1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica

The 500 Superfast was the last in a line of luxury Ferrari GTs. Introduced in 1964, production continued until 1966, with just 37 examples being produced.

Production of luxury Ferrari GTs began during the early 1950s with the introduction of the 342 America. Based on the 340 America, it featured a chassis that had been extended to provide ample interior space. The mechanics were similar, outfitted with a derivative of the Lampredi's 'long block' engine.

Next in line were the 250 Europa and 375 America. The Ferrari 375 was introduced at the Paris Salon in 1953. During its production run, which lasted until May 1954, less than 45 examples of the 375 America were produced. The car was constructed for Ferrari's clientele who had the means to afford one of these beautiful creations. Since they were produced in limited numbers, the production took far longer than volume models. Power was provided by a 4.5-liter Lampredi-designed V-12 engine with either three twin-choke Weber 40 DCZ or DCF downdraughts, resulting in 300 horsepower. On all four corners were drum brakes, Borrani wire wheels accented the exterior of the vehicle, and a leaf spring suspension was used in the front and the rear. With the four-speed manual gearbox, the car could achieve a top speed of 150 mph and could race from zero to sixty in less than seven seconds.

In regards to the 375, Pinin Farina was tasked with building the bodywork for many of the models. The Pinin Farina design shared a similarity with the 250 Europa's. The dimensions of several automobiles were similar but their interiors, wings, bumpers and detailing were all unique.

In 1955, Enzo Ferrari displayed a polished chassis #0423 SA at the Paris Salon. The completed version of the 410, crafted by the Italian coachbuilder Pinin Farina, was displayed at the Brussels Salon in January of 1956. As was the style of Ferrari, many variations of this vehicle were built. This is due to the fact that Ferrari used different coachbuilders during the vehicle assembly. Coachbuilders such as Boano, Ghia, and Scaglietti produced versions such as the Testa Rossa, Series I, II and III, and Superfast. This included Coupes and cabriolet versions. Mario Boano produced two, one by Ghia, one by Scaglietti, and the remaining thirty were by Pinin Farina.

The 410 came as a replacement for the 375 America. There were three series for this model but only a total of 38 were produced from 1956-1959.

Although similar to some of the earlier models produced by Ferrari, this one had a few styling changes. The 410 featured side vents located behind the front wheels. These have become a signature of the Superamerica series.

The 410 was given a larger engine and bigger brakes. Coil spring suspensions were used in the front. As with most of the Ferraris from this era, Pinin Farina produced most of the bodies. From 1956-1958, a 110.2-inch wheelbase was used. In 1958 the size of the wheelbase was decreased to 102.3.

In 1959 Ferrari ceased production of the Lampredi engine. Instead, a Colombo-designed 'short block' V-12 engine would provide the power for the next iteration of the Ferrari Luxury GT, the 400 SuperAmerica. A few years later, the four-liter engine was enlarged to five and the final increment of the Luxury GT's was introduced: the Ferrari 500 Superfast. The five-liter engine was capable of producing 400 horsepower. The aerodynamic bodies complimented its engine and did glory to the Superfast name. The top speed was achieved at 175 mph. The chassis was multi-tubular. A four-speed manual gearbox with an overdrive provided power to the rear wheels. Later, the four-speed was replaced by an all-synchromesh five-speed unit.

These special-order vehicles were customizable. Their dimensions, colors, upholstery, carpets, etc were selected by the owner. Because of this, the specifications vary.

The 500 Superfast was Ferrari's fastest, most expensive, most exclusive, and most powerful vehicle at the time. With production only reaching 37 units, their exclusivity is guaranteed in modern times.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe Aerodinamico
Chassis number: 5021 SA
Engine number: 5021 SA

Ferrari introduced the latest evolution of its gran turismo - the 400 Superamerica - at the 1960 Brussels Motor Show. It retained the Superamerica moniker, though the shared little with its immediate predecessor. The 400 SA chassis was based heavily on the refined 250 series and featured a number of noteworthy mechanical updates including four-wheel disc brakes, a fully synchronized gearbox with overdrive and telescopic shock absorbers.

