 |
www.QV500.com - Ferrari 340 America Part 2: The Road Cars |
 340 America Ghia Coupe chassis 0150 A |
The first 340 America to be built as a road car was chassis 0130 AL, a Ghia Coupe with four seat cabin that made its public debut at the Paris Salon during October 1951, twelve months after the first 340 America had been shown. With a chassis plate reading 0130 AL, we assume that the L in its suffix (unique on 340 America's) referred to Lungo as this was the only chassis that provided any significant space for more than two people. It was purchased at the Paris Salon by Englishman David Brown who went onto acquire Aston Martin shortly afterwards. |
This car was also the first Ferrari imported into the UK and considering it was a genuine four-seater, appeared a good deal more elegant than many other 2+2's from the period. Although dominated by its front grille and industrial sides, compared to some of Ghia's work on 340 Ferrari's, 0130 AL seemed especially restrained in its use of decoration. The firm went onto construct four more Coupe bodies on chassis’s 0142 A, 0144 A, 0148 A and 0150 A, this batch all receiving largely comparable profiles. 0142 A and 0144 A were both conservatively styled although the same could not be said of 0148 A. Behind elaborate chrome trim, fussy bumpers and striking two-tone paint, it had pleasant enough lines but the detailing lacked reserve and resulted in a mismatch of features. The last road car bodied by Ghia was chassis 0150 A, sold new to Tony Parravano and prepared for 1952's Carrera Panamericana. Driven by Ernie and Jack McAfee, they completed the epic Mexican road race in fifth position. Vignale built Coupe bodies for chassis's 0132 A and 0174 A, cars never used in anger but nevertheless incorporating many competition-inspired cues. Vignale also produced a very attractive Cabriolet for chassis 0138 A, this unique design remaining in fundamentally original condition until 1988. Acquired by Lord Brocket, its bodywork was subsequently modified to incorporate a number of non-original competition style features. Later, it was supposedly stolen (along with a 250 GT Europa, 195 Sport and Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage), thieves apparently overcoming an intruder alarm system at Brocket Hall in 1995. But as it turned out, 0138 A's bodywork was removed from its chassis, cut into pieces with an axle-grinder and destroyed by none other than the good Lord himself. The remaining components were hidden and recovered intact while Brocket went onto be charged some years later for attempted fraud. |