Automotive History Online

125 S1

The 125 S (commonly called the 125 or 125 Sport) was the first vehicle produced and built by the famed Ferrari company of Modena, Italy. Although preceded by Enzo Ferrari's Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 of 1940, the 125 S was the first vehicle to bear the Ferrari name when it debuted on May 11, 1947 at the Piacenza racing circuit. Like the 815, it was a racing sports car, but unlike its Fiat-powered 8-cylinder predecessor, the 125 S had a new V12 engine (the "125") like most Ferrari cars of the following decades. The 125 S was replaced by the 159 S for 1947. The 125 S used a steel tube-frame chassis^[1] and had a double wishbone suspension with transverse leaf springs in front with a live axle in the rear. Hydraulic power drum brakes were specified front and rear. The 125 S was powered by Gioacchino Colombo's 1.5 L (1497 cc/91 in³) 60° V12. This engine produced 100 hp (74 kW) at 7,000 rpm with a compression ratio of 8.5:1. It was a dual overhead camshaft design with 2 valves per cylinder and three double-choke Weber 30DCF carburettors.

NO 125 S exists today, except for an exact replica built by Michelotto for Ferrari in 1987 ( Pictured Below). It uses serial number 90125 and engine number 1. This car is a REPLICA and not a true 125S. Of the two 125 S cars built in 1947, both were dismantled and parts are thought to have been reused in [Ferrari 159/ Ferrari 166 production] S/n 010I, or 01C, has been recently restored to its orignal condition. The car contains the chassis of the very first Ferrari (WE DO NOT KNOW THIS FOR CERTAIN, AS WE DO NOT KNOW IF 01C ACTUALLY BECAME 010I!!) It is rumored that 01C was rebuilt as 010I, but the forensic evidnece has NOT proven this as yet. Rumors also say 01C was restamped 010I and sold to a customer in 1949 as a new car BUT THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE PROOF 01C and 010I are indeed the same car! Upon receiving the car, the owner immediately exclaimed "Muletta", or "mule", as he could clearly see his new car was in fact well raced. Ferrari made a new invoice for the car, which included a considerable rebate for being a second hand car.

Still in its 166 Spyder Corsa configuration, the car was sold to Symbolic Motors a few years ago. Close inspection of the chassis and the serial number in particular led to the amazing discovery of an old stamping that could very well read 01C. For many years it was covered by a layer of aluminum, which featured the 010I stamp. It was subsequently sold to its current owner who had the car refitted with a body similar to the factory’s 125 S replica. It made its public debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and was entered as a "Ferrari 125 S". No doubt this car will be the subject of a lot of debate among Ferrari historians and enthusiasts as news has already reached us that the restamp was in fact done to rectify a mistake made. The debate of in reagrd to the history of this car can be seen on Ferrari Chat, in the vintage section, under Ferrari 125/159/166.

1947 Ferrari 125 S1

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