www.QV500.com - Ferrari 410 Superamerica Part 1: Series I
 

410 Superamerica SI PF Coupe chassis 0479 SA		 By the mid-1950’s, North America was fast becoming Ferrari's most important market. This was predominantly thanks to the work of NART impresario Luigi Chinetti and his small team of distributors who, scattered throughout the United States, combined to raise awareness with their high profile exploits on road and track. In recognition, Ferrari named some exclusive models America, Superamerica and California, however, these lavishly engineered machines weren't constructed solely for the US, many being sold throughout Europe and the Middle East.
   

A carefully revised version of Ferrari's 375 America, the Lampredi-engined 410 Superamerica was simply the ultimate Grand Touring car of its day. Only 34 were ever made in three series between the autumn of 1955 and summer 1959, high profile owners including Emporer Bao Dai, Shah Reza Pahlevi of Iran and Jan de Vroom, the latter having a unique Pinin Farina body and interior fitted to 0719 SA (a Series II 410). For the chassis (designated Tipo 514) Ferrari reworked their 375 ladder type frame by widening the track and fitting new coil sprung front suspension (in place of the 375’s transverse leaf set up). Some additional revisions were also made, these focused primarily around increasing structural rigidity in anticipation of the larger displacement and even more powerful engine. This itself was another development of Aurelio Lampredi's awesome 60° V12 that had most recently been used to great effect in Ferrari's spectacular 410 Sport. Minor alterations saw single rather than double spark plugs used for each cylinder and twin coil ignition (the Sport having had four). Designated Tipo 126, Lampredi's five-litre unit featured a displacement of 4961cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 88 x 68mm respectively.

 

410 Superfast I chassis 0483 SA		 Output was 340bhp at 6000rpm (40bhp up on the outgoing 375) making these 410 Superamerica's the most powerful GT's of their time. Three Weber 42 DCZ carburettors were fitted along with a dry multi-plate clutch. With all the mechanical components in place, a rolling chassis was launched bereft of any bodywork at October 1955's Paris Salon, a fully clothed Superamerica debuting during February 1956 at the Brussels Show. Despite a weight of 3200lbs, the stock 410 could sprint from 0-60 in just six seconds while a top speed in excess of 150mph was possible.
   
Even more performance was available for those who were prepared to pay for something a little bit special, Sports Car Illustrated testing chassis 0719 SA in 1958, this Pinin Farina Series II Speciale (the Jan de Vroom Superfast) hitting sixty in an amazing 5.6 seconds with its hot competition-derived engine. Of the 16 Series I 410 Superamerica's, 13 were bodied by Pinin Farina (12 of which were along fundamentally similar lines), one by Ghia and two by Mario Boano. Boano's one-off Coupe and Convertible designs were heavily influenced by American creations and featured unique finned coachwork, 0485 SA (the only convertible 410 Superamerica) having been displayed at 1956's Turin Salon. Pinin Farina's unique Superfast I was built on chassis 0483 SA, this car using a shortened 2600mm wheelbase and causing a senation at the 1956 Paris Salon. Commissioned by William Doheny, Pinin Farina adopted the trend for all things fins but did so in a functional fashion that proved a resounding success. The body incorporated a stunning cantilevered roof with no A-posts while the reduced wheelbase was the catalyst for a second series 410 – as covered in Part 3.
 

410 Superamerica SI Ghia Coupe chassis 0473 SA

The other unique 410 is commonly referred to as the 510 Superamerica, chassis 0473 SA having reputedly been fitted with a custom built Ferrari 6120cc engine. Ghia’s outrageous bodywork was considered by many to be wholly inappropriate for a Ferrari, but today, 0473 SA evokes wonderful memories of this dream car era. Designed by Savonuzzi, it was influenced by the Gilda concept and commissioned by Californian Bob Wilke who owned several bespoke Ferrari's. In total, 16 Series I Superamerica's were built, the chassis numbers of which are indexed below.
     
0471 SA PF Coupe September '55, Grigio / Rosso, 1955 Paris Salon car, sold new to Count Graf Somsky, 1956 Brussel's Salon car
0473 SA Ghia Coupe Unique showcar designed by Savonuzzi for Bob Wilke, reputedly fitted with a 6.2-litre Lampredi engine
0475 SA PF Coupe December '55, Beige / Naturale, sold new to Carpenter
0477 SA Boano Coupe Unique bodywork commissioned by Upton - under research
0479 SA PF Coupe February '56, Bianco / Nero, sold new to Renato Bialetti
0481 SA PF Coupe December '55, Verde Scuro / Verde, sold new to Fred Lip
0483 SA PF Superfast I August '56, Bianco / Azzurro, 1956 Paris Salon car, unique Pinin Farina bodywork, commissioned by William Doheny
0485 SA Boano Cabriolet Unique Boano-bodied showcar, Bianco - little known
0487 SA PF Coupe August '56, Blu / Nero
0489 SA PF Coupe May '56, Bianco / Nero, sold new to Fronteira
0491 SA PF Coupe May '56, Grigio / Rosso
0493 SA PF Coupe April '56, Blu / Naturale, sold new to Emporer Bao Dai
0495 SA PF Coupe April '56, Grigio / Blu, sold new to Piero Barilla
0497 SA PF Coupe May '56, Blu / Naturale, sold new to Normand
0499 SA PF Coupe August '55, Amaranto Met. / Naturale, sold new to Joao Gaspar
0501 SA PF Coupe May '56, Grigio / Rosso, sold new to Damman