One of the largest updates was the powerplant. The early 'America' series used the Lampredi long block, but Ferrari ceased production of the motor in 1959. The Superamerica was given a larger variation of the Colombo V-12 engine, displacing 4-liters and fitted with three Weber carburetors. The V-12 engine produced as much power as the outgoing 410 Superamerica and benefitted from improved low-RPM torque and maintenance.

In 1960, at the Torino Motor Show, Ferrari introduced the Superfast II. The appearance of the Superfast II would directly impact the appearance of the 400 Supercars that followed.

This 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico was as a bare chassis frame to the Pininfarina plant in Torino on July 9th of 1963. The work was completed in September of that year. It had the covered-headlight arrangement and was finished in light metallic gray, Grigio Argento, with black leather upholstery and red carpets. The car served as Pininfarina's display at the XLV Annual Torino Motor Show in the fall of 1963.

After the show, it was sold to its first owner, Sig. Severi of Lanificio del Montello S.p.A. in Modena, Italy. The early history is not fully known, but by the late 1960s, it was in the United States. During the 1980s, it was sold to Ed Waterman's Thoroughbred Motorcars in Arlington, Virginia, and was repainted in red. It was then sold to Richard Gorman who in turn sold it to Craig Zinn of Florida. By the late 1980s, it was in the care of Waterman's Motorcar Gallery in Fort Lauderdale before arriving at Mille Miglia Inc. in Los Angeles.

In the early 1990s, it went back across the Atlantic and became part of the Rex Collection in Stockholm, Sweden, before traveling to Buenos Aires and into the care of Daniel Sielecki. A short time later, it was painted and reupholstered.

In the care of its most recent owner, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. It was estimated to sell for $1,200,000-1,500,000. As bidding came to a close, the car failed to find a buyer willing to satisfy its reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe Aerodinamico
Chassis number: 4279SA

Introduced in 1959, the Ferrari 400 Superamerica featured a Colombo-designed 4-liter V12 engine and disc brakes. Ferrari's fast and luxurious Pininfarina-styled 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico replaced the outgoing 410 model and continued the marque's tradition of custom-built supercars. Each was specially built with no two exactly alike. The Superamerica was exclusive, driven by Enzo himself as well as by the Aga Khan, Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli, European royalty and Hollywood stars. Only 47 short- and long-wheelbase Superamericas were built during the car's five-year production run, and this is one of only 14 with covered headlights. Since 1998 the car has been owned by its current second owner, who has driven it on many rallies.

Coupe Aerodinamico

This Ferrari was originally built and owned by Nelson Rockefeller and is one of 34 coupes built over five years. The coachwork is by Pininfarina.

Rockefeller wanted a silver car and had it repainted. In 1999, the original color was discovered in restoration along with the build sheets.

In the late 1980s, the car was sold in Europe and returned to the United States in the early 1900s. The car was actually raced in hill climbs by subsequent owners and also did the Colorado Grand.

In 2000, the current owners acquired the car and use it for drives and tours.

Coupe Aerodinamico
Chassis number: 4113 SA
Engine number: 4113 SA

Ferrari's grand touring luxury automobile of the early 1950s, beginning with the 342 America, continued to evolve over the years. In 1956, Ferrari introduced the 410 Superamerica that would go through three series of limited production. It had a graceful exterior, sophisticated interior appointments, and a powerful Lampredi engine. However, they were heavy and unforgiving and somewhat limited by drum brakes and four-speed gearboxes.

In October of 1959, at the Turin Auto Show, Ferrari introduced the new Superamerica, which was intended to address these limitations. Chassis number 1517 SA had a unique brushed aluminum coupe coachwork by Pinin Farina and was essentially a one-off showcar. Its underpinnings, however, we soon produced in series in the 400 Superamerica. One of the main differences from its predecessor was the use of the Colombo short-block V-12, which was bored from its 250 GT dimensions to displace nearly four liters. It had an outside-plug arrangement that had been proven effective in the Testarossa sports racers. The 400 also had Dunlop disc brakes, as well as an overdrive that increased the top-end ratio by 28-percent.

