The Lancia D50 was a Formula One racing car designed by Vittorio Jano for Lancia in 1954. The car's design made use of many innovative features, such as the use of the engine as a stressed chassis member, the off-centre positioning of the engine to allow a lower overall height, and pannier fuel cells for better weight distribution and aerodynamics.[3] Six of the cars were built, and two of them are displayed in Italian museums.[5]

Lancia D50/Ferrari D50
Alberto Ascari in the Lancia D50 in 1954
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorLancia/Ferrari
Designer(s)Vittorio Jano
PredecessorFerrari 553
SuccessorFerrari 246 F1
Technical specifications
ChassisMulti-tubular, with stressed engine[1]
Suspension (front)Unequal length, tubular double wishbone, with transverse leaf spring and inboard dampers[2]
Suspension (rear)De Dion tube, with transverse leaf spring and inboard dampers[2]
Axle trackF: 1,294 mm (50.9 in)
R: 1,330 mm (52.4 in)
Wheelbase2,280 mm (89.8 in)
EngineLancia DS50 2,488 cc (152 cu in) 90° V8 Naturally aspirated front-mounted
1954: 260 bhp (194 kW).[2]
1955/6: 285 bhp (213 kW)[3]
TransmissionLancia 5-speed manual transaxle
Weight620 kg (1,367 lb)
Fuelgasoline
TyresPirelli/Englebert
Competition history
Notable entrantsScuderia Lancia
Scuderia Ferrari
Notable driversItaly Alberto Ascari
Italy Luigi Villoresi
Italy Eugenio Castellotti
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
Italy Luigi Musso
United Kingdom Peter Collins
Spain Alfonso de Portago
Debut1954 Spanish Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
14 [4]
Lancia: 4
Ferrari: 10
5 [4]
0
5
8 [4]
2
6
5 [4]
1
4
Drivers' Championships1 (1956: Fangio)
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

Description

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The Jano designed V-8 in the D50
 
Lancia D50 of Scuderia Ferrari

The D50 made its race debut toward the end of the 1954 Formula One season in the hands of two-time and reigning World Champion, Italian driver Alberto Ascari. In its first event Ascari took both pole position in qualifying and fastest race lap, although his car's clutch failed after only ten laps.[4] Following Ascari's death, and in increasing financial trouble, the Lancia family sold their controlling share in the Lancia company, and the assets of Scuderia Lancia were given to Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari continued to develop the car, although they removed many of Jano's most innovative designs,[1] and the car was rebadged as the "Lancia-Ferrari D50" and later simply the "Ferrari D50". Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1956 World Championship of Drivers with this car modified by Ferrari.[5] During their competition lifespan D50s were entered into 14 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, winning five.

Ferrari 801

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The D50s lived on into the 1957 season, much modified as "Ferrari 801s" but were largely uncompetitive against the latest generation of Maserati 250Fs.[6]

 
Ferrari 801 scale model

Technical data

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Technical data D50 Ferrari 801
Engine:  Front mounted 8 cylinder V engine
displacement 2488 cm3 2486 cm3
Bore x stroke:  73.6 x 73.1 mm 76 x 68.5 mm
Max power at rpm:  250 hp at 8 100 rpm 275 hp at 8 400 rpm
Max torque at rpm:  210 Nm at 6 000 rpm 205 Nm at 5 500 rpm
Compression 11.9:1 11.5:1
Valve control:  2 overhead camshafts per cylinder row, 2 valves per cylinder
Carburetor 4 Solex ZIL 4 Solex 40 PII
Gearbox 5-speed manual, transaxle
suspension front:  Double wishbones, transverse leaf springs, hydraulic shock absorbers Double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bars
suspension rear:  De Dion axle, transverse leaf springs, hydraulic shock absorbers De Dion axle, double longitudinal links, transverse leaf spring
Brakes Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body Fackverk frame with aluminum body
Wheelbase 228 cm
Dry weight 640 kg 654 kg
Top speed:  300 km/h 280 km/h

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Designation Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1954 Lancia D50 Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 P ARG 500 BEL FRA GBR GER SWI ITA ESP
Alberto Ascari Ret
Luigi Villoresi Ret
1955 Lancia D50 Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 P ARG MON 500 BEL NED GBR ITA
Alberto Ascari Ret Ret
Luigi Villoresi Ret1 5
Eugenio Castellotti Ret1 2 Ret
Louis Chiron 6
Ferrari D50 E Giuseppe Farina DNS
Eugenio Castellotti DNS
Luigi Villoresi DNS
1956 Ferrari D50 Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8 P
E
ARG MON 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA
Juan Manuel Fangio 11/
Ret
21/41 Ret 4 1 1 21/81
Eugenio Castellotti Ret 41/
Ret
Ret 2 101 Ret1
/Ret
81/
Ret
Luigi Musso 11 Ret Ret1 Ret
Peter Collins 21 1 1 21/
Ret
Ret1
/Ret
21
Olivier Gendebien Ret DNA
Paul Frère 2
André Pilette 6
Alfonso de Portago Ret 21/
101
Ret1 Ret
Wolfgang von Trips DNS
1957 Ferrari D50A
Ferrari 801
DS50 2.5 V8 E ARG MON 500 FRA GBR GER PES ITA
Peter Collins 61/
Ret
Ret 3 Ret 3 Ret
Luigi Musso Ret 2 2 4 Ret 8
Eugenio Castellotti Ret
Mike Hawthorn Ret Ret1 4 3 2 6
Wolfgang von Trips 61 71 3
Cesare Perdisa 61
Alfonso de Portago 51
José Froilán González 51
Maurice Trintignant 5 Ret 4 DNS

1 Shared drive

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b David, D. "Lancia D50". Grand Prix History. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  2. ^ a b c "Lancia D50". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  3. ^ a b "Ferrari Lancia D50". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Car Model: Lancia D50". www.ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  5. ^ a b "1954 Lancia D50". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  6. ^ "1957 Ferrari 801 – Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.

Bibliography

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  • Nixon, Chris (1999). Rivals: Lancia D50 & Mercedes-Benz W196. Isleworth, Middlesex, UK: Transport Bookman Publications. ISBN 0851840590.
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