Ferrari 159 S
Encyclopedia
The 159 S was designed to be the successor to Ferrari
's first vehicle, the 125
. Unlike its predecessor, which won six of 14 races earlier in 1947, the 159 had a short racing life and was quickly converted into the 166 SC
for the following racing season.
Like the 125, the 159 used a steel tube-frame chassis with longitudinal and cross members and had a double wishbone suspension with transverse leaf spring
s in front with a live axle
in the rear. However, Gioacchino Colombo
's V12 engine
was enlarged from 1.5 L (1497 cc/91 in³) in the 125 to 1.9 L (1903 cc/116 in³) for the 159. This engine
produced 125 hp (93 kW) at 7,000 rpm, retaining the three double-choke Weber
30DCF carburettors of its predecessor. Both cars sported five-speed manual transmissions and retained the Fiat
tradition of mounting the engine in-block with the gearbox.
number 002C, which was originally a 159 and is currently owned and driven by James Glickenhaus
.
with the company's driver, Franco Cortese
. Although it led overall for a time, the class-winning 159 S eventually fell behind the Stanguellini of Vincenzo Auricchio. Like the 125, the 159 S was unable to beat Maserati
's 6CS 1500 for much of the rest of the 1947 season. However, at the Turin Grand Prix on October 12, the car was able to shine, with French driver Raymond Sommer
claiming overall victory in the single 159 S entered.
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
's first vehicle, the 125
Ferrari 125 S
The Ferrari 125 S was the first vehicle produced and built by automaker Ferrari 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...
. Unlike its predecessor, which won six of 14 races earlier in 1947, the 159 had a short racing life and was quickly converted into the 166 SC
Ferrari 166 S
The Ferrari 166 S was an evolution of Ferrari's 125 S sports race car that became a sports car for the street in the form of the 166 Inter. Only 39 Ferrari 166 S's were produced, soon followed by the production of the 166 Mille Miglia which was made in much larger numbers from 1949 to 1952...
for the following racing season.
Like the 125, the 159 used a steel tube-frame chassis with longitudinal and cross members and had a double wishbone suspension with transverse leaf spring
Leaf spring
Originally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles...
s in front with a live axle
Live axle
A live axle, sometimes called a solid axle, is a type of beam axle suspension system that uses the driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that they move together as a unit....
in the rear. However, Gioacchino Colombo
Gioacchino Colombo
Gioacchino Colombo was an Italian automobile engine designer.Colombo was born in Legnano. He began work as an apprentice to Vittorio Jano at Alfa Romeo. In 1937, Colombo designed the 158 engine for the Alfetta and caught the attention of Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari asked Colombo to design a small V12...
's V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
was enlarged from 1.5 L (1497 cc/91 in³) in the 125 to 1.9 L (1903 cc/116 in³) for the 159. This engine
Ferrari Colombo engine
Ferrari's earliest cars used engines designed by Gioacchino Colombo, who had formerly designed Alfa Romeos for Enzo Ferrari. These V12 powerplants ranged from the diminutive 1.5 L unit fitted to the 125S to the 3.3 L unit in the 1966 275.Enzo Ferrari had long admired the V12 engines of...
produced 125 hp (93 kW) at 7,000 rpm, retaining the three double-choke Weber
Weber carburetor
Weber is an Italian company producing carburetors, currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A., in turn part of the Fiat Group.The company was established as...
30DCF carburettors of its predecessor. Both cars sported five-speed manual transmissions and retained the Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
tradition of mounting the engine in-block with the gearbox.
Examples
One Ferrari 159 was built 002C. The oldest Ferrari car still in existence with an undisputed pedigree is a 166 Spyder CorsaFerrari 166 S
The Ferrari 166 S was an evolution of Ferrari's 125 S sports race car that became a sports car for the street in the form of the 166 Inter. Only 39 Ferrari 166 S's were produced, soon followed by the production of the 166 Mille Miglia which was made in much larger numbers from 1949 to 1952...
number 002C, which was originally a 159 and is currently owned and driven by James Glickenhaus
James Glickenhaus
James Glickenhaus is an American investment professional at Glickenhaus & Co., the finance firm started by his father, Seth Glickenhaus. He was formerly a movie director before entering the finance world....
.
Racing
The 159 S debuted on August 15, 1947 at the Circuito di PescaraPescara Circuit
The Pescara Circuit was a road race course near Pescara, Italy.The track boasted two long straights between villages, as well as demanding corners in the seaside town. The roads were both narrow and bumpy, and the staggering length was the longest of any open-wheel championship event...
with the company's driver, Franco Cortese
Franco Cortese
Franco Cortese was an Italian racing driver, who started the Mille Miglia a record 14 times .He started with Itala , then Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, and Scuderia Ferrari...
. Although it led overall for a time, the class-winning 159 S eventually fell behind the Stanguellini of Vincenzo Auricchio. Like the 125, the 159 S was unable to beat Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
's 6CS 1500 for much of the rest of the 1947 season. However, at the Turin Grand Prix on October 12, the car was able to shine, with French driver Raymond Sommer
Raymond Sommer
Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....
claiming overall victory in the single 159 S entered.