Agnelli: His personal Ferrari 375 America and special Jaeger clock
Classic CarsCollector's Insights
(Source: Standard).
There is no doubt – that Gianni Agnelli (GA) was considered the king of style.
Few men have influenced style (not to mention Italian business) as much as GA. Whether he was wearing his watch outside his shirt cuff, driving his Riva boat or socializing in a black tie or white dinner jacket – Agnelli was always impeccably dressed. His sophistication extended to almost everything he owned, whether it was his wardrobe, boats, or also cars.
In 1955 Giovanni Agnelli bought a very rare Ferrari 375 America Pininfarina chassis 0355 GT – custom made especially for him. We will look at this marvelous Ferrari (which not long ago was rotting away) in more detail and at the features that make this car special which includes: an 8-day Jaeger clock which was made by special request of Agnelli.
In the 1950s Giovanni Agnelli would have no links to Ferrari, other than to be a good client of Ferrari road cars. He already owned a 166MM and a 212 Inter coupe. For his third Ferrari, Agnelli chose something very special. In 1955 he purchased a very rare and completely customised 375 America.
The 375 Ferrari came after the 342 America, and while most collectors might not be familiar with the 375, it was a top of the line Ferrari reserved for the best clients of the factory. Roberto Rossellini ordered one for his wife, Ingrid Bergman, and this 375 Ferrari (which was a MM or racing version – MM stood for Mille Miglia) might be the most famous 375 of them all – it also won Pebble Beach in 2014, the first time a post war car and Ferrari would win at Pebble Beach.
In the 1950s, which was considered the early period for Ferrari in terms of history (Ferrari road cars were only founded in the late 1940s), elite customers like kings, head of state, and business royalty could order their Ferrari to exact specifications (for example King Leopold of Belgium had an altimeter installed in his 342 America Ferrari to better tune his carburettors). *
The special items that Agnelli requested for his Ferrari 375 America included: 1) A special 8 day- stop watch by Jaeger 2) A transparent rooftop 3) custom made sliding rear window 4) special wood gear shift 5) special color of Verde Scuro (dark green) 6) two – tone roof.
The car was the 12th and last of the 375 America built, and had a 4.9L Lampredi V12 engine and 3 weber carbs. Sadly Agnelli would only keep the car for four years, before selling it on in 1959. Who would have guessed that only 14 years after he ordered this Ferrari – Giovanni Agnelli would take control of Ferrari through FIAT which his family already controlled.
Let us take a look at some pictures of this unique car made by special request for Giovanni Agnelli. We will also be taking a look at the special 8-day Jaeger clock fitted inside his car in more detail.
(NB: All pictures credit- Marcel Massini). *Credit: Marcel Massini
We start off with a top down view of the car. Notice the transparent roof that appears to look like a sunroof (but is not).
Below the roof in more detail. Notice the wonderful two-tone color – a feature Agnelli ordered.
The sliding glass panel in the back window (the window would not go all the way down). Superb air ventilation I say. Agnelli certainly knew how to make life more pleasant for himself.
The car is a masterpiece from the side. Elegant and sleek. Bodied by Pininfarina.
The back of the car is equally stunning. Notice the superb color shining in the sunlight. Also clearly seen – the Pininfarina badge on the back again along with the Ferrari emblem.
The back of the car might be my personal favourite angle of this elegant GT car. I especially love the fins that go all the way from the roof to the back rear lights. I think it is one of the best designs of Pininfarina.
The interior of the car is elegant and made in a beautiful dark red Bordeaux eather (pelle rosso). The wood on the dashboard is not real but rather has a real ‘look’ – as it is a special varnish.
The most remarkable feature inside however, is a superb 8 day Jaeger clock with stop watch function. The dashboard already features a normal Jaeger clock (look below the speedometer).
Agnelli ordered this Ferrari with this fantastic Jaeger clock new in 1955 (we found the original period pictures with the help of Marcel Massini – the worlds foremost vintage Ferrari expert). We can confirm that the car was delivered with this clock from new. Let us take a look at the watch more closely below.
(Credit: Simon Kidston).
The watch has a large dial with seconds indicator and nice big Arabic numerals with a nice beige lume to it.
It carries an 8 day movement (written on the first subdial above). The watch serves a second timing function or stop watch. The red dot indicates that the second stop watch function is not activated. The green dot indicates that the second sub dial – is being used and the second timing is in gear (as can be seen from the picture above).
Notice also that the bottom sub dial is reversed. The seconds and minute timing go from left to right instead of the usual right to left. Below a different angle of the beautiful Jaeger watch. You might just be able to see it here – the hour hand military style that was typical of Jaeger watches in the 1940s and 1950s.
It is details, like this Jaeger watch, that Agnelli had fitted to his Ferrari that you realise what a connoisseur and sophisticated gentleman he really was.
Below period pictures in black and white showing the Ferrari 375 America fitted with the Jaeger watch.
Another different angle of a 1950s photograph. (Credit: Marcel Massini).
The last picture shows a wooden mould used to design and help create the 375 Pininfarina. In the picture is presumably chief stylist Franco Martinego.
NB: I would like to specifically thank Marcel Massini for all his help in providing research for this story. Without his knowledge and pictures – this blog post would have been completely impossible. Also thank you Simon Kidston for the Jaeger picture.
