1952 Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta

This Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta was designed by Giovanni Michelotti and coachwork by Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale & Co. of Torino, Italy. It wears a period-correct livery of blue with the No. 14 and is powered by a 4.1-liter V12 engine backed by a four-speed manual transmission. Among its racing accolades are a fifth-place finish at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans where it was piloted by Andre Simon and Lucien Vincent. Vincent also competing in the car at Montlhéry in France that same year.

Following its racing career, the car left Europe and was exported to the United States via Luigi Chinetti, and is believed to have sold it to Paul Owens of Texas in the late 1950s. Mr. Owens had a Chevrolet V-8 engine installed under the hood, and the increase in power brought about an accident, damaging the original Vignale coachwork. Repairs were made with custom open coachwork resembling the 1956 Bangert Manta Ray. It is believed that this bodywork was damaged in a transporting accident, after which it was given Devin Spider fiberglass bodywork.

The original engine was sold by a Chicago-area resident, and in 1963, chassis number 0202A was titled in Salt Lake City before its trail went cold. In 1990, drag racer Mike Sanfilippo purchased the 340 America for a mere $200. Not knowing what he had, he planned to chop the car, cut the chassis, and transform it into a Hot Wheels-type dragster. Instead, the car sat for several years, its Devin bodywork complete and unmolested.

In 2006, the car was acquired by Tom Shaughnessy of San Clemente, California. It was purchased on eBay for $26,912 where it was listed as a vintage Devin sports car. Mr. Shaughnessy had plans to restore the Devin, but after receiving the car and examining it closer, soon realized that underneath the fiberglass Devin bodywork was a rare, early Ferrari.

With the help of several Ferrari experts, the car was verified to be one of the 24 examples of the 340 America, as well as a Le Mans veteran. A thorough, concours quality restoration followed, returning the car to its period 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans livery and condition, wearing French Racing Blue and the No. 14. It is powered by a correct 4.1-liter V12 engine and backed by a four-speed manual gearbox.

The car has a Classiche Red Book with White Stripe.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019