer?

/Holger

 

[superhornets]

hi holger
the only picture i could find of the anzani volpini looked more like a 250f maser than a supersqualo ferrari perhaps you,d be better modifying one of those of which there are a few

cheers tony

 

[circuittaps]

Tony - I can find three different photos of the Arzani-Volpini and they all look like a bastard between a F 553 and a 250F, so you might be right, that a 250F could do the job. According to "GP cars 1945-65" by Mike Lawrence the basic car was a Maserati-Milano(?).

To my eyes the most outstandig thing is the very different exhaust system. But maybe other SF members have Arzani-Volpini experiences?

Cheers, Holger

 

[superhornets]

Hi holger
The maserati milano was built for the 2 litre formaula 1952/53 it was based on a 4 clt maser but the engine had the supercharger removed and bored out to 2 litres
It wasn,t terribly succesful but later gained a degree of fame by being the notorious BURANO GP cars in the classic 1950s motor racing film "such men are dangerous " which starred kirk douglas
As you say a bastard mongrel

Cheers tony

 

[superhornets]

OOps sorry
A bit of a crossthread there
The notorious burano GP car was based on the maserati Plate cars ,which like the milano were based on the 4CLT maserati

cheers tony

 

[Rob J]

An interesting project, Holger, and a tricky one. From the one photo I have, the Arzani-Volpini bodywork curves out quite gracefully, unlike the Ferrari's with those distinct bulges. The nose is probably broader than on the 553. The A-V has quite a large rad. grille. However, it's a good-looking car.
From my one photo, I agree with Tony that a 250F body may be closer than a Squalo's, though the Maseratis had straighter sides. I wondered for a moment if a B-type Connaught shell would be useful. Probably not (for one thing, it doesn't have a fairing behind the driver's head), but you might like to take a look.

The A-Volpini chassis came from the Ruggeri brothers' Milano team but was not one of the modified 4CLT chassis that the team campaigned in its Maserati-Milanos in 1949-50. The Ruggeris designed their own chassis and built two, though just one complete car. It ran in a few races in 1950 as a Milano - probably only one championship race, the Italian GP, driven by Cometti.
Both the Maserati-Milanos and the Milano used 4CLT-based engines modified/built by Mario Speluzzi.
Arzani and Volpini obtained the unraced Ruggeri chassis for their 1955 effort, plus one or more of the Speluzzi engines, enlarging it/them to 2.5 litres. Arzani was apparently an engine-builder himself. The body shape is distinctly mid-50s and is said to have been built by Carrozzeria Colli in Milan.
Sadly, the A-V's only race was the non-championship Pau GP, where its inexperienced driver, Mario Alborghetti, crashed and suffered fatal injuries. The car was repaired and entered in the Italian GP for Luigi Piotti, but it either "failed to appear" or "non-started due to engine problems".
Main sources: A-Z of Formula Racing Cars by David Hodges and Formula One in Camera 1950-59 by Paul Parker. Neither mentions any use in the 1953-54 two-litre period.

The photo in the Parker book (taken at Pau, 1955) shows part of another rare F1 car, the DB Monomill, a small front-drive car with a supercharged 750cc engine. That was a little-used alternative in 1954-60 F1. Apparently the Monomill never ran in a championship GP, but it could be a subject for someone who likes building unusual cars from scratch.
Rob J

 

[vfr750]

Hi Holger,

I don't know if you already have this photo but at least others will have an idea of what the car looks like.

Cheers

John

 

[Rob J]

Good to see that photo, John. Remarkable how two just photos can give very different impressions. The one I was looking at was taken from straight in front and a low angle, and the car looked much broader.
Have just found another online at http://www.statsf1.com/en/arzani-volpini/modeles.aspx . Very like yours but a rear threequarter view.
Rob J

 

[circuittaps]

Thank you to your all for your research and helpfulness. Maybe I should have called the head line of this topic Arzani-Volpini Special instead, but never mind.

As said earlier I know of three different photos of this car, and two of them are shown on this site now (well, one with a link). My next challange are the race numbers used during practise for the Italian GP 1955. The car was entered under #46, but:

Were the race numbers plain white on the (presumed) red car, or were they black on white circles?

