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The large, fast and luxurious 400 Superamerica replaced the outgoing 410 model and continued Ferrari's tradition of custom-built supercars. Each was specially built for their first owner and no two were exactly alike.

Unlike the Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series III, the 400 Superamerica used a version of the Colombo short-block V12. Typically found in the 250 GT, this unit was enlarged to four-liters and could produce a very ample 340 horsepower.

Chassis details for the 400 Superamerica were similar to the outgoing model with a reduced wheelbase from 2600 to 2420 mm. Later a 400 Series II was produced with a longer wheelbase to accommodate rear seats.

The first 400 Superamerica appeared at the 1959 Salon de Torino as a Coupé Speciale for Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli. This was followed by three cabriolets similar in style to the 410 Series III with open headlights. The fourth car was built as a Superfast II showcar for the 1960 Salone de Torino and was later converted into the Superfast III and IV.

For the ninth car in the series Pinin Farina debuted the Coupé Aerodynamico design at the 1961 Salon de Genève on chassis 2373SA. It borrowed many cues from the Superfast II showcar. This included the long rear overhang which made the car much more dramatic at the rear. Of the 25 Series I examples, 14 were bodied in this shape some with protruding a protruding front nose and covered headlights, while others followed the more classic Pinin Farina eggcrate grill with open headlights.

Both the Coupé Aerodynamico and Superfast II owe their profile shape to the Alfa Romeo Super Flow series. The third and fourth iterations of the Super Flow featured a round rear end with no wings. Jaguar also took note of the design for their E-Type of 1961.

By September of 1962 Ferrari updated the 400 Superamerica chassis to have a longer wheelbase of 2600 mm and these became known as the Series II.

Story by Supercars.net

Chassis & Sales

1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupé Aerodinamico 3221SA - did not sell for $900,000 Ferrari historian Marcel Massini compiled a brief history of the Ferrari Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico chassis 3221 SA. It was completed by Pininfarina on January 30, 1962 with a Pininfarina body number 99519, built on the short wheelbase (242cm) series one chassis. The original exterior color was bianco (white) and the interior was appointed in grigio (gray) Connolly hides. Chassis 3221 SA was the 12th of the seventeen streamlined coupes an... more
Gallery: 2009 Bonhams Exceptional Motorcars at Quail Lodge Resort

1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico 5021SA - did not sell for $1,100,000 Formerly the Property of Daniel Sielecki. The 1963 Torino Auto Show Car. The 14th of 18 LWB Series II 400 Superamericas. Desirable Covered Headlight Variant. Exceptionally Stylish Pininfarina Coachwork. Originally Finished in Grigio Argento with Black Leather and Red Carpets. Matching-Numbers Example. Eligible for a Wide Variety of Driving Events and Tours. Superb Candidate for a High-Point Restoration. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel M... more
Gallery: 2011 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Company

1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupé Aerodynamico 3559SA - sold for $2,090,000 Stunning matching-numbers example – one of only 36 400. Superamerica coupes built by Pinin Farina. Covered headlights and short wheelbase. Judge’s Choice winner at 1968 Ferrari Club of America meeting. Concours showings at Pebble Beach and Louis Vuitton. Documented by Ferrari expert Marcel Massini.
Gallery: 2011 Monterey Auction by RM

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