There are Ferraris with prestige, and then there’s the 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder by Sutton. This isn’t just another classic, it’s a purpose-built, race-winning, V12-powered icon that rewrote West Coast racing history. Driven by the likes of Carroll Shelby and Dan Gurney, this Ferrari has a résumé that reads like a hall-of-fame entry.
Built to Conquer: A One-Off Ferrari With a Racing Heart
This car isn’t your typical vintage Ferrari. It was factory-built for the American racing team Scuderia Parravano and equipped with a monster 4.9-liter V12, the legendary Tipo 113. Only eight cars ever received this engine, and this is the sole example that was born purely to race. Originally bodied by Scaglietti and later rebodied in period by aviation craftsman Jack Sutton, it became a unique “factory hot rod” in its own right.
Racing Legacy of the 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder
Few cars have a competitive history like this. From its debut at Santa Barbara to victories at Seattle and Paramount Ranch, this Ferrari saw the best of 1950s American road racing. Carroll Shelby called it “the lightest, fastest Ferrari I ever knew.” Dan Gurney, Ken Miles, Jack McAfee, they all put this car through its paces. For Gurney, it was even a springboard to Scuderia Ferrari’s Formula One team.
Power and Performance: 4.9-Liter V12 Brilliance
At the core of the 375 Plus Spyder lies Ferrari’s largest engine of the 1950s, a 4,954 cc V12 that produced 372 horsepower. Based on Aurelio Lampredi’s Formula One engine architecture, it was built to dominate long-distance racing. This was the same powerplant that helped Ferrari win the 1954 Le Mans and Carrera Panamericana. It’s raw, unforgiving, and glorious.
The Sutton Transformation and Proven Track Record
Jack Sutton’s coachwork turned this Ferrari into a sleeker, lighter racer that proved deadly on SCCA circuits. Under the Arciero team, it racked up a long list of podium finishes. Sutton’s craftsmanship gave it a unique identity, somewhere between factory precision and custom brilliance. Every curve of its aluminum body speaks to an era of innovation and grit.
From Museum Treasure to Collector’s Gem
After its final races, this car found a long-term home with William Harrah’s famed collection. Then came a thorough restoration in Switzerland, appearances in the Mille Miglia Storica, and 29 years in a private, meticulously curated collection. Throughout all this, it has retained its matching-numbers chassis, engine, and rear axle, making it not only beautiful, but historically pure.
A Living Piece of Ferrari History
This Ferrari is more than just metal and horsepower, it’s a tangible connection to one of Ferrari’s greatest eras. Whether restored to its 1955 look or preserved in Sutton’s vision, it offers a rare chance to own a car that raced with legends and helped define the Ferrari mystique. From Le Mans lineage to California road circuits, it’s the DNA of a champion, built, driven, and celebrated by legends.
Summary
The 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder by Sutton is a breathtaking fusion of rarity, power, and racing heritage. With a competition-bred 4.9-liter V12, matching-numbers pedigree, and a driver list featuring Shelby, Gurney, and Miles, it stands as one of the most significant postwar Ferraris ever built. Whether you’re a collector or a vintage racer, this isn’t just a car, it’s the soul of Ferrari history on four wheels.
Disclaimer: The information provided is based on available data and historical documentation and may be subject to further verification.
