One of the World's Great Racing Ferraris

Among the hundreds of remarkable vehicles housed at Southward Car Museum, few possess a story as compelling as the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza. One of around 31 examples produced by Ferrari, chassis 0514M represents one of the most important competition cars ever to race in New Zealand and is widely regarded as one of the jewels of the Southward collection.

Its story spans three countries, some of the world's greatest race circuits, legendary drivers, tragedy, survival and, ultimately, one of the most significant restoration projects ever undertaken by the museum.

Born to Race

Built by Ferrari S.p.A. in Maranello, Italy, in 1955, the 750 Monza was designed specifically for international sports car racing. Clothed in elegant coachwork by Scaglietti, it combined timeless Italian styling with cutting-edge engineering.

Power came from Aurelio Lampredi's remarkable 2,999 cc twin overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine driving through a five-speed transaxle. Period sources quote outputs between 240 and 270 horsepower, depending on specification and tuning, with a top speed of approximately 250–260 km/h (155–162 mph). The engine became one of Ferrari's most successful competition powerplants of the mid-1950s.

With only around 31 examples built, surviving Ferrari 750 Monzas are among the rarest and most desirable sports racing Ferraris in existence.

Racing Across Europe

Chassis 0514M was originally sold in 1955 to Italian privateer racing driver Luigi Piotti, who campaigned the car throughout Europe.

Piotti entered the Ferrari in a number of prestigious events including Goodwood, the Mille Miglia, Monza, the Targa Florio, Bari, and the Tunisian Grand Prix, building an impressive competition history during its first season.

Like many works-supported Ferraris of the period, the 750 Monza model itself became closely associated with some of the era's greatest drivers, including Eugenio Castellotti, who famously campaigned similar factory Monzas in events such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, Rouen, the Targa Florio, and the Swedish Grand Prix.

By the end of 1956, chassis 0514M had been purchased by celebrated British racing driver Ken Wharton, setting the stage for the next remarkable chapter in its history.

Two Ferrari Monzas Come to New Zealand

For the 1957 New Zealand International Series, two almost identical Scaglietti-bodied Ferrari Monzas arrived in New Zealand.

One belonged to British racing driver Peter Whitehead, who had been so impressed with Auckland driver Ross Jensen's performance at the 1956 Australian Trophy at Albert Park that he offered Jensen the lease of his Ferrari for the New Zealand season.

Jensen rewarded Whitehead's faith with an outstanding series, collecting the Gold Star, fourth-place finishes at Ardmore, Wigram and Dunedin, fifth at Ryal Bush, victory in the Waitemata Sports Car Race, and second place in the Mairehau Sports Car Race.

Before the Ardmore Grand Prix, Jensen fitted long-range fuel tanks to reduce the number of refuelling stops. He later believed he could have won the race had he not made an error on the opening lap after having no opportunity to practise with the car carrying a full fuel load. While the other Ferraris made multiple fuel stops, Jensen's strategy meant he could have completed the race without stopping.

At the conclusion of the series, Whitehead's Ferrari returned to Europe.

Ken Wharton and Chassis 0514M

The second Monza - the very car displayed at Southwards today - was brought to New Zealand by celebrated British racing driver Ken Wharton.

Wharton arrived with an impressive collection of machinery: the Ferrari 750 Monza for sports car racing, a Maserati 250F for the New Zealand Grand Prix, and an F2 Cooper for fellow driver Alex Strenger.

Already recognised internationally as one of Britain's finest all-round racing drivers, Wharton had competed successfully in Formula One, sports cars and hill climbs.

Tragically, during the sports car race at Ardmore in January 1957, he lost control while attempting to overtake a slower competitor. The Ferrari struck the straw bales surrounding the circuit and somersaulted violently. Wharton suffered fatal injuries, sending shockwaves through the international motorsport community.

The Ferrari itself was left almost beyond recognition.

Rebuilt Against the Odds

Many would have considered the Monza beyond repair.

