1954 Carrera Panamericana Winner Ferrari 375 Plus in 1:8 scale
The Fearsome Four-Nine
70 years since victory in the Carrera Panamericana
In the annals of motorsport history, few races evoke the same sense of danger and excitement as the Carrera Panamericana. Celebrated as one of the most gruelling and dramatic road races ever, the 1954 edition marked not only the final chapter of this legendary event but also the climax of the World Sportscar Championship for that year. Held against the stunning backdrop of Mexico’s diverse landscapes 70 years ago, the race pitted skilled drivers against treacherous conditions and fierce competition. With Ferrari already crowned champions, all eyes were on Umberto Maglioli and his high-powered 375 Plus as they charged down the unforgiving route, igniting the spirit of speed and endurance. Little did the spectators know, this race would not only showcase the prowess of a remarkable car but also etch Maglioli's name into racing folklore for his performance behind the wheel of 0392 AM, a performance that would leave even the press corps struggling to keep pace.
The race was a brutal affair, comprising eight stages over a total distance of 1,910 racing miles (3,070 kilometres), stretching from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.
Of the 150 cars that started the race, only 85 completed all eight stages. Maglioli finished the race in 17 hours, 40 minutes, and 26 seconds, averaging a phenomenal 107.93mph (173.69km/h).
The Italian racer finished a remarkable 24 minutes ahead of his closest competitors, Phil Hill and Richie Ginther in a Ferrari 375 MM, and 111 minutes ahead of the Porsche 550 Spyder of Hans Herrman that took third position. For perspective, the winner of the augural race in 1950 took a full ten hours longer to finish than Maglioli, who was racing at the behest of Enzo Ferrari after allowing American agent Luigi Chinetti to source private sponsorship for 'the works entries' in return for Magloli's involvement.
Such was the performance of his car, the light aircraft carrying the Press corps covering the Carrera was unable to keep up with Maglioli, who often attained speeds of 180mph and more. This phenomenal performance vividly emphasized just how well Ferrari had perfected the 375 Plus by the end of the 1954 season
- Limited Edition of 199 pieces
- As raced to victory by Umberto Maglioli in the Carrera Panamericana from the 19th to the 23rd of November 1954
- Each model hand-built and assembled by a small team of craftsmen
- 1:8 scale model, over 56 cms/22 inches long
- Made using the finest quality materials
- Over 4000 hours to develop the model
- Over 400 hours to build each model
- Thousands of precisely engineered parts: castings, photo-etchings and CNC machined metal components
- Original CAD designs created after scans of an original car
- Archive imagery and paint codes supplied by Scuderia Ferrari