Page 1 of 1 With the 500 F2, Ferrari dominated the 1952 World Championship. The Italian manufacturer kicked off the following season with the dominant four-cylinder engined single seater but also started working on a replaced. This eventually debuted at the Italian Grand Prix and was dubbed the 553 F2. Apparently due to its bulbous flanks, which housed the fuel tanks, it was quickly dubbed Squalo, which was Italian for shark.
It was under the not very sharklike skin that the Squalo was different from its predecessor as it was the first Ferrari to use a multi-tubular spaceframe chassis. The front suspension consisted of double wishbones with a transverse lower leaf spring and Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers. At the rear, a DeDion axle was fitted with a similar leaf spring and Houdaille dampers. In its original Formula 2 trim, the 553 was powered by a two-litre four-cylinder engine derived from the 500 F2.
The 553 F2 debuted at Monza in the hands of Umberto Maglioli, who finished eighth and Piero Carini, who retired. For 1954, the Formula 1 category was re-introduced with a 2.5-litre displacement limit. By fitting larger displacement engines, Ferrari created both the 625 F1 and the 553 F1. Most Ferrari drivers preferred the more predictably handling 625 F1. The Squalo was further developed during the season enough for Mike Hawthorn to win the Spanish Grand Prix.
For the 1954 season, the spaceframe single seater evolved into the 555 F1, which received the Super Squalo nickname. It featured a redesigned spaceframe, revised rear suspension and also carried over the coil-spring front suspension fitted to the Spanish Grand Prix winning 553 F1. It was nevertheless a tough year for Ferrari, faced with the dominant Mercedes-Benz W196. The best result for the 555 F1 was a third in the Italian Grand Prix for Eugenio Castellotti.
Ferrari used the 555 F1 once more in 1956 but then switched to the repurposed Lancia D50. At least two of the 555 F1s were sold to privateers to compete in Formula Libre events. One was even fitted with the V8 engine from the Lancia D50. Restored to its original configuration, a 555 F1 was driven to victory in the 2000 Monaco Historic Grand Prix by Martin Stretton. Page 1 of 1
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With the 500 F2, Ferrari dominated the 1952 World Championship. The Italian manufacturer kicked off the following season with the dominant four-cylinder engined single seater but also started working on a replaced. This eventually debuted at the Italian Grand Prix and was dubbed the 553 F2. Apparently due to its bulbous flanks, which housed the fuel tanks, it was quickly dubbed Squalo, which was Italian for shark.