500 Superfast at RM

Some incredible cars at RMS Arizona.

 

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Copy and paste from the RMS website........
Come on, no need for this, anybody can just click on a link.

Marcel Massini

 

after they see that ONE pic, then they will want to click on the link to see more.

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beautiful beast.

 

Some just like to steal copyrighted photos.
There’s an entire thread in “Vintage” dedicated for the repeat offenders.

 

I've only driven one. To me it felt like a 330 2+2.

 

The car of kings feel like a normal production Fcar?
Are you sure you want to make that comparison?
We’ll have no blasphemers on this site, Bruce!

 

I have worked on the cars and driven them fairly extensively. Like all Ferraris, they can get "mucked' up and drive terribly, but when they are like God and Enzo built them, they are quite nice cars. The comparison to the 330 GT 2+2 (since they share a very nearly identical chassis and running gear) is valid. However, my memory is that I was surprised that the car felt "better" than most 2+2's. It may be the larger motor and increased torque contributed to a more "athletic" feeling in the car. in any case, a well set up 500 Superfast can be a truly delightful car to drive remembering it is not a GTB or SWB. By the way, the motors are "strong".

 

Have you ever had one on the dyno, Dyke?

 

Steve: I have not. However, I do have a factory dyno run showing 306 bhp at 6,000 rpm. While this is a long way from the advertised 400 bhp, it is in line with what a 330 motor produces. First, remember the Tipo 208 motor was in VERY mild tune, even milder than a 330 motor. Both engines used 40mm carburetors and 28mm chokes. So the 500SA motor is SERIOUSLY under carbureted. A good 330 motor can make 260-270 bhp on the dyno and if you extrapolate that number to 5 liters, you get about 330 bhp at the same level of tune. Since we know the 500 SA motor is actually not breathing as well as the 330 motor, a power output in the 300-310 bhp range makes sense. What the 500 SA engine does do is make lots of torque! It is torque that accelerates a car and gives performance on the street, and that is what you feel in a 500 Superfast. Rick Bunkfeldt has built a Hot Rod 500 Superfast engine for his 500SA California Spider with six carbs and hot cams. I have ridden in the car and it is FAST. I would estimate it is producing well over 400-450 bhp on the dyno.

 

Great! Thank you, Dyke.

 

Links often expire, posted pictures mostly don't, so I'm glad this picture was posted as an extra service.

 

I wonder why the switch panel is in front of the passenger seat and not in front of the driver?

 

I wonder how they drive. Like a heavy but torquey Lusso?

 

I think I can share some info since I once owned a 500 SF (#8253), 330 GT 2+2 (#8637) and a Lusso (#5147) at the same time.
As Dyke already pointed out the power of the 500 SF was far away from the claimed 400 hp. The folglio of my car showed 290 hp @ 6,500 rpm, the 330 261 hp @ 6,800 and the Lusso 215 hp @ 7,000.
But what was quite impressive with the 500 SF was the torque.
Also the driving characteristics were quite different. The 500 was the long distance cruiser on the Autobahn or straight highways, the 330 the "daily driver" and the Lusso the one for the winding roads when accelerating, shifting, braking and turning was the fun.
Interesting with the aerodynamics of the 500 SF was when driving faster than 160 km/h the wipers would start and then lift from the whindshield and flip forward.
But and the end of the day I didn't like to drive the 500 SF as much as I enjoyed the 330 and the Lusso.

Matthias

 

Thanks for sharing your firsthand experiences.
Did you by chance had any or all of the cars or their engines tested on the chassis or engine dyno to compare actual output(s) to build sheet (foglio) numbers ?

 

No, I didn't. But would have been interesting.

BTW where is #8253 today?

 

Timo: At least in the 1950-70 era, the factory dyno numbers are pretty close to what we get. After about 1960, the factory "advertised" numbers get optimistic when compared to the factory dyno numbers. Also, various engines vary quite a bit from one to another on the factory dynos. They were not all created equal.

 

Yes.

Not surprising.

 

With Mr. P. in NYC.

Marcel Massini

 

I had the fortunate experience to drive one of the 3 Superfasts the duPont family had acquired new. I dropped off my 330 GTC to pick up the SF to drive to a show in Ocean City MD. Compared to my GTC the SF seemed huge. It took me a while to get settled in and comfortable for the 100 mile drive. The power was significantly superior to the little 330. Once cruising at speed a traffic back-up appeared. Unlike my GTC the SF didn't seem to have much braking ability. Scared the living daylights out of me. I stood on the brakes so hard that my butt came off the seat. Got it stopped in time to avoid the car in front. Drove it gingerly from then on. The SF is a grand tourer but not my idea of a fun car to drive spiritedly. I was happy to get back in to my little GTC after that day. Still the SF is impressive. A car for royalty and industrialists!!

 

Any chance this ^^ could've been due to inadequate maintenance/service rather than poor design quality ?

For example, I've driven some Daytonas ( and a lot of other vintage cars) with poorly maintained and others with properly maintained/rebuilt braking systems and differences have been amazing.