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On February 28, 1954, ‘Nino’ Farina won easily at Agadir, Morocco,driving the first 375-Plus with Piero Scotti’s 375MM third. The followingweekend, both cars contested the Dakar GP in Senegal, whichScotti won once Farina had retired the Plus – after setting a recordnew fastest lap.On April 4 the Giro di Sicilia round-Sicily road race saw UmbertoMaglioli/Nino Cassani running a lone 375-Plus, Ferrari then claiming347bhp at 6,800rpm from its 4.9-litre engine. It could be revved to8,000rpm in extremis. The Giro car was said to weigh only 2,111lbsand to be capable of 186mph…At the 675-mile race’s first control, in Trapani, Maglioli led PieroTaruffi’s works Lancia D24 V6 by 67secs. Two hours later, at Agrigento,Taruffi led Maglioli by 1min 58secs. But after four hours’ racing,at Enna, Maglioli led the entire Lancia team by nearly 3mins 30secs.Mr Ferrari rated young Maglioli highly, regarding him years after as“…a very fast long-distance racer, as well as being a capable andserious man, willing to face the difficulties of any course, any distance– he kept his position on the team as a safe, reassuring asset”. ByMr Ferrari’s standards this is a paean of praise, despite Maglioli’sluck running out in Sicily as he rolled the 375-Plus just after the Ennacontrol and service depot. Taruffi was left unchallenged to win theGiro for Lancia.Italy’s all-important Mille Miglia followed on May 1. The 375-Plus engines’power curve had been improved, maximum torque boosted bysome 10 per cent, unleashing extra mid-range power and drivability- 315lbs/ft torque increased to 348lbs/ft, with an additional 25bhpmid-range.But in the dark, damp, small hours Farina crashed his race-favourite375-Plus soon after the start at Peschiera, bouncing off a concretepost and smashing into a tree. He broke his arm and nose, passengerLuigi Parenti his leg and pelvis. The car was so badly wrecked itsidentity was scrapped.Maglioli in the surviving works 375-Plus (‘0384 AM’ offered here) andhis team-mate Paolo Marzotto’s 375MM then ran 4 th and 5 th as threeworks Lancias danced away on the rainswept roads. Maglioli inheritedthird place when Castellotti’s and Taruffi’s Lancias failed. Beforethe Florence control Paolo Marzotto’s 375MM retired with gearboxtrouble but Maglioli found himself well placed in ‘0384AM’ headedonly by Ascari’s Lancia. While Ascari’s time to Florence was 8hs22mins 18secs (averaging 86.8mph after 729 miles of wet-weatherroad racing) – Maglioli’s in the surviving Ferrari 375-Plus had been8:27:25.6Motor Cars | 121