(R Croston)
The wonders of social media…
Richard Croston popped onto that internet thingy some amazing factory data on the 1955 Ferrari Super Squalo ‘555-2’ raced by the factory in Grands Prix that season, and then acquired by Reg Parnell for modification to Formula Libre specifications by fitment of a Monza 860 3.4 litre engine where a 2.5 litre Gee Pee jobbie once nestled.
He and Peter Whitehead, in ‘555-1’, raced the cars in the 1956 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park and then did the New Zealand internationals in January/February 1957 before selling the cars locally and then high-tailing it back to Europe. Suss this ’56 AGP piece; https://primotipo.com/2018/01/16/james-linehams-1956-agp-albert-park/
I’ve substantially added to an earlier article on ‘555-2’- its grown from 500 words to 2600 in a couple of separate additions, so worth a look, its a bonus if you speak Italian… https://primotipo.com/2015/08/25/arnold-glass-ferrari-555-super-squalo-bathurst-1958/
Credits…
Richard Croston Collection, George McKaige from ‘Beyond The Lens’
(unattributed)
The black nose-banded Parnell 555 Ferrari takes centre stage in the Albert Park paddock during the 1956 Australian Grand Prix weekend- the car behind is Whitehead’s identical machine.
Car #5 is the nose of Reg Hunt’s Maserati 250F, the #8 Ferrari Monza is I think Stan Coffey’s albeit he raced with number 9- it isn’t Ken Wharton’s who raced with #10. Theory folks?
Who is the short, burly driver standing behind Whitehead’s car?- it isn’t slight Peter or burly but balding Reg.
(G McKaige)
Reg and the boys push 555-2 onto the Albert Park grid- Stirling Moss won in a works 250F that day from Jean Behra’s sister car, then Whitehead in 555-1 and Parnell in 555-2.
(G McKaige)
Rare colour shot of Reg on the move during the race from George and Chester McKaige’s wonderful book ‘Beyond The Lens’. Many pundits are of the view that Parnell- who had a great career, was potentially one of Britain’s best Grand Prix drivers but he was one of the generation who lost a chunk of time by virtue of WW2.
A analytical racer with outright pace in single-seaters and mechanical understanding and sympathy in endurance events.
Tailpiece…
From Australian Motor Sports Review 1958-1959
Arnold Glass and 555-2, I wonder how big a seller ‘Bardahl’ was in Australia in the day?- plenty of competition amongst the various oil companies to have the better drivers on their books in those pre-advertising on cars days.
The third place in the 1959 AGP touted was achieved in Glass’ ex-works/Hunt/Stillwell Maserati 250F not the 555 Super Squalo shown mind you.
Finito…
primotipo... 
I loved the Ferrari with its bulging sides.. for fuel tanks?.. remember it well.
Hi Andrew,
The front-engine red cars of the fifties are all mighty impressive looking beasts. I kinda feel with development the 553/555 would have been thereabouts but at the end of the day they lacked punch- then the D50 came along, problem solved. And yes the tanks at the side were to put the weight where it needed to be.
Mark
Great article and photos re the Squalos at Albert Park and elsewhere but I’m happy to suggest a minor correction; Moss, Behra and Whitehead were the first three home in the 56 AGP but Hunt and Jones pushed Parnell into sixth place. I was there as a small boy and still have the autographs I got on the two Saturday practice days of the meeting.
[…] I’ve done these Ferraris to death already, here; https://primotipo.com/2015/08/25/arnold-glass-ferrari-555-super-squalo-bathurst-1958/ and here; https://primotipo.com/2020/10/10/squalo-squadron/ . There’s more; https://primotipo.com/2020/03/31/555-super-squalo-555-2/ […]