1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe

This Ferrari 410 Superamerica was originally owned by Emperor Bao Dai, the 13th and final Emperor of Vietnam, from 1949 to 1955. When another of his cars, a Ferrari 375 MM, was destroyed, he had the engine removed and installed in the 410 SA, and subsequently drove the Superamerica around Paris. (The 410 SA engine was mated with a custom Tour de France body by Scaglietti, and that car resides in the French National Automobile Museum). Eventually, the 375 MM engine was removed and a correct 410 SA engine was installed, rendering this 410 SA complete.

This Superamerica exhibits an appropriate patina for its age and experience, and still wears its original body, chrome, and interior.

This Ferrari 410 Superamerica with coachwork by Pinin Farina left the factory with a blue exterior with a contrasting ivory roof and natural leather upholstery. It was sold into royalty with its original owner being Bao Dai, the last reigning emperor of Vietnam. Early in his ownership, following an accident in one of his other Ferraris - a 375 MM Spider, Bao Dai had Joseph Cattaneo's garage switch engines between the two Ferraris. Additional modifications necessitated by the tall engine included changes to the firewall, a hood scoop, and rear-mounted magnetos. To this day, 0493 SA's original engine remains in 0450 AM, which resides in the National Automobile Museum in Mulhouse, France.

This 410 Superamerica passed through a succession of French owners, the last being Agnes Claudine Müller, who acquired it in January 1979 and registered it in Paris as '550 CMJ 75.' In 1988, the Ferrari was acquired by Italian car collector Fabrizio Violati and displayed in his Maranello Rosso museum. In 1996, the Ferrari was involved in a trade deal orchestrated between Symbolic Motor Car Company and German Ferrari collector Harald Mergard, whereby engine 0450 AM was removed from 0493 SA and the car was sold, engineless, to Al Guggisberg of Switzerland. The Superamerica remained in California for approximately a year before being purchased by Tom Shaughnessy.

While in Mr. Shaughnessy's care, the Ferrari was given an engine and gearbox from a 342 America. In 2009, the original engine for 0495 SA was sourced, the next 410 Superamerica built after 0493 SA, and sold this engine and car as a package to the current owner. The new owner commissioned Patrick Ottis and Bill Attaway to return 0493 SA to its original 4.9-liter specification. The process took nearly a decade to complete, and included a no-expense-spared engine rebuild and overhaul of the suspension, driveline, and braking system.

During the restoration process, Ferrari Classiche certified 0493 SA, awarding the car with a Ferrari Classiche Red Book and Certificate of Authenticity.

In 2023, this Ferrari completed the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance without fault, and a few days later, it was shown at the Concours in the Postwar Preservation class, earning the FIVA Award for the best-preserved postwar vehicle.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2024