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Ferrari Profile
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1950 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta
by touring
Touring Superleggera construction, powerful Lampredi engine and rich
history make this car amazing
by Steve Ahlgrim
Tim Scott ©2016, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Details
Years produced: 1950–52
Number produced: 23
Original list price: About $14,000
Current SCM Valuation: Median to date,
$2,530,000; high sale, $8,226,400
(this car)
Tune-up cost: $4,000
Distributor caps: $450
Chassis # location: Left frame member by
steering box
Engine # location: Right rear of block
Club: Ferrari Club of America
Web: www.ferrariclubofamerica.org
Alternatives: 1953 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500
SS, 1954 Aston Martin DB3S, 1951
Cisitalia 202MM, 1957 Porsche 550 A,
1950 Jaguar C-type, 1951 Maserati
A6GCS/53
SCM Investment Grade: A
Comps
Chassis number: 0116A
Engine number: 004A
Carrozzeria Touring to be fitted with its
on May 7, 1951, chassis 0116A was sent to
elegant Barchetta coachwork. On June 14, it
was returned. Two days later it was delivered
to its first owner, Pierre Louis-Dreyfus, a resident of
Paris, a World War II hero, and founder of the Louis-
Dreyfus Financial Group.
In his spare time, Mr. Louis-Dreyfus was an enthusi-
astic racing driver and sportsman.
A regular entrant in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Louis-
Dreyfus sent his new 340 to Le Mans just a week after
receiving it. Luigi Chinetti was picked to manage the ef-
fort with Formula One ace Louis Chiron sharing driving
duties. Chiron missed the pit-signal to refuel and ran dry
on the circuit. A mechanic ran out to the car and topped
up the car from a fuel can. The car was black-flagged for
illegally refueling outside the pits.
Despite the early retirement, the car showed great
pace. It recorded the 11th fastest lap time and was ca-
pable of over 150 mph (then an astounding speed) along
the Mulsanne Straight.
The next year Dreyfus entered the car once more —
again with Chinetti doing the support and René Dreyfus
sharing driving duties. The car qualified 15th but suc-
cumbed to clutch issues.
Most recently, chassis 0116A has been fully restored
1955 Aston Martin DB3S
Lot 32, s/n DB3S111
Condition 2
Sold at $5,500,000
Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 8/16/14
SCM# 245001
to its 1951 Le Mans configuration and will certainly
continue to be welcomed at the most important historic
events worldwide, including the Mille Miglia, Tour
Auto, Monaco Historic Grand Prix and, of course, the
Le Mans Classic.
sCM Analysis This car, Lot 232, sold for $8,340,982,
including buyer’s premium, at RM
Sotheby’s Monaco Auction on May 14, 2016.
“Just think of it! A car in normal road trim, and with-
out any special preparation, is quite capable of breaking
the unofficial speed records for production and sports
cars by many mph.”
So begins Autosport’s 1951 road test of the Ferrari
4.1-liter America.
Put in contemporary terms, perhaps only a McLaren
F1 or a Bugatti Veyron would warrant that prose. That’s
how dominant a Ferrari 340 America was in 1951.
lampredi power
Ferrari wasn’t the first automobile manufacturer to
build 12-cylinder engines, but they certainly made the
best use of them.
Enzo Ferrari’s vision and Gioacchino Colombo’s
engineering produced a near-perfect engine that pow-
ered Ferrari’s race and sports cars for decades. Where
1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta
Lot 237, s/n 0226AT
Condition 2-
Sold at $3,685,000
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/21/11
SCM# 183098
1951 Ferrari 340 America by Ghia
Lot 448, s/n 0150A
Condition 2
Sold at $852,500
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/18/06
SCM# 42671
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