By 1955, Mercedes-Benz’s 300 SLR presented a challenge that could not be met by Ferrari’s V-12 racers, nor the nimble four-cylinder 750 Monza, prompting Il Commendatore to commission Aurelio Lampredi to create a more powerful straight-six powerplant.

The advanced 3,747-cc engine found a home in the 118 LM—a sportscar designed to take on the Three-Pointed Star at the 1955 Mille Miglia.

Chassis 0546 LM was one of four Works cars built for the event, taking to the start line in Brescia wearing #728, with Ferrari Works driver Piero Taruffi at the wheel.

The Scuderia’s 118 LMs were the cars most feared by history makers Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson, but none more so than chassis 0546 LM and ‘the most dangerous rival of them all, that master tactician, Taruffi’, recalled “Jenks” in the June 1955 issue of Motor Sport .

Setting off five minutes after the famous Silver Arrow, the Italian set a blistering pace, leading the 300 SLR for much of the race and smashing all records on the cha...