Ferrari Goes to the Americas at Salon Privé
Four midcentury Ferrari flagships in one place!
From a well-loved 308 or F355 for owners who worked hard to own something with a Prancing Horse to an impossibly expensive one-off from Ferrari Special Projects, it goes without saying that Ferraris are special. But, of course, not all Ferraris are created equal. Yes, the newest, fastest, most exclusive has something over an older, more common (we use that term loosely) Fezza. But there are Ferraris, and then there are Ferraris. And we aren’t talking about the SF90, or the LaFerrari, or even the F40 or GTO.
We’re talking about the ones with the achingly gorgeous coachwork, and Lampredi or Colombo V12s, and convey a midcentury cool that comes across in every language. Simply put, these are the cars that made the brand what it is today.
In the ’50s and ’60s, Ferrari’s racing pedigree made it legendary across Europe. But America was where the money was, and if Enzo wanted his road cars to fund his racing campaigns, the company would need to crack that market in a big way. This led to a series of “America” models. Each one extravagant, luxurious, fast, and achingly gorgeous. Today, most of these rare cars are considered works of art; you’d be lucky to see one in your lifetime. But if you find yourself in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, September 5-8, you’ll be able to get a good look at four of them at this year’s Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace.
1952 Ferrari 342 America Cabriolet
In 1952, Ferrari had been building cars under its own name for just five years. But the brand’s first true flagship grand tourer was nothing short of a masterpiece. Just six 342 Americas were built; two cabriolets were built by Vignale, and Pininfarina built a pair of coupes and droptops. The blue Vignale Cabrio seen here will be on-site, along with the green coupe at the top of the article. For those keeping score at home, that’s 33% of 342 America production all in one place.
The last 1966 500 Superfast
Few automakers had a more brilliant decade than Ferrari in the 1960s. And this car, the 1966 500 Superfast, was its top-of-the-line model. The Superfast was slated to be called the “Superamerica” only to be changed at the last moment. Still, it fits the description left by its predecessors. Looking stunning with a sonorous Colombo V12 under the hood, the car coming to Salon Privé is the final 500 ever built. It’s also one of just two right-hand drive examples built.
The ’67 365 California Spider
Often overshadowed by the older 250 GT California Spyder, the 365 is even rarer (just 14 built), and no less stunning. Sure, the yellow driving lights probably don’t do much for aerodynamics, but at this point, who cares? No one’s going to be driving this rolling sculpture in anger anymore.
On top of these gorgeous Ferraris, this year’s Salon Privé honors the 100th anniversary of Bentley, with over 1,000 of Crewe’s finest expected to show up for the event. Between the Ferraris, Bentleys, and a 55 car (and 20 motorcycle) field of Concours cars, this event will undoubtedly be one for the ages.
Join the Team Speed forums now!
