1951 Ferrari 340 America

Sold for $3,635,000 at 2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction.
This Ferrari 340 America was constructed during the Summer of 1951 and is one of the five type 340A chassis clothed by a Coupe Vignale body. Carrozzeria Vignale hand-built this vehicle during the fall of 1951, and received unique features such as slotted tail lights recessed into the fenders, two air intakes on the hood, chrome trim, unique bumpers, two-tone exterior paint job, and front fender slots. The interior is equally unique with an oversized, three level cigarette holder located right atop the dashboard. The 4.1-liter V12 engine ejects its exhaust fumes through no less than six tail pipes.

The factory test drive occurred at Ferrari in November of 1951. In 1952, it was delivered to the official Ferrari agency of Rome, Ponti & Mambretti. In February of 1952 it was featured in the American car magazine Road & Track. It is believed that its first owner was Johnny Ysmael who paid $25,000 for the bespoke vehicle. Ysmael would keep the car in Los Angeles, where it wore Italian customs license plates. It was sold in 1953 to another Los Angeles resident named Mr. William Doheny. He later sold it to sports car dealer Ernie McAfee where it was raced at various Southern California venues including Willow Springs Raceway.

The car was later purchased by Mr. James Walter and would remained in his family's care for the next five decades. Mr. Walter would keep the car on the road up through the 1960s, then put it into storage to preserve its authenticity. A restoration was started, but never finished. At some point in its history it received a Chevrolet engine, but the original, matching numbers engine was retained. The Lampredi Tipo 340/A SOHC V12 engine has been re-installed into the engine bay. It has a 4,101cc displacement, triple Weber carburetors and is backed by a five-speed manual transmission. Hydraulic drum brakes are located at all four corners.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019