Ferrari America
Encyclopedia
The first America cars were the 340, produced between 1950 and 1952. Using the new Lampredi
V12
developed for Formula One
racing, the 340 America could produce over 200 PS. Only 23 copies were built: 11 by Vignale
, eight by Touring
, and four by Ghia
.
The 340 America was replaced by its larger-engined brother, the 375 America.
rear suspension, but had the 4.4 L Colombo
V12 from the other 365
cars. Just 14 of the open roadsters were built, including two in right hand drive; production ended in 1967.
was commissioned by director Roberto Rossellini
to build a one-off version of the 375 MM with custom bodywork for his wife, actress Ingrid Bergman
. This design later became the inspiration for the car which would be named after Scaglietti himself, the Ferrari 612
. The colour chosen for the vehicle was not available with other Ferrari models. It was later made available for all production Ferraris under the name "Grigio Ingrid."
engine, but produced as much power as its predecessor. It debuted in 1959 as 410 production ended, and was available as a coupe, spider, or cabriolet with custom Pinin Farina bodywork. Four-wheel disc brake
s were a new addition. 50 400s had been built when the 400 stepped aside in 1964.
s for even more power.
Each 410 Superamerica had custom bodywork, with a few by Boano and Ghia but most by Ferrari stalwart, Pinin Farina. The price was extremely high — at US$16,800, the 410 Superamerica offered at the New York Auto Show by importer Luigi Chinetti
was more than twice as expensive as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL
"Gullwing" exhibited by Max Hoffman
. Just a few (34 to 35) were built when the series ended in 1959.
, with 400 PS available, now pushing the car to 275 km/h (171 mph). The engine had the same dimensions as the Lampredi "long-block" engines of the 410 Superamerica. The chassis was based on the contemporary 330 GT 2+2
, and bodywork was again done by Pininfarina. 37 cars were made to 1966, including 12 "series II" models with an updated 5-speed transmission. Only coupes were made and no Superfast roadsters were available.
Ferrari Lampredi engine
Aurelio Lampredi designed a number of racing engines for Ferrari. He was brought on to hedge the company's bets with a different engine family than the small V12s designed by Gioacchino Colombo. Lampredi went on to design a number of different straight-4, straight-6, and V12 engines through the...
V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
developed for Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
racing, the 340 America could produce over 200 PS. Only 23 copies were built: 11 by Vignale
Vignale
Vignale was an Italian automobile coachbuilder company. Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was established in 1948 at Via Cigliano, Turin by Alfredo Vignale in Grugliasco, near Turin ....
, eight by Touring
Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring is an automobile coachbuilder established on March 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni...
, and four by Ghia
Carrozzeria Ghia
Carrozzeria Ghia SpA is one of the most famous Italian automobile design and coachbuilding firms, established by Giacinto Ghia and Gariglio as Carrozzeria Ghia & Gariglio, located at 4 Corso Valentino in Turin....
.
The 340 America was replaced by its larger-engined brother, the 375 America.
365 California
The 1966 365 California was a stepchild model. It used the America's chassis, with its 2650 mm wheelbase and live axleLive axle
A live axle, sometimes called a solid axle, is a type of beam axle suspension system that uses the driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that they move together as a unit....
rear suspension, but had the 4.4 L Colombo
Ferrari Colombo engine
Ferrari's earliest cars used engines designed by Gioacchino Colombo, who had formerly designed Alfa Romeos for Enzo Ferrari. These V12 powerplants ranged from the diminutive 1.5 L unit fitted to the 125S to the 3.3 L unit in the 1966 275.Enzo Ferrari had long admired the V12 engines of...
V12 from the other 365
Ferrari 365
The Ferrari 365 is Ferrari's large FR layout grand tourer and 2+2 line. Introduced at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, it replaced the 330 and 500 Superfast. Featuring evolutionary Pininfarina styling, it is nevertheless often overshadowed by its famous successor, the sharp-creased 365 GTB/4...
cars. Just 14 of the open roadsters were built, including two in right hand drive; production ended in 1967.
