1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe

During the mid-1950s, Ferrari's 250GT production became standardized with the Boano, Ellena and Pinin Farmin coupes. Ferrari, about a decade old at this point in history, had accomplished and achieved racing success and fostered an exclusive list of clientele. They had experimented with a wide range of engines including fours, sixes, and even the two-cylinder Grand Prix engine. During this experimentation which included the first Ferrari V6 and V8 engines, Ferrari gained the knowledge and solidified designs that would carry them through the next decade of racing. Those designs would even find their way to their road-going vehicles.

While Ferrari's racing program and 250 GT production were becoming well established, they wanted to continue their legacy of exclusive, limited production, and handcrafted line of vehicles. In 1954, this would become manifested in the 410 Superamerica.

The Ferrari 410 Superamerica was a continuation of the Lampredi-powered 375 America. The engine was enlarged to 4963cc resulting in 340 horsepower. The 375 America displaced 4,522cc and produced 300 horsepower. Modifications continued throughout the vehicle, including an increase in track width by 130 mm at both the front ad rear. The transverse leaf springs in the front were replaced with coil springs. These changes gave it a wider stance with a more modern appearance and better stability at speed.

Most of the 410 Superameria chassis's were clothed by Pini Farina. Only four examples were bodied by other artesian, with Sergio Scaglietti performing his craft on one, chassis number 0671 SA. The Scaglietti body was created for Dottore Enrico Wax, the principal in the Genoese firm of Wax & Vitale whose business was in importing.

Scaglietti's relationship with Ferrari began with the 500 Mondial and would continue throughout the years, with one of their more-memorable designs being the 500 TRC. Currently, Scaglietti is owned by Ferrari SEFAC and is the bodywork production facility for all Ferrari road cars.

This coupe is chassis number 0671SA with matching engine number. Many years after this car was originally created, it was in poor conditioned having been neglected for many years. It was found by Greg Garrison who commissioned a restoration, having the original coachwork re-created by the craftsmen who initially built it.

According to Mr. Garrison, Dr. Wax was an early enthusiast of the Ferrari marque who purchased by Ferrari and Maserati automobiles, kept them for a short period of time, and replaced them with new products.

It is believed that this car was sold in early 1958, less than a year after it was delivered to Dr. Wax. It was exported to Switzerland and then to the US around 1960. The history of the car is vague until the early 1970s when it re-surfaced in Texas. It was sold and brought to California where its ownership soon transferred to another individual, Stan Sokol. By this point in history the car was around two decades old. Its body had been modified; the original round hood scoop was replaced with a wide flat scoop. The rear fenders were changed, along with several other modifications. The changes continued in the interior, with the tachometer and speedometer being repositioned in front of the driver. The engine was bored out to 5.1-liters.

The car was stolen and brought to Oregon. Upon realizing this vehicle was a unique machine, the thief removed the body and discarded it in a lake. The running chassis was sold. In 1986, Mr. Garrison acquired the rolling chassis, and shipped it to Italy.

After two years of work, the car had been resurrected. The work had been performed by Scaglietti including four retired employees. Upon completion it returned to California and displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded 'Best of Class'.

Though there were no blueprints or original sketches, the work was done as close as humanly possible to the original. It is a very unique vehicle and the first road-going car bodied by Scaglietti.

In 2007, the Scaglietti bodied 410 Superameria Coupe was brought to Pebble Beach and offered for sale as part of the Gooding & Company auction. It was estimated to sell for $900,000 - $1,300,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding concluded, this vehicle had joined an elite group of cars on auction day that sold above the magic million dollar mark. The high bid of $1,320,000 including buyer's premium was enough to secure new ownership. The lot was sold.

In 2012, the car returned to auction, this time entrusted to RM Auctions at their Scottsdale, AZ sale. The pre-auction estimates valued the car at $1,750,000-$2,250,000. When the gavel fell for the third and final time, the car had been sold for $1,650,000 (hammer price).

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2012