Where were they placed? None of the three known photos shows any race numbers.

Gentlemen?

/Holger

 

[Rob J]

Holger: The race numbers were probably white. The photo I have was taken earlier at the Pau GP, where it carried a white #28 in Italian-style numbers (slightly angular, rather than fully rounded, and the top of the 2 closed).
The only number visible is on the right side of the nose, facing right (not diagonally).
The name ARZANI is in small capitals in the usual place on the nose above the grille.
I will try to scan and send you the pic in a message in the next day or two. I'd rather not risk a copyright breach by posting it openly on the Forum.
The pic would also give you some detail on the grille, front brake drums, etc. It also gives a different perspective on the body shape.
Rob J

 

[circuittaps]

Rob J - great info and a great help. I really appriciate your help, and the Pau photo seems to be one I do not know about. Looking forward to see it.

The more details the better....

/Holger

 

[Rob J]

Hello, Holger. You have a message and (I hope) a photo as an attachment. Let me know if it doesn't show up.
Best wishes for the excellent project.
Rob J

 

[circuittaps]

Rob J - thank you for your PM, the photo and your greetings from NZ. Every bit of it is much appriciated.

Interesting argument that a clockwise circuit like Monza asks for having the race number on the right side of the nose. I admit I have never thought about this. But todays investigations were more than interesting.

AUTOSPORT from September 16 1955 covers the Italian GP 1955 and shows some real good photos.

Ferrari 555 Supersqualo: Race numbers on left side of front nose
Maserarti 250F (including STR): Race numbers on centre of nose
Mercedes W196 (including STR): Race numbers on centre of nose

Even more interesting - RIVALS by Chris Nixon shows on page 180 Lancia-Ferrari D50 #2 from first days training session sporting the #2 clearly only on the left side of the nose. On page 181 is the same car from second days training session, this time with #2 on BOTH sides of the nose!!!

I know, of course, the D50s were withdraw from the race, but somebody - or something - caused them to increase the number of race numbers on the cars during practise. But only on the D50s. The photos in AUTOSPORT of the 555s are clearly from race day.....

Anybody?

/Holger

 

[Rob J]

Holger: Glad the Pau photo came through, and I hope it's useful. Have you decided which shell you'll start your project with?
On the position of the front number, I also mentioned the location of the pits and/or control tower. I was just guessing that the Arzani-Volpini's could be the same at Monza as at Pau (facing right). Perhaps you should follow the trend in the photos of other cars at Monza (centred or left).
I'm not sure why the Ferraris and Lancias had numbers on the left of the nose at Monza. Perhaps for the benefit of patriotic spectators in the grandstands on the outside of the circuit. Perhaps the lap-scorers were on the outside too.
In 1955 the race was run on the rebuilt track with the banked oval added. I have a map and it looks as though the pits (boxes corsa) are on the inside, but I understand very little Italian and can't pinpoint the control tower or other location for the official lap-counters.
Rob J

 

[circuittaps]

Rob J - once again thanks for your interesting views and theories on the position of the front number. I think we shall not use any more gun powder on this, just rely on the available photos from the race. I then have to descide whether to have a left centret or central race number on my Arzani Volpini. I think I vote for left as a combination of the Pau photo and the position used by the Ferraris on Monza.

Now back to your first - and more important - question: What shell will I use? I think I will settle for a 250F, but since I have already used AA Bodies 03 shells for the Officine Alfieri Maserati team (#28, 30, 32, 34 + 38) and the Stirling Moss Ltd team (#40), I need something else to itemizing this #46 NOT being a 250F.

What would serve me best? Penelope Pitlane RB28 or a Pattos shell? Unfortunately I do not know any other 1955 250F shell then these three mentioned.

/Holger

 

[circuittaps]

Rob J - an additional question concerning bonnet louvers (hope this is right in the Queens English?)!

Penelope Pitlane RB 28 has a lot of them. AA Bodies 03 has none. And Arzani Volpini seems to have a few near the cockpit. What about the Pattos version?

Sorry about this afterburner. Hope you will answer both last topics.

/Holger