1951 Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta - Coachwork by Carrozzeria
Touring Chassis no. 0122A
Engine no. 0122A
Estimate: €3,000,000 - €4,000,000 // £2,500,000 - £3,400,000
The Ex-Brussels Motor Show, one of only two examples built, Ferrari Classiche certified
• One of only two Touring-bodied Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta examples
• Delivered new to Belgium and exhibited on Ferrari's stand at the 1952 Brussels Motor Show
• Formerly owned by Jacques Swaters of Garage Francorchamps, Pierre d'Haveloose, Armand 'Blary' Blaton, Prof. Dr. Paul Schouwenburg and Dr. Giuseppe Lucchini amongst others
• Continuous participation in racing events with previous owners
• Driven by Michele Alboreto in the 1986 and '87 Mille Miglia
• Meticulously restored a long time ago, documented in Schouwenburg's 'Ferrari Fever'
• Previous multiple concours prize winner
• Ferrari Classiche certified
• Extremely well-documented
One of only two Touring-bodied Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta models, this stunning 'prancing horse' became the object of desire for car lovers worldwide after starring at the Brussels Motor Show in 1952. Of all the famous coachbuilders, Pininfarina is arguably the one most closely associated with Ferrari, having bodied many of Maranello's greatest cars until the 458, F12, and FF. However, they were not the first: those honours go to Touring, which became the first official carrozzeria approved by Il Commendatore. Designed by Federico Formenti, Touring's first commission from Ferrari was a body for the Ferrari 166 MM barchetta, which debuted in 1948.
After designing the 2.0-litre V12-powered Ferrari 166 in the company's early years, engineer Aurelio Lampredi looked widen the appeal of Ferrari's sports cars by using the 4.1-litre, Tipo 340 V12 he had designed in a road car. But as we have seen, the primary goal of this engine was success in Formula 1, and it was at the Grand Prix des Nations at Geneva on 30th July 1950 that the unit first appeared in the Ferrari 340 F1 monoposto. Lampredi would go on to enlarge this engine to 4.5 litres (Tipo 375) and it was in this form that it would finally defeat the works Alfas.
One of the first cars to feature Lampredi's new 230 horsepower V12 was the Ferrari 340 America, which premiered at the Paris Salon in October 1950 as a Touring-bodied sports-racer very similar to the carrozzeria's 166 MM. It was followed in March 1951 by a berlinetta, again by Touring. Unsurprisingly, the name 'America' had been chosen to help these prancing horses sell in the United States, where demand was steadily growing for these Italian automotive masterpieces.
The 340 America made its competition debut on 1st April 1951 in the Giro di Sicilia when Scuderia Ferrari entered one for Giovanni Bracco, who failed to finish. On 29th April '51 there were three 340 Americas entered in the Mille Miglia: two by Scuderia Ferrari – a Touring barchetta and a Vignale berlinetta - and one by Scuderia Marzotto – another Touring barchetta. At the end of the gruelling 1,574km event the 340 America Vignale berlinetta of Luigi 'Gigi' Viloresi and Pasquale Cassani emerged victorious.
In total, 22 Ferrari 340s were built: 10 bodied by Vignale, four by Ghia, and eight by Touring, of which only two were closed-roof variants such as this stunning Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta. Being based on the 340 unit designed for Formula 1, this car's engine has dry-sump lubrication rather than the much more common wet-sump type employed almost universally in road cars.
Delivered new to Brussels-based Ferrari dealer Comptoir Automobiles Richard SA in August 1951, this 340 America was later exhibited on Ferrari's stand at the 35th Salon de l'Automobile in Brussels. in January 1952. The America's first owner was 'gentleman driver' Pierre d'Haveloose, who was followed later in 1952 by a Mr Germeau, a Brussels-based industrialist. Later on in 1952 the Ferrari had two further owners in Antwerp, Belgium: B. Desmet and van Reebroek respectively.
