Ferrari Classiche restores the 1953 Corsa Indianapolis

Ferrari Classiche has completed a new restoration work. This time, the specialist division that provides Ferrari owners with restoration, maintenance, supply of parts and issues Certificates of authenticity has restored the Corsa Indianapolis single-seater (chassis 0388), a one-off built in 1953.

The restoration was possible thanks to the historical research by the Ferrari Classiche department’s technicians and to documents from the Ferrari archives, which confirmed that the Monoposto Corsa Indianapolis – the original name in the original Certificate – was developed as a prototype at the 1953 500 Miles of Indianapolis.

The Monoposto Corsa Indianapolis

Although the Monoposto Corsa Indianapolis didn’t race, it was projected to run the 500 Miles of Indianapolis in 1953. The car was sold in 1954 to Luigi Chinetti, then Ferrari importer for North America, and shown at the New York Motor Sports Show.

Driven by Bob Said, February 1955 marked the race debut for the Monoposto Corsa Indianopolis, at Daytona Speed Week GP.

Its busiest year for the Monoposto was 1956 when it was used as a test car by Giuseppe Farina in Indianapolis and driven by Carroll Shelby at the SCCA Mount Washington hillclimb and the SCCA Golden Jubilee hillclimb in Indianapolis.

In 1958 it suffered modifications for the Monza/Indianapolis race, with Harry Schell behind the wheel. The vehicle returned in 1960 to the factory for repairs and further modifications and received a new coachwork in Formula 1 style, bodied by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi, and was tested by Cliff Allison on the Modena race track.

After ending its motorsport activities the Monoposto Corsa Indianapolis changed owner several times.