Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Series 1

www.QV500.com Ferrari 400 Superamerica Part 1: Series I (SWB)

Ferrari's exquisite 400 Superamerica's were manufactured between 1959 and ’64, the entire production run totalling just 47 vehicles. Incredibly expensive and often completed with bespoke detailing, they replaced the gorgeous 410 Superamerica's that had been around since 1956. The most exotic high performance cars of their time, Enzo Ferrari referred to the Superamerica series in his 1963 memoirs as "the chinchilla amongst automobiles", also going on to say that buyers were "nearly always accompanied by breathtaking women".

They included industrialists like Gianni Agnelli (1517 SA) and Michel Paul Cavallier (2257 and 2311), tycoons like Bill Harrah (2861) whilst Count's were represented by Giovanni Volpi (2809) and Graf Somsky (2841). Two distinct types were constructed, the first on a short wheelbase chassis, production totalling 25 units, the second on a longer wheelbase frame, production of which reached 22 examples. The short wheelbase 400's composed of five vehicles to a unique specification, six Cabriolet's and 14 Coupe's. Long wheelbase Series II cars were generally more standardised, 18 Coupe's being constructed along with four Cabriolet's. Designated Tipo 538, the Series I used a traditional tubular steel ladder type frame with a 2420mm wheelbase. It bore a noticeable resemblance to the 2600mm wheelbase Tipo 508 frame found on some concurrent 250 GT's. Dunlop disc brakes are believed to have been fitted to nearly all 400 Superamerica's and these were vitally important for this wasn't only Ferrari’s most powerful GT, but also one of the heaviest. It used independent front suspension with a live rear axle and Borrani wire wheels. However, the most obvious feature to differentiate these 400 Superamerica's from their predecessors was the switch from Lampredi to Colombo engines.

Incorporating new 60° V12's designated Tipo 163, the engines featured a displacement of 3967cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 77 x 71mm respectively (up from 73 and 58.8mm). The Tipo 163 was itself a de-tuned version of the engines used in some of Ferrari's sports racing cars of the time, most notably the fabled 335 S and 412 MI. Output was 340bhp at 7000rpm and most cars ran an 8.8:1 compression, Ferrari normally fitting three twin choke Weber 42 DCN downdraught carbs although 40 DCZ's, huge 46 DCF's and even Solex items were occasioanlly used.

Transmission was via a four-speed all synchromesh gearbox with electronic overdrive and, depending on the final drive ratio, a top speed in excess of 160mph was possible, 0-60 taking around six seconds. A number of Series I 400 Superamerica's were fitted with bespoke coachwork and four such examples would debut before the first Coupe Aerodinamico, but these unique early machines are covered seperately in Part 2. Instead, here we focus on the more standardised Cabriolet and Coupe Aerodinamico's executed by Pininfarina, Ferrari’s carrozzeria of choice. For both versions, Pininfarina created designs with open and covered headlights, the open light nose bearing some resemblance to the concurrent 250 GT with chrome-rimmed units mounted on curvaceous front wings. Those completed with covered headlights meanwhile had a more streamlined and marginally more elegant appearance. Coupe and Cabriolet designs were otherwise very different though, the Cabriolet's side profile normally featuring kick-up creased rear wings ending in stylised chrome-rimmed light clusters almost identical to those of the Series I 250 GTE. All Cabriolet's (including the long wheelbase Series II cars) were sold with an elegant hardtop that featured fixed three-quarter windows.

Coupe Aerodinamico's received distinctive tail treatments influenced by Pininfarina's Superfast II (one of the special early 400 Superamerica's covered in Part 2) their sloping rear decks culminating in a wasp-like tail. As with the bodywork, interior detailing often varied according to the original customers requirements. Buyers could influence the instrument layout, dash material (crackle black or leather), request special interior hides and carpets, electric windows, ultra rare fitted luggage and more. The car that made the 400's debut at Turin's Salon in November 1959 was a unique vehicle specially commissioned by Fiat chief Gianni Agnelli. The first 400 Superamerica Cabriolet constructed was the second chassis, 1611 SA, whilst the first Coupe Aerodinamico was 2373 SA, the ninth Series I.