Page 17 - Demo

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bered chassis cannot be ignored. It is one of the earliest
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that includes formative auto shows and road races.
This spectacular 340 America offers a key to all
the most celebrated events, from the upper concours at
Cavallino to the starting ramp at the Mille Miglia.
SCM Analysis This car, Lot 19, sold for $2,530,000
at Gooding & Company’s Pebble
Beach Auction on Saturday, August 14, 2010
attempt to market a car directly to the lucrative U.S.
market. In Europe, cars are taxed based on their dis-
placement. Small-displacement cars are the norm, and
high revving 2-liter and 2.5-liter Ferraris were consid-
ered prestigious.
The United States had no such restrictions, and
Americans were used to big displacement and big
Houdaille shocks all around. The heavy engine could easily overpower the chassis,
torque. Enzo Ferrari recognized that the U.S. was the
making acceleration breathtaking—but stopping and turning terrifying.
perfect place to market cars featuring his new, large-
SCM’s Thor Thorson once reported that one 340 owner refused to take his car on
displacement Lampredi engine. In the fashion of all
a vintage rally, as driving it was just too awful. The 340’s race performance came up
early Ferraris, the 340 America’s chassis was assem-
short, and the less-expensive Jaguars regularly beat the 340s on the track.
Lampredi engine. The coachwork was then outsourced
driving the Lotus 26R that was drifting sideways up a hill at an Atlanta vintage race.
to one of several Italian coachbuilders. A total of 25 340
It was an image that I remember 20 years later—and an impressive display of getting
Americas were built, with no two being exactly alike.
the most performance out of a car. I would later learn Nickel was a consummate car
The Lampredi engines are legendary for their
guy, the man behind the prestigious Far Niente Winery, and someone who was always
tremendous torque, but they are large and heavy and
associated with the best. His 340 America was no exception.
require a substantial chassis to handle the power.
The value spread for 340 Americas is quite wide, which is mostly due to the diverse
Lampredi-powered touring Ferraris are in a class by
array of body styles available. There are open-top and closed-top versions of 340
December 2010 35
themselves for being luxury cruisers.
produced bodies for 340s, and the executions ranged from dowdy to beautiful.
Terror in the turns
The lesser 340s are a tough sell, while the most attractive cars are an asset to
any collection. This Gil Nickel 340 America, with its beautiful Vignale spyder body
gear and 150 mph in top gear. This kind of speed made
and exceptional pedigree, is near the top of its class. 0140 A’s well-documented and
the continent smaller—and the America popular for
storied history only adds to its appeal. The Nickel car sold for all of today’s money,
fast touring. Racing a Lampredi-powered Ferrari was
but the owner got an important car with entry to any auto event on the planet. Mark
another story. The 340 chassis was primitive, with a
this one well bought and well sold.
transverse leaf spring front end, solid axle rear end and
(Introductory description courtesy of Gooding & Co.)