Like many great manufacturer’s, Pasquale Ermini raced in other cars like Bugatti and Talbot before creating his own. He became a specialty manufacturer, taking advantage of Fiat production parts and the cottage industries in Italy. The type 357 was among last of these and featured the largest version of Ermini’s own four cylinder engine.
Some of the great names associated with Ferrari also worked on the 357. The first of these was Gilberto Colombo who manufactured the Ermini chassis from his Gilco workshop.
Many different body styles adorned Ermini chassis, but the 357 was done by the famous Scaglietti firm which would later be devoted almost exclusively to Ferrari. There’s no coincidence that the 357 resembles the Ferrari 121 LM of the same year. Bill Devin liked the shape so much, he took molds of the design and copied it for his fiberglass bodies.
The centerpiece of the 357 was its bespoke twin-cam engine that measured 1431cc and was well suited for the 1.5 liter class of the Mille Miglia. In 1955 Libero Bindi drove an Ermini Tipo 357 with the racing number 602 but failed to finish.
Chassis & Sales
1855-Raced in the Mille Miglia Twice. Sold by Bonhams at their 2009 Les Grandes Marques à Monaco Auction. Described as “one of the three Tipo 357s bodied by Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Modena and seems to be the only surviving example with the wonderful Ermini 1,431cc four-cylinder engine.
The car is in stunning condition, boasting a perfect aluminum body, original instruments, ancillaries, wooden steering wheel and seats. A set of five original Borrani wheels is fitted on the car, which benefits from a recent mechanical overhaul. This Italian masterpiece is accompanied by a huge amount of historical documentation: letters, photographs, Mille Miglia entries, and rare autographic memorabilia by Ermini, Scaglietti and Castagneto. The car was fully restored in 1990 by the best Italian specialists and since then has been carefully maintained by the current and most meticulous owner. Eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious historic events, it is offered with FIVA passport and Italian libretto.”
In Detail
| type | Racing Car |
| released at | 1955 Mille Miglia |
| coachbuilder | Carrozzeria Scaglietti |
| engineers | Pasquale Ermini |
| production | 3 |
| engine | Ermini Inline-4 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| block material | Aluminum Alloy |
| valvetrain | DOHC |
| displacement | 1431 cc / 87.32 in³ |
| body / frame | Aluminum Body over Gilco Steel Tube Frame |
| driven wheels | RWD |
