www.QV500.com - Ferrari 400 Superamerica Part 2: Series I (SWB) of Special Interest
 

400 SA Series I PF Coupe Speciale 1517 SA		 The car that introduced the world to the 400 Superamerica was displayed during November 1959 at the Turin Salon. A unique vehicle commissioned by head of the Fiat empire, Giovanni Agnelli, it was built on chassis 1517 SA and bodied by Pininfarina. Distinctive features included a huge square meshed front grille flanked by twin headlights mounted high up on the boxy front end. A wraparound front windscreen, elegant cabin treatment and a sporting tail couldn't save a design hampered by the amatuerish nose although Agnelli was reputedly very happy with his tailor made machine. After building 1517 SA and three standard Cabriolet's, Pininfarina were back on form with another one-off, the Superfast II. Successor to the appropriately titled Superfast I and constructed on chassis 2207 SA in September 1960, this masterpiece was unveiled at the Turin Salon during November and caused a sensation.
   

With its tight fluid lines, retractable headlights, oval egg-crate grille and lavishly embellished hood, this was the period's most advanced reflection of aerodynamic understanding. The Superfast II evolved into the Superfast III for March 1962's Geneva Salon, 2207 SA having undergone some subtle coachwork revisions. The most notable changes were focused around slimming the nose profile, more sharply creasing the wings, fitting new three-quarter windows and a wraparound rear screen. There was also a brake cooling vent carved out from behind each rear wheelarch and a retractable nose-mounted radiator housing. Pininfarina's final Superfast concept was also constructed on chassis 2207 SA, the Superfast IV being presented later in 1962 and featuring a new ‘Chinese Eye’ headlight configuration that, although hardly a startling success, did pioneer a look that would later be adopted by Ferrari and Rolls Royce.

 

400 SA Series I PF Superfast II 2207 SA		 The Superfast II was finished in white, the Superfast III in pale metallic green and Superfast IV in dark blue. Another interesting 400 Superamerica was chassis 2257 SA, listed in the accompanying chassis index as a GTE Speciale. This car was originally constructed in 1959 as chassis 1257 GT, a 250 GTE prototype with the correct type 250 3-litre engine. Later, this was exchanged by the works for a much more powerful Tipo 163 unit from the 400 Superamerica. Consequently, chassis 1257 GT became 2257 SA, records indicating this hot GTE was sold to Paul Cavallier, an important French client.
   
One of only two 400 Superamerica's not to originally receive coachwork designed and built by Pininfarina was chassis 2311 SA, for which Scaglietti of Modena fabricated a body in the style of their 250 California Spyder. This car, like the '400 GTE', was specially commissioned by French industrialist Michel Paul Cavallier in 1961. Featuring a steel Spyder body with competition-inspired extras like a Monza fuel filler peeking out from the rear deck, 2311 was a good deal more powerful than even the most highly tuned Spyder Competizione's and uniquely completed in right-hand drive. Another 400 also received special coachwork by Scaglietti, chassis 3673 SA becoming the 400 Superamerica Berlinetta Speciale in 1962. Originally constructed with GTO-style bodywork, this vehicle, like the California Spyder chassis 2311 SA, would have been considerably more powerful than the stock 250.