Need Info on the 1961 TR61...

Could be 0780TR. See here: 250 TRI/60 s/n 0780TR

The following is from Bonhams web site which may answer some of your questions:

"At the Maranello factory chief engineer Chiti had installed a wind tunnel, in which he developed a new body shape for the 1961 cars, with long, pointed nostril nose, high rear deck and truncated transom tail. Initially a headrest fin was featured, reminiscent of the D-Type Jaguar. The cars were based upon multi-tubular spaceframe chassis with all-independent suspension. The 3-litre V12 engine was set well back and low in the frame and drove via a five-speed transmission inherited from the preceding TRI/60 model.

In period only two of the original works Ferrari TR/61 cars were built new – after 1960 chassis ‘0780’ had been re-developed as a prototype for the new model. The true TR/61s were chassis ‘0792’ with nostril nose and transom tail, and its sister ‘0794’ – both initially completed in January 1961. Only the first car was pressed into almost immediate service, being entered in the Sebring 12-Hours classic in Florida in which it won handsomely, co-driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien. For the fourth consecutive year a Ferrari Testa Rossa had won the opening World Championship-status sports car race of a new season, vindicating the Italian company’s policy of “get them built and tested” well in advance.

The Sebring-winning car later reappeared in the Le Mans 24-Hours classic, in which it was crewed by the Rodriguez brothers – Pedro and Ricardo – and was forced into retirement by engine failure. The second TR/61 made its racing debut at Le Mans, in which it was driven to yet another victory by Phil Hill/Olivier Gendebien. It was sold post-race to Luigi Chinetti – Ferrari’s legendary American importer – and it was campaigned by Pedro Rodriguez in the Canadian sports car Grand Prix (2nd), it won the Governor’s Trophy race at Nassau, Bahamas, and finished third there in the Nassau Trophy race."

 

Seen here at Le Mans 1961 at about 5.56 and 8.18.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtTm-QUXg4Q]1961 24 hours of Le Mans - YouTube[/ame]

Good footage at about 28.29 below:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGfQOLFHgYE[/ame]

 

The pictures in the link above are of 0794TR.

 

There is considerable confusion about which drivers drove which 250TRs at this event. What was originally given out as the drivers for each car and even the s/ns of the cars was often changed even to within a day or two of the event which included the cars officially entered in the earlier Test Day. I have color pictures of #9 and #10 at the race not of great clarity. If interested send me your P O address and I will mail copies to you. tongascrew

 

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