Frequenters of our Zero to Sixty series will know that we have something of a love affair with car website Petrolicious. Their artful use of camerawork, delicate handling of light, sparing use of music, etc., etc., etc. make it hard to know whether we’re gushing more about the video or the car in the video. Today is a perfect example of this because of Petrolicious’s recent video about the John von Neumann 1957 Ferrari 625/250 TRC.
Everyone knows that Ferrari is one of the world’s most historic automakers. This particular Ferrari was ordered by an auto enthusiast—Mr. Neumann—who was the Ferrari, Volkswagen and Porsche distributor in California, and an accomplished racer in his own right. As a man who dominated the racing scene in the Golden State for much of the 20th century, he wanted a special car to enter in Formula One races.
The result is something that doesn’t look like what’s found in most parking lots today, and certainly doesn’t sound like one. It’s curvy, proto-space race body looks like a classic car, which might make you think it’s too delicate to race. Though it is a precision instrument, it’s no stranger to the road: Mr. Neumann entered it in about 50 races in his time, more than half of which it nabbed first place.
The gorgeous cypress trees and curved hillsides are the perfect backdrop for a Ferrari like this, probably because they remind so strongly of its native Italy. The production team made sure that we get plenty of time with the TRC’s wide-open V12 in the open air, and the sound of its engine ripping through the wine-making atmosphere of southern California is almost too beautiful for words. Enjoy.