The Ferrari 290 S was a sports racing car produced by Ferrari in 1957. It was a development of an earlier 290 MM race car that won the 1956 Mille Miglia. The 290 S was the first sports car manufactured by Ferrari to be powered by a DOHC V12 engine.[1] Its career was very short but it served as an important milestone in the Jano V12-powered lineage.[2]
Development
The Vittorio Jano-designed V12 engine received some technical solutions and experience from the Lancia’s Formula One V8 engine.[3] It was an evolution of the one earlier installed in the 290 MM sports racing car, now with a four overhead camshaft configuration. The new engine was installed in the same, unmodified tubular chassis from its predecessor.[4]