Instead, Auckland racing enthusiast Ken Harris purchased the wreck and embarked on an extraordinary reconstruction in his own home workshop.

Working alongside Bob Farrell, Ralph Watson, and coachbuilder John Morrall (who crafted a new Scaglietti-style body), Harris painstakingly rebuilt the Ferrari and returned it to competition.

The rebuilt Monza quickly proved competitive once again.

Harris finished third in the inaugural Ken Wharton Memorial Trophy, won the sports car race at Wigram, claimed a second and two third-place finishes at the "Little Ardmore" meeting, won the Wharton Trophy in 1959, and competed in that year's New Zealand Grand Prix.

The Ferrari had been given a remarkable second life.

Continuing the Racing Legacy

Late in 1959 the Monza was sold to Bill Thomasen, who continued campaigning the Ferrari throughout New Zealand.

Although Ken Harris drove the Ferrari in the 1960 New Zealand Grand Prix, he was unable to qualify. Thomasen achieved strong results throughout the season, including fifth in the Wigram Sports Car Race, sixth in the Dunedin Festival Road Race, and a standing quarter-mile record of 6.2 seconds at 225 km/h during the Tokoroa Sprint.

Shortly afterwards the Ferrari's original Lampredi engine suffered extensive damage.

In 1961 the car passed to local dealer Johnny Riley, who replaced the original Ferrari engine with a 4.6-litre Chevrolet Corvette V8. While the conversion kept the car racing, it dramatically altered its character.

Riley's best result came with victory in the sports car race at the 1963 Levin International Meeting, along with strong performances at Muriwai and Pukekohe.

Subsequent owners included Mike Furlong, while legendary New Zealand driver Ken Smith occasionally campaigned the Ferrari in club events, including meetings at Western Springs and Ardmore.

Sir Len Southward's Vision

By the late 1960s the Ferrari had already lived several extraordinary lives.

It had raced across Europe.

It had competed at some of the world's most famous circuits.

It had survived one of New Zealand motorsport's darkest days.

It had been rebuilt, modified, re-engined and raced for more than a decade.

Recognising its enormous historical significance, Sir Len Southward acquired the Monza in 1967.

Unlike many collectors, Len was never interested in simply displaying rare vehicles. His vision was to preserve significant motor cars as authentically as possible for future generations.

The Corvette V8 was eventually removed and a decades-long search began for the Ferrari's original components.

One of the greatest achievements of the restoration was reuniting chassis 0514M with its original Ferrari engine - something many enthusiasts believed would never be possible. Alongside the remains of the original engine, Southward also acquired a complete 750 Monza engine and components from the ex-Clark/Smith Super Squalo to assist in returning the car to its original specification.

A Restoration Decades in the Making

The restoration of the Ferrari 750 Monza was not measured in months or even years - it was measured in decades.

Every component was researched, sourced or rebuilt with authenticity as the guiding principle. Later racing modifications were removed, the bodywork was returned to its original Scaglietti form, and the rebuilt Lampredi engine was reunited with its original chassis.

Completed during the 2000s, the restoration returned the Ferrari as closely as possible to its original 1955 specification, preserving not only one of Ferrari's rarest sports racing cars but also one of the most significant pieces of New Zealand motorsport history.

More Than a Ferrari

The Ferrari 750 Monza is far more than an exceptionally rare racing car.

It tells the stories of Luigi Piotti, Eugenio Castellotti, Peter Whitehead, Ross Jensen, Ken Wharton, Ken Harris, Bill Thomasen, Johnny Riley, Mike Furlong, Ken Smith, and finally Sir Len Southward, whose determination ensured this remarkable machine would survive for future generations.

Few vehicles in the Southward Car Museum collection encapsulate so many chapters of international and New Zealand motoring history.

Standing before it today, visitors are not simply looking at one of Ferrari's greatest racing cars - they are witnessing a survivor whose story spans more than seventy years, multiple continents, world-famous race meetings, tragedy, perseverance and one extraordinary restoration.

Photo Credit Aaron Mai Media