The 19th Coppa delle Mille Miglia, held on 3–4 May 1952, repeated the 1,564 km clockwise route introduced in 1951, winding through central and northern Italy. The course followed the established path from Brescia to Rome and back via the Via Cassia, with no significant changes in layout. However, the competitive landscape shifted notably, as the event became increasingly international and technologically sophisticated.
Victory was claimed by Giovanni Bracco and Alfonso Rolfo in a Ferrari 250 S Coupé by Vignale, powered by a 3.0-litre V12 engine. Bracco, who had narrowly missed victory the previous year in a Lancia, dominated the 1952 edition with a time of 12h 09m 45s, averaging 128.591 km/h—a record for the traditional Mille Miglia route at that time. The Ferrari 250 S, a direct precursor to the legendary 250 GT series, combined lightweight construction with the latest developments from Maranello’s competition department.
In second place, just under five minutes behind, was the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of Karl Kling and Hans Klenk. This streamlined, gullwing coupé was based on the W194 Grand Prix chassis and featured a 3.0-litre inline-six with fuel injection. Its debut at the Mille Miglia signaled the return of Mercedes-Benz to international road racing after a long postwar absence, and the performance foreshadowed future dominance in endurance racing.
Third overall went to Luigi Fagioli, aged 54, and Vincenzo Borghi in a Lancia Aurelia B20 GT 2000, once again proving the potential of production-derived GT cars. The Pininfarina-bodied coupé averaged 123.460 km/h, continuing Lancia’s strong showings in the gran turismo class.
The 1952 Mille Miglia was a turning point, showcasing cutting-edge technology, rising international participation, and the ongoing rivalry between Ferrari, Lancia, and the resurgent Mercedes-Benz.
Winner: Bracco/Rolfo – 
