Ferrari 553

Ferrari 553
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Ferrari
Predecessor	500
Successor	625/D50
Technical specifications
Chassis	Single-seater, tubular frame
Axle track	Front: 1,278 mm (50.3 in) ; Rear: 1,250 mm (49 in)
Wheelbase	2,160 mm (85 in)
Engine	Lampredi 1,984.86 cc (121.1 cu in) (1953); 2,497.56 cc (152.4 cu in) (1954) L4 naturally aspirated, front engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Ferrari 4-speed manual
Weight	590 kg (1,300 lb)
Fuel	Shell
Tyres	Pirelli
Competition history
Notable entrants	Scuderia Ferrari
Notable drivers	Giuseppe Farina ; Mike Hawthorn; Jose Froilan Gonzalez
Debut	1953 Italian Grand Prix
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Ferrari 553 was a racing car produced by Ferrari which raced in 1953 (when the World Championship was run to F2 regulations) as a Formula Two car and in 1954 as a Formula One car.

553 F1

The 1953 553 F2 car was raced in the 1953 World Drivers' Championship by Umberto Maglioli and Piero Carini. It was first raced at Monza in the 1953 Italian Grand Prix on September 13, 1953.^[2] In 1954 the Ferrari 553 F1 car replaced it when the World Championship returned to F1 specifications.

The car competed in six World Championship Grands Prix over the two seasons, making ten individual entries. Its only points finishing position was a win for Mike Hawthorn at the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix.

The engine was a Lampredi inline-four, producing 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) at 7200 rpm, from 2497.56 cc of total capacity. Because of the distinctive rounded bodywork and air-intake it was nicknamed Squalo, meaning Shark in Italian.^[3]

555 F1

In 1955, Ferrari updated their existing 553 F1 car. New helical springs were used for the front suspension, instead of the transverse leaf-springs. The rear saw the replacement of a lower leaf-spring to an upper one. It also received a five-speed gearbox instead of a four-speed. It used the same capacity as before and the power output also remained the same.

Because of the extended, rounded bodywork it was further nicknamed as a Supersqualo (Super shark). The car was first used at the Bordeaux GP on 24 April 1955. In 1956, Peter Collins was still using the 555 F1, whilst the rest of the Scuderia drove the Lancia-Ferrari D50.^[4]

Technical data

Technical data^[5]	553 Squalo	555 Super Squalo
Engine:	Front mounted 4-cylinder in-line engine
displacement:	2498 cm³
Bore x stroke:	100 x 79.5 mm
Compression:	13.0:1	11.9:1
Max power at rpm:	260 hp at 7 200 rpm
Valve control:	Double Overhead Camshafts, 2 valves per cylinder
Carburetor:	2 Weber 50 DCOA/3
Gearbox:	4-speed manual, transaxle	5-speed manual, transaxle
suspension front:	Double cross links, transverse leaf spring	Double cross links, coil springs
suspension rear:	De Dion axle, double longitudinal links, transverse leaf spring
Brakes:	Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body:	Fackverks frame with aluminum body
wheelbase:	216 cm
Dry weight:	590 kg
Top speed:	280 km/h

Gallery

Ferrari 553 "Squalo", 2.5-litre I4 Lampredi engine
A Ferrari 555 Super Squalo
A Ferrari 555 at the Museo Ferrari

Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1953	Scuderia Ferrari	553	Ferrari 553 2.0 L4	P		ARG	500	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA
					Umberto Maglioli									8
					Piero Carini									Ret
1954	Scuderia Ferrari	553	Ferrari 554 2.5 L4	P		ARG	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	ESP
					Giuseppe Farina			Ret						WD
					José Froilán González			Ret	Ret				Ret
					Mike Hawthorn				Ret					1
					Umberto Maglioli							7
					Robert Manzon							DNS
					Maurice Trintignant									Ret
1955	Scuderia Ferrari	555	Ferrari 555 2.5 L4	E		ARG	MON	500	BEL	NED	GBR	ITA
					Harry Schell		Ret
					Paul Frère		8²		4
					Piero Taruffi		8²		DNS
					Giuseppe Farina				3
					Maurice Trintignant				6	Ret		8
					Eugenio Castellotti					5		3
					Mike Hawthorn					7		Ret
					Umberto Maglioli							6
1956	Scuderia Ferrari	555	Ferrari 555 2.5 L4 Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8	E		ARG	MON	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA
					Peter Collins	Ret
					Olivier Gendebien	5
Source:^[1]^[6]^[7]

References

^ a b "Ferrari 553". Stats F1. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
^ "Ferrari 553 F2". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^ "Ferrari 553 F1". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^ "Ferrari 555 F1". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^ "ferrari.com". Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
^ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. pp. 94, 136, 161, 179, 239 and 244. ISBN 0851127029.
^ "Ferrari 555". StatsF1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

External links

Ferrari 553 F2: Ferrari History
Ferrari 553 F1: Ferrari History
Ferrari 555 F1: Ferrari History

This Formula One–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[StatsF1-1] "Ferrari 553". Stats F1. Retrieved 16 April 2016.

[2] "Ferrari 553 F2". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

[3] "Ferrari 553 F1". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

[4] "Ferrari 555 F1". formula1.ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

[5] "ferrari.com". Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-07-25.

[6] Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. pp. 94, 136, 161, 179, 239 and 244. ISBN 0851127029.

[7] "Ferrari 555". StatsF1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.