Ferrari America
| Ferrari America 340, 375, 410, 400, 500, 365 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Ferrari |
| Class: | front-engined GT car |
| Production: | 1951 — 1967 |
| 340 America | |
| Production: | 1951 — 1952 |
| Body styles: | Coupe Roadster |
| Engines: | 4.1 L V12 |
| 375 America | |
| Production: | 1952 — 1955 |
| Body styles: | Coupe Roadster |
| Engines: | 4.5 L V12 |
| 410 Superamerica | |
| Production: | 1955 — 1959 |
| Body Styles: | Coupe Roadster |
| Engines: | 5.0 L V12 |
| 400 Superamerica | |
| Production: | 1959 — 1964 |
| Body styles: | Coupe Roadster |
| Engines: | 4.0 L V12 |
| 500 Superfast | |
| |
| Production: | 1964 — 1966 |
| Body Styles: | Coupe Roadster |
| Engines: | 5.0 L V12 |
| 365 California | |
| Production: | 1966 — 1967 |
| Body Styles: | Roadster |
| Engines: | 4.4 L V12 |
| This article is part of the automobile series. | |
Ferrari's highest-end models in the 1950s and 1960s were the Americas. They were large touring cars with the largest V12 engines and often had custom bodywork. All America models used a live axle in the rear, were front-engined, and had worm and sector steering.
The America series was based on a series of concept cars which bore the Superfast name. Therefore, the final true member of the America production family finally bore that name instead: The 500 Superfast.
340 America
The first America cars were the 340. Using the new Lampredi V12 developed for Formula 1 racing, the 340 America could produce over 200 hp. Bodywork was done by Pinin Farina and Vignale. The 340 was produced for only about one year, replaced by its larger-engined brother, the 375 America.
375 America
Another Pinin Farina and Vignale car, the 375 used the new 4.5 L Lampredi engine with up to 300 hp (224 kW). The 340 and 375 were expensive and exclusive - only about 40 were built from late 1951 through 1955.
375 MM
410 Superamerica
As if the custom, low-volume America was not fast enough, Ferrari produced another line of America cars, beginning with the 1955 410 Superamerica. The engine was now up to 5.0 L with 340 hp (254 kW) available. A 1957 Superamerica III had triple Weber carburetors for even more power.
Each 410 Superamerica had custom bodywork, with a few by Boano and Ghia but most by Ferrari stalwart, Pinin Farina. The price was extremely high — at US$16,800, the 410 Superamerica offered at the New York Auto Show by importer, Luigi Chinetti, was more than twice as expensive as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing" exhibited by Max Hoffman. Just a few (14 to 35) were built when the series ended in 1959.
400 Superamerica
The 400 Superamerica had a smaller 4.0 L Colombo engine, but produced as much power as its predecessor. It debuted in 1959 as 410 production ended, and was available as a coupe, spider, or cabriolet with custom Pinin Farina bodywork. Four-wheel disc brakes were a new addition. 50 400s had been built when the 400 stepped aside in 1964.
365 California
The 1966 365 California was a stepchild model. It used the America's chassis, with its 2650 mm wheelbase and live axle rear suspension, but had the 4.4 L Colombo V12 from the other 365 cars. Just 14 of the open roadsters were built, and production ended in 1967.
References
| Ferrari timeline, 1948-1967 | Ferrari road car timeline 1960s-1990s > | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| Sports | 125 S | 166 S+166 SC | 195 S | 212 Exp | 225 S | 250 MM | 250 Monza | 250 GT Tour de France | 250 GT SWB | 250 GTO | 250 LM | |||||||||||
| 159 S | 250 S | 250 Export | ||||||||||||||||||||
| GT | 166 Inter | 195 Inter | 212 Inter | 250 Europa | 250 GT Europa | 250 GT Boano | 250 GT Ellena | 250 GT Coupe PF | 250 GT Lusso | 330 GTC | 365 GTC | |||||||||||
| 275 GTB | 275 GTB/4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spyder/Cabriolet | 250 GT | 275 GTS | 330 GTS | 365 GTS | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 plus 2 | 250 GT/E | 330 GT | 365 GT | |||||||||||||||||||
| America | 340 | 375 America/MM | 410 Superamerica | 400 Superamerica | 500 Superfast | 365 California | ||||||||||||||||