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Photograph credit: Gordon McCall
The ex-Enzo Ferrari/41,000kms from new
Details
The ex-Enzo Ferrari/41,000kms from new
1961 FERRARI 400 SUPERAMERICA AERODYNAMICA COUPE
COACHWORK BY PININFARINA
Chassis No. 4031SA/3097SA (see text)
Engine No. 1287SA
Metallic Silver Green/Verde Dora with black leather interior
Engine: V12, two single overhead camshafts, one for each cylinder bank, triple Weber 40 DCL carburetors, 3,967cc., 340bhp at 7,000rpm; Gearbox: four-speed manual with overdrive and reverse; Suspension: upper and lower wishbone front suspension with rear solid axle mounted upon leaf springs; Brakes: four wheel Dunlop discs. Left hand drive.
Unveiled at the 1960 Brussels Salon, the 400 Superamerica Coupe was introduced to the automotive world. Its design by Pininfarina would be the famous coachbuilder's first effort from his new facilities in Grugliasco, Italy. The 400 SA was an expensive Grand Touring car, and only a few of Ferrari's dealers of the era were authorized to sell it. Even if a client could prove the financial resources to place an order for one of these cars, it was only the beginning of a long and often frustrating wait. Being a special order, each 400 SA could incorporate such customer preferences as color, interior trim and hardware, custom fitted luggage, instrument arrangement and exterior hardware; even choosing the front nose style was possible. At the rear, fender air ducts and/or skirts could be specified. The more features requested, the more costly the result, and the longer the wait for delivery.
The designation '400' in itself was new. Ferrari, up to that point and subsequently, had either designated his cars by the individual cylinder capacity of the engine such as '250' (cc), or by engine architecture such as '412' (4 liter-12 cylinder). For this Superamerica series with its Type 163 Columbo engine, '400' simply meant four liters. By keeping the original exterior dimensions on the twelve cylinder, sixty-degree, V-shaped block, the Maranello technicians managed to bring the total capacity up to 3,967cc. Compared to the 250 GT's 2,953cc, the bore increased from 73mm. to 77mm. and, with a new crankshaft, the stroke went from 58.8mm. to 71mm. The twelve cylinder engine thus retained its over square configuration - this was essential. It also incorporated the most recent advances of the three liter engine: sparkplugs relocated on the exhaust side and helical valve springs.
Of the fourteen 400 Superamerica Aerodynamica Coupes built, we are proud to offer what is arguably the most significant, serial number 4031SA/3097SA, body number 99518, originally ordered by Enzo Ferrari for his personal use. This provenance has been documented extensively and the archival photograph shows this car just outside Enzo Ferrari's office in the factory courtyard, captured by Steve Earle in February 1962. Engine serial number 1287SA (internal number 8) was originally fitted to Mr. Ferrari's 250 GTE 2 + 2 Prototype. The assembly sheets for 1287 GT/SA reveal a progressive renumbering of the car, the next one being 2257SA 2 + 2. Evidently the 250GTE became a test bed for the new four liter engine. Subsequently, the engine was removed from the 2 + 2 and fitted to Mr. Ferrari's Superamerica 3097SA. The engine retains the number 1287 to this day. This would indicate that 1287GT and 2257SA 2 + 2 were, in all probability, one and the same car. The whereabouts of this car today is unknown. The serial number lists all agree that serial 1287GT was one of the prototype GTE cars, while 2257SA is listed among the first series short wheelbase SA's. A 2 + 2 arrangement on a 94-inch wheelbase would have been quite an achievement!
Thus chassis number 4031SA/3097SA, fitted with engine number 1287SA and graced with Pininfarina body number 99518 were all merged together. This car, in Enzo Ferrari's personal choice of silver metallic green, is positively breathtaking. Aside from Mr. Ferrari changing the interior from Peugeot beige leather and cloth and respraying the nose to cover small rock chips, the car is entirely original. The factory reassigned the car with the chassis number 4031SA when it was delivered to Ferrari concessionaire Crepaldi in Milan. On close inspection the original stamping 3097 could be seen under the new 4031. Who Crepaldi sold the car to is unknown at this time, but a later owner was the late Mr. Sidney Markovitz of Philadelphia, PA. It was under his ownership that in 1974 the Philadelphia Ferrari dealer Algar was commissioned to remove the motor and send it to the factory where it was rebuilt. He was known to have had the car from at least the early 1970s until 1982 when the current owner purchased the car from a dealer in Arlington, VA.
This car has appeared in numerous automotive publications, including Fantastic Ferraris by Antoine Prunet, Road & Track, Classic Automobile Register, and is the feature car in the March 2001 Italian publication Routeclassiche. The car was also fully featured in Cavallino, No. 56. It has also been featured at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, honoring Pininfarina in 1993, and was on prominent display as part of the 'Ferrari at 50' exhibition held at the Petersen Automotive Museum. It was during this celebration that guest of honor Piero Ferrari related to museum director Ken Gross stories of the times his father would pick him up in this actual car and 'terrify' him during a spirited drive. In 1995, and again in 1998, it received third place awards under full judging rules at the Quail Lodge Concorso Italiano. This is quite an achievement for an unrestored car. In March of 2000, Italian model maker RGM Design produced a 1/43-scale model of s/n 3097SA.
The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodynamica Coupe is a stunning design, a design that even Enzo Ferrari could not resist. With all receipts dating from 1973 (including the factory engine overhaul at 11,000 miles) and factory assembly sheets, 4031SA/3097SA is like a time capsule that has been carefully preserved to reflect the style and grace it projected when new. A significant addition to any collection, it is ready and fully sorted to participate in any Tour, or in the popular 'original condition' class at major Concours d'Elegances worldwide, or simply to be owned as a piece of real Ferrari history. We are privileged to be offering this lovely car for sale.
