Ferrari 250 S Vignale

Vehicle Overview

The Ferrari 250 S Vignale, chassis 0156ET, was originally built as a Ferrari 225 before being reconfigured as a 250 S with a closed Berlinetta body designed by Giovanni Michelotti and executed by Carrozzeria Vignale. It was delivered in March 1952, with a red exterior and a distinctive two-tone paint scheme, featuring two portholes in the fender and an outside gas filler cap through the rear window. In 1952, the car raced under the banner of Scuderia Ferrari. Its first major event was the Mille Miglia in May 1952, where Giovanni Bracco and Alfonso Rolfo achieved 1st place overall and 1st in the S+2.0 category, driving car number #611. Later in June 1952, the car entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi, but was forced to retire due to a clutch failure. It also faced a DNF at the GP Reims in June 1952 and had several other notable performances throughout the year, including a 1st place finish in the 12 Ore di Pescara with Giovanni Bracco and Paolo Marzotto driving. In 1953, the car continued its racing career, albeit under different ownership. By that time, it had been sold to Roberto Bonomi of Argentina. The car competed in various events, including the Targa Florio where it finished 8th overall in May 1953. It also participated in the VI GP dell’ Autodromo Monza in June 1953, again finishing 8th overall. Later that summer, the car experienced a DNF at the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti due to mechanical failure, but continued to race in the Circuito di Senigallia and 12h Pescara, securing consistent results. The car’s ownership continued to evolve, with Primo Pezzoli of Italy racing it in 1954, including a 3rd-place finish at the Trieste-Opicina hillclimb and participation in the GP Supercortemaggiore, where it did not finish. In the mid-1950s, the car found its way to the United States, where it was owned by Russ Hankforth from Pasadena, California, before being sold to Vern Berger in 1959. It passed through several hands, including Alridge Johnson in Saratoga, California, and Ernest D. Mendicki in 1977, who notably modified the car with an incorrect front end. The car continued to be showcased at events throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with Ernie Mendicki entering it in the Monterey Historic Races and the Mille Miglia in the 1980s. In 1991, Stenberg participated in the Mille Miglia, while Lorenzo Zambrano of Monterrey, Mexico, became the owner in 1992. Under his ownership, the car received several accolades, including the Hans Tanner Award at the Pebble Beach Concours in 1993 and a Best of Show award at the FCA National Concours in Columbus, Ohio, in 1995. The Ferrari 250 S Vignale continued to be a prominent feature in classic car shows, with Lorenzo Zambrano displaying it at the Ferrari at 50 Exhibit at the Petersen Museum in 1997, and at multiple events like the Pebble Beach Concours and the Monterey Historic Races in the following years. In 2015, the car was part of the Pebble Beach Tour d’Élegance, and in 2016, it was displayed at Retromobile by Tillack. Ownership of the car later passed to Friedhelm Loh in Haiger, Germany, and in 2017, it was presented at the Masterpieces Schloss Dyck. The Ferrari 250 S Vignale was also displayed at the Nationales Museum in 2023, marking its continued legacy as a significant piece of Ferrari’s history.