1955 Ferrari 376 S
The 376 S is the very first sports car with a six-cylinder in-line engine, although another three-litre 306 engine was also built but never used in competition.
All of Ferrari’s six-cylinder in-line engines were really extrapolations of the four-cylinders twin over head cam lampredi engine, sharing the same bore and stroke with a piston displacement of about one and a half times the size of the latter.
The 37 of the name 376 refers to the piston displacement, while the 6 refers to the number of cylinders. A system Ferrari have used, in a few variations right up to present day to name new Ferrari models.
Ferrari 376 S Technical Specifications
Year of Manufacture – 1955
| ENGINE | ||
| type | front, longitudinal, in-line six | |
| bore/stroke | 94 x 90 mm | |
| unitary displacement | 624.58 cc | |
| total displacement | 3747.48 cc | |
| compression ratio | 8 : 1 | |
| maximum power | 206 kW (280 hp) at 6200 rpm | |
| power per litre | 75 hp/l | |
| maximum torque | – | |
| valve actuation | twin overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder | |
| fuel feed | three Weber 58 DCOA/3 carburettors | |
| ignition | twin spark plugs per cylinder, two coils | |
| lubrication | dry sump | |
| clutch | multi-plate | |
| CHASSIS | ||
| frame | tubular steel | |
| front suspension | independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar | |
| rear suspension | de Dion, twin radius arms, transverse leaf spring, hydraulic shock absorbers | |
| brakes | drums | |
| transmission | 5-speed + reverse | |
| steering | worm and sector | |
| fuel tank | capacity 150 litres | |
| front tyres | 5.50 x 16 | |
| rear tyres | 7.00 x 16 | |
| BODYWORK | ||
| type | two-seater, spider | |
| length | – | |
| width | – | |
| height | – | |
| wheelbase | 2400 mm | |
| front track | 1316 mm | |
| rear track | 1284 mm | |
| weight | 850 kg (dry) | |
| PERFORMANCE | ||
| top speed | – | |
| acceleration 0-100 km/h | – | |
| 0-400 m | – | |
| 0-1000 m | – | |