When collectors talk about vintage Ferrari most often the famous 250 series gets mentioned.
After all the 250 series is responsible for the some of the greatest Ferrari’s that were ever made. The 250 California spider, the 250 Tour de France or TDF, the 250 Lusso, the GT SWB, the 250 Pininfarina Cab S1, and the GTO. These were exceptional models in their own right, but at that time they were ‘standard’ models (the GTO aside).
For Ferrari’s most elite clients, for industry captains like Agnelli, Kings like Aga Khan and Emperor Dai, the Shah of Iran and heads of state like the President of Venezuela – Ferrari made something far more exclusive, elegant and powerful than the standard 250 series.
It was the Superamerica.
The Ferrari 400 Superamerica, as the name suggests was aimed at the American market which was booming at the time.
To put it concrete: The 400 Superamerica was aimed at Ferrari’s wealthiest and most elite clientele. If you were not a superstar actor, head of state, or industrialist there was little chance of getting one.
The 400 Superamerica offered the newest technology such as disc brakes and other custom features to their millionaire owners.
Only 36 models were made, all individually finished according to their clients wishes.
As a result no two 400 SA were alike. The 400 Superamerica was powered by the famous Colombo short block V12, that was now a 4L engine producing some 350 bhp. In an era where Ferrari was producing only an estimated 500 cars per year, the Superamerica was the pinnacle of exclusivity and luxury.
No car was more expensive and luxurious.
Today the 400 Supermerica is extremely collectable especially the Series 1 (main picture above), which was a SWB version of 2400mm (series II would be a LWB or 2600mm).
Collectors say that vintage Ferrari prices have gone to unsustainable levels. That might be true for the 250 SWB or the 275 GTB/4 and 250 California spider but not for the 400 Superamerica. Last year a beautiful SWB 400 Superamerica sold for only €2.1m.
That is a perfect 250 Lusso money today but they made 330 of them which is almost 10x more than the Superamerica. Furthermore the Superamerica is much more powerful (4L vs 2.5L and 350hp vs 240hp for the 400SA and Lusso respectively).
So next time you see one come up for auction and want one of the most exclusive cars ever made by Ferrari, don’t look to the 250 series as many collectors do.
The connoisseur who wants to differentiate himself and buy something more exclusive and rare (provided he like the shape of the car) will look out for the 400 Superamerica series and secure himself a series 1 SWB version.
I think the market still underestimates these cars.
If there was any value in the vintage Ferrari market- it is here.
The main picture is a 1962 400 Superamerica Series 1 car 3747 GT owned by New York based collector Peter Kalikow.
Kalikow owns of the best Ferrari collections in the world. For an interview with him please see our post here. For more pictures of a SWB 400 SA please see pictures of one that RM sold in 2013 at Villa Erba here.