In 1953 '0122A' was sold to the legendary Jacques Swaters of Garage Francorchamps in Brussels and registered in Belgium as '46.F.06'. The Ferrari is pictured in the book Écurie Francorchamps (page 47). Swaters commented: "In a straight line this was one of the fastest early Ferraris that I've ever driven." In 1954 the car was sold back to Pierre d'Haveloose and re-registered as '67.J.59', still in Belgium. Pierre d'Haveloose is known to have competed with '0112A' in at least the following races:
1954 KM Lancé
1955 KM Lancé
1957 Côte de Bomerée 1st in class
1957 Côte de la Roche 1st in class
1957 Cité de Dinant 1st in class
1957 1,500km de Bruxelles 3rd in class
Later in 1957 '0122A' was sold to Armand 'Blary' Blaton and registered in Belgium as 'X.5310'. The Blaton family was well known within the Ferrari community, Armand's brother being the father-in-law of Jacky Ickx. Its competition record with Armand Blaton is as follows:
1957 4th Rally d'Automne 1st in class (co-driver Jean Blaton)
1957 Tour de Belgique 1st overall
1958 Côte d'Herbeumont 1st in class
1958 KM de Knokke 1st in
1958 Côte de Bomerée DNS
Later in 1958 the Ferrari was sold back to Garage Francorchamps. Before the year's end the car also competed in the Grand Prix de Leopoldville (Alain de Chagny) and Grand Prix Angola in Luanda (Tassin), finishing 10th overall in the latter. The Ferrari was again sold back to Pierre d'Haveloose and then back to Garage Francorchamps before being placed in storage. On 24th August 1971 '0122A' was sold to Dr Paul F Schouwenburg of Amsterdam, Netherlands and registered on Dutch plates as 'KZ 72 VF'. Dr Schouwenburg meticulously restored his dream car, changing the interior from brown to green, and documenting the process in his book, Ferrari Fever.
Dr Schouwenburg entered the Ferrari in the 1984 Mille Miglia and in the 80 Anni di Sport ACI con La Ferrari in Modena in 1985. Following Dr Schouwenburg's ownership, this Ferrari resided in the famous Lucchini Collection in Italy from 1986 to 2010. In 1986 '0112A' was sold to Dr Giuseppe Lucchini of Brescia, Italy and restored by the renowned specialist Dino Cognolato of Padua, Italy. The car was repainted red and the interior changed from green to black.
In 1986 the 340 America participated in the Mille Miglia driven by Michele and Nadia Alboreto (No.157); in 1987 driven by Michele Alboreto/Palazzoli (No.245); in 1988 driven by Giuseppe Lucchini/Enzo Piletti (No.147); and in 1993 driven by Michele Alboreto/M Boldi (No.208). It also participated in La Leggenda Ferrari - Sport e Prototipi at Imola in 1989 driven by M Boldi (No.2) and the 50 Anni Ferrari in 1997 driven by Giuseppe Lucchini (No.21). The Ferrari was then stored as part of the Lucchini Collection from 1997 to 2010.
In 2011 '0122A' was repainted black by DK Engineering in the UK. In June of that year the Ferrari was exhibited at the Salon Privé concours at Syon Park and also at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, winning the coveted 'Best of Show' award in the prestigious Cartier Style et Luxe concours. That same year the America was sold to the current custodian, a European private collector, who carried out the all-important Ferrari Classiche certification in 2019. The Ferrari 'red book' confirms the car retains its original chassis, body, matching numbers engine and a correct type gearbox.
Since acquisition the Ferrari has participated in the Mille Miglia in 2014, 2015, and 2017 – a total of 7 Mille Miglia participations indeed. It has also been shown at the Concours d'Élégance of Roverto during the Trentino Classic in 2014; the 8th Annual Castle Bensberg Concours d'Élégance in Germany in 2016 ('Best of Show'); the Villa d'Este Concours d'Élégance in Italy in 2019; the Touring Celebration tour in Milan and Turin in 2019; and the 10th Annual Zoute Concours d'Élégance in 2019, winning the special jury award of 'Coup de Coeur'. In 2022 '0122A' featured as the cover car and within Cavallino magazine (issue 247).
The 340 America Touring Berlinetta comes with Luxembourg registration documents, a copy of the Ferrari production sheet, the aforementioned Ferrari 'red book', FIA-pass dated 2013, FIVA-pass, articles with period photos, Massini report, etc. Worthy of the closest inspection, this magnificent Ferrari Classiche-certified 340 America berlinetta is the ideal entry ticket to the Mille Miglia and a host of other important motor sports events worldwide.
We are advised that the car is in excellent condition both cosmetically and mechanically and that it wants only for an enthusiastic new owner. Worthy of the closest inspection, this magnificent concours prizewinning Classiche-certified 340 America Berlinetta is the ideal entry ticket to the Mille Miglia and a multitude of other prestigious motor sports and concours events worldwide.
The Zoute Sale
|6 October 2024, 14:00 CEST
|Knokke-Heist, Le Zoute
Text & Image: Bonhams
