Ferrari America

Ferrari America is a series of top-end Ferrari models built in the 1950s and 1960s. They were large grand 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.

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.

340 America

Ferrari 340 America
Ferrari 340 America Spyder Vignale
Overview
Production	1950–1952 23 made
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door roadster
Powertrain
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.^[1] Giovanni Michelotti designed Coupé and 2+2 Coupé for Ghia and Coupé and Spider for Vignale.

The 340 America was replaced by its larger-engined brother, the 375 America.

342 America

Ferrari 342 America
Ferrari 342 America Pinin Farina Coupé
Overview
Production	1952 6 made
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Powertrain
Engine	4.1 L V12
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,650 mm (104 in)
Kerb weight	1,200 kg (2,646 lb)

Only 6 made: Vignale Cabriolet (designed by Giovanni Michelotti), 2 Pinin Farina Cabriolets and 3 Pinin Farina Coupes. Using same Lampredi-designed engine as in 340 America with different carburettor air filter arrangement. Both 340/342 Americas used even chassis numbering of a race cars, while 375 America and later used odd chassis numbering of a road cars. Black Pinin Farina Cabriolet was owned by King Leopold III of Belgium.

375 America

Another Pinin Farina and Vignale bodied Americas, the 375 used the new 4.5 L Lampredi engine with up to 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp). The 375 were expensive and exclusive—only about 11 were built from late 1953 through 1954. Three Vignale Coupés were designed by Giovanni Michelotti.

410 Superamerica

Ferrari 410 Superamerica
Series III 410 Superamerica Pinin Farina Coupé
Overview
Production	1955–1959 35 made
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door roadster
Powertrain
Engine	5.0 L V12
Power output	340hp
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,800 mm (110 in)
Kerb weight	1,200 kg (2,646 lb)

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 35 were built when the series ended in 1959.^[2] First 2 series of Pinin Farina coupés were very similar with only 3rd series radically redesigned with non-panoramic rear window, different side-line, lower front grille and more recessed headlights, some covered. While most 3rd series PF coupés had 3 louvres behind side-windows, some have this space glassed over. Series III cars were introduced in 1958.

410 Superfast Pinin Farina Speciale

Also known as "Superfast I", made on 410 Superamerica chassis with 24-plug racing engine, prominent tailfins and bi-coloured body. It was unveiled at the 1956 Paris Auto Show. Wheelbase was shorter at 2,600 mm.

400 Superamerica

Ferrari 400 Superamerica
Series I Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupé Aerodinamico
Overview
Production	1959—1964 47 made
Designer	Aldo Brovarone at Pininfarina (Coupé Aerodinamico)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door roadster
Powertrain
Engine	4.0 L V12
Power output	340hp
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,420 mm (95 in)(series I) 2,600 mm (102 in)(series II)
Kerb weight	1,250 kg (2,756 lb) (coupé)

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. 47 Ferrari 400s had been built, along 2 series, when the 400 stepped aside in 1964, of which 32 were coupé aerodinamico variant. Series I coupés aerodinamico had open hood air scoop while series II cars had covered scoop and slightly longer wheelbase.

400 Superamerica Pinin Farina Coupé Speciale

Ferrari 400 Superamerica PF Coupé Speciale for Gianni Agnelli

Special one-off version of 400 Superamerica built in 1959 for Gianni Agnelli. This car was also the very first of 400 Superamericas. Worth note is the fact that very similar body was used on Maserati 5000 GT also built for Sig. Agnelli.

400 Superamerica Superfast II–IV

Originally built as series I Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico Pinin Farina Coupé, chassis no. 2207SA, was bodied and presented as Superfast II at Torino Motor Show in 1960 and 1961. In 1961 rebodied into Superfast III and presented at 1962 Geneva Motor Show. Same year redesigned another, final, time as Superfast IV. It was a styling concept for the upcoming 500 Superfast model.

500 Superfast

Ferrari 500 Superfast
Overview
Production	1964–1966 36 made
Designer	Pininfarina
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé
Powertrain
Engine	5.0 L Ferrari tipo 208 V12
Transmission	4-speed manual with overdrive 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,650 mm (104 in)
Length	4,820 mm (190 in)
Width	1,730 mm (68 in)
Height	1,280 mm (50 in)
Kerb weight	1,400 kg (3,086 lb)

The end of the top-line America series was the 500 Superfast, first shown on the Pininfarina stand at the March 1964 Geneva Motor Show.^[3] During development these cars were to be called "Superamerica", but the decision was made at the last moment to use "Superfast" instead.

The engine was a 4,962.96 cc (303 cu in) Ferrari Colombo V12 engine,^[4] which had the same dimensions as the Lampredi "long-block" engines of the 410 Superamerica, otherwise the design was based on the original Colombo "short block". Breathing through six twin-choke Weber 40 DCZ/6 carburettors, the V12 produced 400 PS (294 kW; 395 hp) at 6,500 rpm and could push the car to 280 kilometres per hour (174 mph).^[4] The chassis was very similar in construction to the contemporary 330 GT 2+2, and bodywork was again done by Pininfarina. When leaving the factory the 500 Superfast originally fitted Pirelli Cinturato CN72 205 VR15 tyres. 36 cars were made from 1964 to 1966, including 12 improved models with a 5-speed transmission in place of the earlier 4-speed plus overdrive. This production total excludes a one-off 330 GT 2+2 produced with a Superfast-style body for Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands. Only coupés were made and no Superfast roadsters were available.

Rear three-quarters view of a 500 Superfast

365 California

Ferrari 365 California
Overview
Production	1966–1967 14 made
Designer	Tom Tjaarda at Pininfarina[5]
Body and chassis
Body style	convertible
Related	Ferrari 500 Superfast
Powertrain
Engine	4.4 L Colombo Tipo 217B V12
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,650 mm (104 in)
Length	4,900 mm (193 in)
Width	1,780 mm (70 in)
Height	1,330 mm (52 in)
Kerb weight	1,320 kg (2,910 lb)

The 365 California replaced the 500 Superfast for 1966. It was the first 365 model, with its 4,390 cc (268 cu in) V12 based on the 330's 4.0 L Colombo unit but with an 81 mm bore. The 365 California used the same chassis as the 500 Superfast but with an evolutionary cabriolet body by Pininfarina. Debuting at the Geneva Motor Show in 1966, just 14 examples were produced (including 2 in right hand drive) before production ended in 1967. Whilst the prototype was built on a 330 GT 2+2 type 571 chassis, production cars featured type 598 chassis. Chassis' were sent to Pininfarina's Grugliasco plant to be bodied and trimmed which were later returned to Ferrari for fitment of the mechanical components.

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ferrari 340 America, Ferrari 342 America, Ferrari 410 Superamerica, Ferrari 400 Superamerica and Ferrari 500 Superfast.

References

• Buckley, Martin; Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7.