Phil Hill drives first rear engine racing Ferrari - 1961 Ferrari 196 SP Dino

Phil Hill, once again, drives his original world championship winning 1961 Ferrari 196 SP Dino. Not seen in 38 years, Charles Wegner's totally originally 1961 Ferrari 196 SP Dino, #0790 was one of the stars of the 2002 Concorso Italiano in Carmel, California.

The ex-Phil Hill 196 SP Dino #0790, owned since August 2002 by Charles T. Wegner IV of West Chicago, IL., is completely original and unrestored with a lovely patina and an unparalleled racing history.



Click on Photo to see entire view of the Ferrari 196 SP #0790

Phil Hill autographed the door of Charles Wegner's Ferrari 196 SP Dino. This is the very car that gave Phil Hill his world championship.

Click on Pictures to see entire view of Phil Hill's Signature

If you look closely, you can see where, prior to the auction, Phil Hill signed the driver's side of the racer during the Concorso Italiano. He then fired it up and drove it out to the winner's circle for more photo shoots.

The #0790 was Ferrari's first sports car having a rear engine.

Photos are the protected content of Ferrari-ForSale.com

Click on Photo to see entire view of the Ferrari 196 SP #0790

The most important individual responsible for adapting Ferrari to the mid-engine layout was Carlos Chiti. He not only convinced Enzo use rear-mounted engines in F1, but in his road cars as well.

To avoid unnecessary risks, Chiti opted for a small engine to power his first rear-engine designs. A smaller unit helped ease the tight space required to fit the engine, transmission, transaxle and shift linkage between the rear wheels. Furthermore, having a lighter engine in the rear helped with the front-to-rear weight balance. Once the space and weight could be dealt with, then Chiti could move on the larger engines which would optimize engine capacity restrictions.

The first engine to power Ferrari's new cars was the well tested Dino V6. This power plant was designed by Vittorio Jano and motivated by Enzo's son, Alfredo Ferrari. It would power the F1 car in new 1.5 liter form and the Sports Prototype with a 2.4 liter version. During the 1961 season, this engine, in combination with Phil Hill, proved its worth by helping Ferrari win despite a new and rather bulky chassis design.

As the 246, 248 and 268 models matured and were being replaced by cars such as the 250 P, most of the old mid-engine chassis received a Dino V6. With this setup the cars were sold to semipro drivers who ran the cars in two liter endurance and hill climb racing. #0790 was one such car.

Built as the initial 246, #0790 was Ferrari's first sports car having a rear engine. The chassis was essentially a widened F1 unit having independent suspension on all four wheels. This design provided a basis for all sports prototypes to follow.

Chassis #0790 raced alongside #0796 in the 1961 season. The highlight of the 246's racing career came when Oliver Gendebien and Wolfgang von Trips won the Targa Florio during #0790's second race. During the second racing season, in 1962, Phil Hill and Gendebien took the overall victory In #0790 at the 1000kms Nurburgring with Rodriguez and Gendebien repeating the Targa Florio victory in #0796. These victories were an important step for Ferrari's rear engine sports prototypes and paved the way for the 250 P leading up to the 330 P4.

After 1963, the factory lost interest in the cars such as #0790 and sold them to private teams. It was during this period, when #0790 was bought and stored. Not until 2002 did the car surface at the 2002 Concorso Italiano. Amazingly, it appeared in original condition, being one of the few Ferrari Prototypes never to have a cosmetic restoration. As such, it received top honors later in year at the Cavallino Classic.

Among the 246, 248 and 268 prototypes, it is #0790 which still offers a unique look at an original Ferrari sports car. Chuck Wegner, #0790's current owner, is setting a good example by sharing #0790 in its unrestored condition at vintage events around America. Additionally receiving best in show at the 2002 Cavallino Classic promotes the ethic of preserving examples in their original state.