1961 FERRARI 400 SUPERAMERICA AERODYNAMICA COUPE
COACHWORK BY PININFARINA
Chassis No. 4031SA/3097SA (see text)
Engine No. 1287SA
Metallic Silver Green/Verde Dora with black leather interior
Engine: V12, two single overhead camshafts, one for each cylinder bank, triple Weber 40 DCL carburetors, 3,967cc., 340bhp at 7,000rpm; Gearbox: four-speed manual with overdrive and reverse; Suspension: upper and lower wishbone front suspension with rear solid axle mounted upon leaf springs; Brakes: four wheel Dunlop discs. Left hand drive.
Unveiled at the 1960 Brussels Salon, the 400 Superamerica Coupe was introduced to the automotive world. Its design by Pininfarina would be the famous coachbuilder's first effort from his new facilities in Grugliasco, Italy. The 400 SA was an expensive Grand Touring car, and only a few of Ferrari's dealers of the era were authorized to sell it. Even if a client could prove the financial resources to place an order for one of these cars, it was only the beginning of a long and often frustrating wait. Being a special order, each 400 SA could incorporate such customer preferences as color, interior trim and hardware, custom fitted luggage, instrument arrangement and exterior hardware; even choosing the front nose style was possible. At the rear, fender air ducts and/or skirts could be specified. The more features requested, the more costly the result, and the longer the wait for delivery.
The designation '400' in itself was new. Ferrari, up to that point and subsequently, had either designated his cars by the individual cylinder capacity of the engine such as '250' (cc), or by engine architecture such as '412' (4 liter-12 cylinder). For this Superamerica series with its Type 163 Columbo engine, '400' simply meant four liters. By keeping the original exterior dimensions on the twelve cylinder, sixty-degree, V-shaped block, the Maranello technicians managed to bring the total capacity up to 3,967cc. Compared to the 250 GT's 2,953cc, the bore increased from 73mm. to 77mm. and, with a new crankshaft, the stroke went from 58.8mm. to 71mm. The twelve cylinder engine thus retained its over square configuration - this was essential. It also incorporated the most recent advances of the three liter engine: sparkplugs relocated on the exhaust side and helical valve springs.
Of the fourteen 400 Superamerica Aerodynamica Coupes built, we are proud to offer what is arguably the most significant, serial number 4031SA/3097SA, body number 99518, originally ordered by Enzo Ferrari for his personal use. This provenance has been documented extensively and the archival photograph shows this car just outside Enzo Ferrari's office in the factory courtyard, captured by Steve Earle in February 1962. Engine serial number 1287SA (internal number 8) was originally fitted to Mr. Ferrari's 250 GTE 2 + 2 Prototype. The assembly sheets for 1287 GT/SA reveal a progressive renumbering of the car, the next one being 2257SA 2 + 2. Evidently the 250GTE became a test bed for the new four liter engine. Subsequently, the engine was removed from the 2 + 2 and fitted to Mr. Ferrari's Superamerica 3097SA. The engine retains the number 1287 to this day. This would indicate that 1287GT and 2257SA 2 + 2 were, in all probability, one and the same car. The whereabouts of this car today is unknown. The serial number lists all agree that serial 1287GT was one of the prototype GTE cars, while 2257SA is listed among the first series short wheelbase SA's. A 2 + 2 arrangement on a 94-inch wheelbase would have been quite an achievement!
Thus chassis number 4031SA/3097SA, fitted with engine number 1287SA and graced with Pininfarina body number 99518 were all merged together. This car, in Enzo Ferrari's personal choice of silver metallic green, is positively breathtaking. Aside from Mr. Ferrari changing the interior from Peugeot beige leather and cloth and respraying the nose to cover small rock chips, the car is entirely original. The factory reassigned the car with the chassis number 4031SA when it was delivered to Ferrari concessionaire Crepaldi in Milan. On close inspection the original stamping 3097 could be seen under the new 4031. Who Crepaldi sold the car to is unknown at this time, but a later owner was the late Mr. Sidney Markovitz of Philadelphia, PA. It was under his ownership that in 1974 the Philadelphia Ferrari dealer Algar was commissioned to remove the motor and send it to the factory where it was rebuilt. He was known to have had the car from at least the early 1970s until 1982 when the current owner purchased the car from a dealer in Arlington, VA.
This car has appeared in numerous automotive publications, including Fantastic Ferraris by Antoine Prunet, Road & Track, Classic Automobile Register, and is the feature car in the March 2001 Italian publication Routeclassiche. The car was also fully featured in Cavallino, No. 56. It has also been featured at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, honoring Pininfarina in 1993, and was on prominent display as part of the 'Ferrari at 50' exhibition held at the Petersen Automotive Museum. It was during this celebration that guest of honor Piero Ferrari related to museum director Ken Gross stories of the times his father would pick him up in this actual car and 'terrify' him during a spirited drive. In 1995, and again in 1998, it received third place awards under full judging rules at the Quail Lodge Concorso Italiano. This is quite an achievement for an unrestored car. In March of 2000, Italian model maker RGM Design produced a 1/43-scale model of s/n 3097SA.
The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodynamica Coupe is a stunning design, a design that even Enzo Ferrari could not resist. With all receipts dating from 1973 (including the factory engine overhaul at 11,000 miles) and factory assembly sheets, 4031SA/3097SA is like a time capsule that has been carefully preserved to reflect the style and grace it projected when new. A significant addition to any collection, it is ready and fully sorted to participate in any Tour, or in the popular 'original condition' class at major Concours d'Elegances worldwide, or simply to be owned as a piece of real Ferrari history. We are privileged to be offering this lovely car for sale.