The early examples of the 400 Superamerica were built on the short 2420-millimeter wheelbase and given coachwork by Pinin Farina. That all changed in November 1960, with the appearance of a new show car. That car, chassis number 2207 SA, was called the Superfast II, and it had a pointed open-mouth nose, a slippery roof, and a fastback tail. Aerodynamics was certainly important on the car, and it featured retractable pop-up headlights and rear wheel skirts.

At the Geneva Motor Show the following year, the rear wheel skirts and retractable pop-up lights had been removed. The car at the show, chassis 2373 SA, became the basic blueprint for Pininfarina's Coupe Aerodinamico body style. Due to the semi-custom coachwork, no two Aerodinamicos were precisely the same.

At the London Motor Show in September 1962, Ferrari introduced a second-series 400 Superamerica on chassis number 3931 SA. It had the Aerodinamico body style now rested on the 250 GTE's 2600-millimeter chassis. This would be the platform for the remaining cars.

Series II production came to a close in 1964, with approximately 18 long-wheelbase Coupe Aerodinamicos constructed and 35 Series II examples produced in total (including the earlier short-wheelbase examples).

This example, chassis number 4113 SA, is the twenty-third Aerodinamico-bodied 400 Superamerica and the sixth long-wheelbase Series II car built. It is the third of just four Series II coupes to be given open headlights. Job number 99548 entered Pininfarina's Grugliasco plant in October 1962, where it was finished in Grigio Argento and upholstered in Nero Connolly leather, and it was finally completed on April 13, 1963.

The first recorded owner, Farinac Fassi of Carazza, Italy, purchased the car on May 30. It was registered the following month on Turinese plates TO 543644, and it was then returned for service to the factory's Assistenza Clienti in Modena in June 1964, at which point the odometer displayed 23,118 kilometers.

Giuseppe Vito Sturda of Brindisi, Italy, became the car's next owner in June of 1966. Mr. Sturda registered the Aerodinamico with Brindisi tags that September. In 1969, the car was imported to the United States. By the late 1970s, the car was spotted in Los Angeles wearing Rosso Corsa and a beige interior. In August of 1980, it was sold to Ferrari West of Monterey, CA. Soon thereafter, it was purchased by Helga Ezazi of San Francisco.

Richard Mazer of San Francisco purchased the car less than two years later. The car remained with Mr. Mazer for 30 years. During most of that period, it was garaged and remained largely idle. In 2011, Mr. Mazer commissioned a partial rebuild of the matching-numbers V-12 motor. After the work was completed, the car was offered for sale. It was purchased by a New York-based enthusiast.

In July 2013, the car was given a complete ground-up restoration. The body was stripped to bare metal and finished in Blu Sera Metallizzato paint, while the interior was trimmed with proper red Wilton carpeting and matching red leather. The work was completed in June 2014.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe Aerodinamico
Chassis number: 5029 SA
Engine number: 5029

Ferrari's Superamerica range was intended to appeal to wealthy individuals for whom a regular Ferrari was just a little too ordinary. The first Ferrari 410 Superamerica was built from 1956 to 1959, the Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I was introduced at the 1959 Turin Motor Show, and the 400 Superamerica Series II debuted at the London Motor Show in September 1962. The new car retained the distinctive aerodynamic coachwork of the earlier cars but was built on a longer 250 GTE chassis.

The 400's motor is a Colombo-designed, single overhead camshaft V12 of 3967cc that was once claimed to produce 400 horsepower, often discounted however to 340. Whatever the actual number, there was plenty to excite a spirited driver of this 400 Superamerica, a Pininfarina Aerodinamico, long wheelbase (102.3 inch) coupe. A big car, for sure, weighing nearly 2860 lb, but still entertaining to drive in some degree of luxury.

The 400 Superamerica attracted many well-heeled owners, including Gianni Agnelli, Count Volpi, and Nelson Rockefeller.

