Lancia D50
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]
 Alberto Ascari in the Lancia D50 in 1954 | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Lancia | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Vittorio Jano | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Ferrari 553 | ||||||||
| Successor | Ferrari 246 F1 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Multi-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 track | F: 1,294 mm (50.9 in) R: 1,330 mm (52.4 in) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,280 mm (89.8 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Lancia 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] | ||||||||
| Transmission | Lancia 5-speed manual transaxle | ||||||||
| Weight | 620 kg (1,367 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | gasoline | ||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli/Englebert | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Scuderia Lancia Scuderia Ferrari | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Alberto Ascari Luigi Villoresi Eugenio Castellotti Juan Manuel Fangio Luigi Musso Peter Collins.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Alfonso de Portago | ||||||||
| Debut | 1954 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (1956: Fangio) | ||||||||
| n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. | |||||||||
Description
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 very 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
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]
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)
1 Shared drive
References
- David, D. "Lancia D50". Grand Prix History. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- "Lancia D50". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- "Ferrari Lancia D50". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- "Car Model: Lancia D50". www.ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
- "1954 Lancia D50". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- "1957 Ferrari 801 – Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lancia D50. |
- MacDonough, E. "Recreating Lancia's Great Past... The Lancia D50". VeolceToday.com. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- Maclean, A. (2006). "Labour of Love". Cars for the Connoisseur. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- Push-starting a Lancia D50. www.streetfire.net (video)
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