375 America
Another Pinin Farina and Vignale car, the 375 used the new 4.5 L Lampredi engine with up to 300 PS. The 340 and 375 were expensive and exclusive - only about 40 were built from late 1951 through 1955.375 MM "Ingrid Bergman"
Carrozzeria ScagliettiCarrozzeria Scaglietti
Carrozzeria Scaglietti was an Italian automobile design and coachbuilding company active in the 1950s. It was founded by Sergio Scaglietti in 1951 as an automobile repair concern, but was located across the road from Ferrari in Maranello outside Modena, Italy.Scaglietti gained Enzo Ferrari's...
was commissioned by director Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
to build a one-off version of the 375 MM with custom bodywork for his wife, actress Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute...
. This design later became the inspiration for the car which would be named after Scaglietti himself, the Ferrari 612
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a grand tourer produced by Ferrari between 2004 and 2010. It is a large two door fastback coupé. The 612 Scaglietti was designed to replace the smaller 456 M; its larger size makes it a true 4 seater with adequate space in the rear seats for adults.The design,...
. The colour chosen for the vehicle was not available with other Ferrari models. It was later made available for all production Ferraris under the name "Grigio Ingrid."
400 Superamerica
The 400 Superamerica had a smaller 4.0 L ColomboFerrari Colombo engine
Ferrari's earliest cars used engines designed by Gioacchino Colombo, who had formerly designed Alfa Romeos for Enzo Ferrari. These V12 powerplants ranged from the diminutive 1.5 L unit fitted to the 125S to the 3.3 L unit in the 1966 275.Enzo Ferrari had long admired the V12 engines of...
engine, but produced as much power as its predecessor. It debuted in 1959 as 410 production ended, and was available as a coupe, spider, or cabriolet with custom Pinin Farina bodywork. Four-wheel disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s were a new addition. 50 400s had been built when the 400 stepped aside in 1964.
410 Superamerica
As if the custom, low-volume America was not fast enough, Ferrari produced another line of America cars, beginning with the 1955 410 Superamerica. The engine was now up to 5.0 L with 340 PS available. A 1957 Superamerica III had triple Weber carburetorWeber carburetor
Weber is an Italian company producing carburetors, currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A., in turn part of the Fiat Group.The company was established as...
s for even more power.
Each 410 Superamerica had custom bodywork, with a few by Boano and Ghia but most by Ferrari stalwart, Pinin Farina. The price was extremely high — at US$16,800, the 410 Superamerica offered at the New York Auto Show by importer Luigi Chinetti
Luigi Chinetti
Luigi Chinetti was an Italian-born racecar driver, who emigrated to the United States during World War II and became an American citizen....
was more than twice as expensive as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
"Gullwing" exhibited by Max Hoffman
Max Hoffman
Max Hoffman, , was an Austrian-born importer of automobiles into the United States during the 1950s. Doing business among gentlemen who knew one another well, he was known for his handshake deals that always were upheld without a written contract...
. Just a few (34 to 35) were built when the series ended in 1959.
500 Superfast
The end of the top-line America series was the 1964 500 Superfast. Early in development, and even into production, these cars were to be called "Superamericas", but the decision was made at the last moment to use "Superfast" instead. The engine was a 5.0 L Ferrari Colombo V12 engineFerrari Colombo engine
Ferrari's earliest cars used engines designed by Gioacchino Colombo, who had formerly designed Alfa Romeos for Enzo Ferrari. These V12 powerplants ranged from the diminutive 1.5 L unit fitted to the 125S to the 3.3 L unit in the 1966 275.Enzo Ferrari had long admired the V12 engines of...
, with 400 PS available, now pushing the car to 275 km/h (171 mph). The engine had the same dimensions as the Lampredi "long-block" engines of the 410 Superamerica. The chassis was based on the contemporary 330 GT 2+2
Ferrari 330
The 1963 330 America shared the outgoing 250 GTE's chassis but not its engine, being powered by the new Type 209, at 6600 rpm, 4.0 L engine.Socialite Sandra West is buried with her blue 330 America at the Alamo Masonic Cemetery at San Antonio, Texas....
, and bodywork was again done by Pininfarina. 37 cars were made to 1966, including 12 "series II" models with an updated 5-speed transmission. Only coupes were made and no Superfast roadsters were available.