This particular example is believed to be the 32nd of a total of 35 built and the 15th of 18 Series II long-wheelbase cars that were constructed before production came to a close in 1964. It was completed by Pininfarina on November 14th, 1963. It was given the Aerodinamico coachwork and covered headlights and finished in Grigio Argento over Red leather, with matching red carpets.

It was purchased new by its first owner, Autoservizi Maggiore S.r.l. of Florence, Italy, in February 1964. A month later, it was registered on Italian license plates, which read FI 244188. It would remain in the ownership of the company for just over a year before it was sold to its second Italian owner, Vittorio Giovanni Maggiore of Rome, and was reregistered in his name.

Five years later, its Italian registration was canceled, as the car was exported to the United States, where it was purchased by Benjamin Caskey of Palm Beach, Florida, who repainted the car a dark blue metallic. Mr. Caskey owned the Superamerica until his passing in 1987, at which time the car was retitled in his widow's name, Edna H. Caskey. Mrs. Caskey kept the car for another ten years, until February 1997.

The next owner was Mark Smith, of Skippack, PA, who brought the car back to running condition. Massimo Rossi, of Nyon, Switzerland, was the car's next owner who returned it to Europe, being imported on January 7th of 1998, and still wearing its dark blue paint, but now with a black interior.

Over the next few years, the car was fully restored by specialists located in Italy and Switzerland. Carrozzeria Zanasi in Maranello was tasked with bodywork, Tappezzeria Luppi in Modena handled the interior, and Ferrari Suisse SA was commissioned for the engine work. The exterior was returned to its original color combination.

In March 2004, the Superamerica was driven by Rossi in the Coppa Milano San Remo rally. It was sold in 2005 and purchased by Lee Herrington, who had it brought back to the United States. It was subsequently purchased by the Andrews collection. In 2010 it was shown at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Coupe Aerodinamico
Chassis number: 4651
Engine number: 4651

This 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico by Pininfarina is 1 of 22 long-wheelbase Series II cars built from 1962-1964. It was delivered new on November 4, 1964, to Moratti of Milan, Italy, and the car's second owner was Mr. McCurdy of Norwalk, Connecticut. It has been part of a private collection since 1999 and was given a mechanical restoration by Sport Auto LTD of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The paint was done by Continental Auto of Portland, Connecticut and the upholstery by East Coast Auto Trim in New Rochelle, New York.

This Ferrari is powered by a 3,967cc all-alloy Colombo V-12 engine with three Weber twin-choke carburetors and paired with a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive. It has Bendix brake boosters, Dunlop 4-wheel disc brakes, and Borrani knock-off wire wheels.

This Ferrari is a rare open-headlight example.

by Dan Vaughan

First introduced in 1976, the Ferrari 400i lasted until 1984. A total of 507 of the Ferrari 400i were produced and introduced at the Paris Show in 1972.

The body style was a coupe and had a 4.8 L FI V12 engine.

At first, the chisel-edged Pininfarina shape was showcased as the 365 GT4 2+2 with a four-cam 4.4-liter V12 with a five-speed manual gearbox only. A short-lived variant, the 365 was a 150 mph 4-seater that was replaced in 1976 by the 400GT.

In 1979 the 400i came with a Bosch injection to enhance smoothness though it robbed the V12 of 30 bhp. The Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection replaced the carburetors on the 400. The emissions were much improved but the power was down substantially.

1985 introduced the 412 the last of the 400 line and considered to be the best model lasted until 1989. Improved with an increase in displacement to 4943 cc, the newest 400, now came with ABS.

The most civilized Ferrari of its generation, they were the first models to offer an automatic transmission. Introduced in 1976 at the Paris Motor Show, the 400 Automatic (or 400A) offered a 3-speed unit from General Motors.

The engine was based on the Daytona, was a 4.8 L (4823 cc) V12 that was capable of producing 340 hp. It carried the traditional GT car layout with driving rear wheels mounted in front.

Only 147 models were five-speed manuals which showed the direction that the market was heading.

by Jessican Donaldson