Page 14 - Steve Ahlgrim Collection sample

Ferrari|Profile 14
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
Chassis number: 0116A Eongine number: 004A
n May 7, 1951, chassis 0116A was sent to Carrozzeria Touring to be fitted with its 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
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.
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
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
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
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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