| Manufacturer | Ferrari |
|---|---|
| Production | 1951-1967 |
| Class | Grand tourer |
| Layout | FR layout |
Ferrari America is a series of top-end Ferrari models built in the 1950s and 1960s. They were large touring cars with the largest V12 engines and often had custom bodywork. All America models used a live axle in the rear, were front-engined, and had worm and sector steering.
The America series was based on a series of concept cars which bore the Superfast name. Two of the series, the 400 and the 410, were called Superamerica. The final member of the America production family was called the 500 Superfast. The series also includes the 365 California.
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The 330 America shared the outgoing 250 GTE's chassis but not its engine, being powered by the new Type 209, 300 hp (220 kW) at 6600 rpm, 4.0 L engine.
50 330 Americas were built, one of which was buried in 1977 in a San Antonio cemetery with its owner, Sandra West, at her request.[1]
| Production | 1950—1952 |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door roadster |
| Engine | 4.1 L V12 |
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 (147 kW; 197 hp). Only 23 copies were built: 11 by Vignale, eight by Touring, and four by Ghia.[2]
The 340 America was replaced by its larger-engined brother, the 375 America.
| Production | 1966—1967 14 produced |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door roadster |
| Engine | 4.4 L V12 |
The 1966 365 California was a stepchild model. It used the America's chassis, with its 2650 mm wheelbase and live axle 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.
| Production | 1952-1955 |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door roadster |
| Engine | 4.5 L V12 |
Another Pinin Farina and Vignale car, the 375 used the new 4.5 L Lampredi engine with up to 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp). The 340 and 375 were expensive and exclusive - only about 40 were built from late 1951 through 1955.
Carrozzeria Scaglietti 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."
| Production | 1959—1964 |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door roadster |
| Engine | 4.0 L V12 |
The 400 Superamerica had a smaller 4.0 L Colombo 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 brakes were a new addition. 50 400s had been built when the 400 stepped aside in 1964.
| Production | 1955-1959 |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door roadster |
| Engine | 5.0 L V12 |
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 (250 kW; 335 hp) available. A 1957 Superamerica III had triple Weber carburetors 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.
| Production | 1964—1966 37 produced |
|---|---|
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Engine | 5.0 L V12 |
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 engine, with 400 PS (294 kW; 395 hp) 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.
| Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| Sports | 125 S | 166 S | 195 S | 212 Exp | 225 S | 250 MM | 250 Monza | 250 GT Tour de France | 250 GT SWB | 250 GTO | 250 LM | |||||||||||
| 159 S | 250 S | 250 Export | ||||||||||||||||||||
| GT | 166 Inter | 195 Inter | 212 Inter | 250 Europa | 250 GT Europa | 250 GT Boano | 250 GT Ellena | 250 GT Coupe PF | 250 GT Lusso | 330 GTC | 365 GTC | |||||||||||
| 275 GTB | 275 GTB/4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spider/Cabriolet | 250 GT | 275 GTS | 330 GTS | 365 GTS | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2+2 | 250 GT/E | 330 GT | 365 GT | |||||||||||||||||||
| America | 340 America | 375 America/MM | 410 Superamerica | 400 Superamerica | 500 Superfast | 365 California | ||||||||||||||||