Ferrari 158

Lore & Background

The 158 was equipped with a 1.5-litre V8 engine, with a bore and stroke of 67.0 mm × 52.8 mm (2.64 in × 2.08 in). It was the first Ferrari Formula One car to use a monocoque chassis. John Surtees drove the Ferrari 158 to win his only Formula One Drivers' Championship, in 1964. Ferrari won the 1964 Manufacturers' Championship by competing in the last two races in cars painted not in the traditional Rosso corsa but in white and blue. These cars were entered by the factory-supported but unofficial NART team, rather than the Scuderia Ferrari factory team. This was done as a protest concerning arguments between Ferrari and the Automobile Club d'Italia regarding the homologation of the Ferrari 250 LM for the World Sportscar Championship.

In Their Own Story

The roar of the V8 engine echoed through the rain-slicked streets of Monaco as Surtees pushed the red Sharknose to its limit. Water sprayed from the slick tires, blurring the vision, but the chassis held firm against the chaotic grip of the wet track. The distinctive nose cut through the spray with precision, a testament to the engineers' foresight in designing for stability. As he crossed the finish line, the silence of the crowd was brief before erupting into cheers, cementing this moment as a defining chapter in the annals of motorsport history.

Reader's Guide

The Ferrari 158 used a 1.5-litre V8 engine producing 210 PS (154 kW; 207 hp) @ 11,000 rpm. It was complemented on fast circuits by the flat-12 powered Ferrari 1512, which used the same chassis and developed 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp) @ 12,000 rpm. The 158 was more competitive on small, twisty circuits.

Did You Know?

• The Ferrari 158 was the first Ferrari Formula One car to use a monocoque chassis.
• John Surtees won his only Formula One Drivers' Championship driving the Ferrari 158 in 1964.
• Ferrari won the 1964 Manufacturers' Championship with cars painted white and blue, entered by the NART team instead of Scuderia Ferrari.