Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series II
After a first series of 410 Superamericas, Ferrari updated the design with a shorter wheelbase. Only very few Series II cars were made before the Series III design came out at the 1958 Salone di Torino.
Like the preceding 16 cars, the Series II belonged to Ferrari’s ‘flagship’ America series that offered the highest levels of sophistication, exclusivity and performance. Built as the ultimate grand tourer, each car was custom ordered to receive unique bodies and many were made for auto shows or Ferrari’s best clients.
The type 514 chassis and type 126 engine were versions of the units found in the 410 Sport endurance race car. Unlike the competition car’s dual-spark ignition, the type 126 was a single-plug unit that produced an advertised 340 bhp. For the Series II cars, higher compression and Weber 42 DCN carburetors produced 360 bhp at 7600 rpm.1
Our feature car, 0715SA, is the sole surviving unrestored 410 Series II. Its traits are typical of the 1950s Pinin Farina design which include an egg-crate grill, pronounced rear fenders, protruding front fenders and a low roof. Although the model shares these cues with other smaller Ferraris such as the 250 GT, the 410 is typically more appointed and features the potent 4.9 V12.
Having only covered 19,000 miles since new, 0715SA is the ultimate 410. It’s black paint and natural leather interior are the same which it had when displayed at the 1957 Paris Auto Show. It will be offered at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auction on August 20 & 21.
The first Series II 410 was ordered by long time Ferrari owner Dr. Ettore Wax who wanted something different, so he approached Scaglietti & C. to produce a bespoke Superamerica and probably with an unlimited budget. Scaglietti, who seldom styled cars from scratch, fixed his own badge on the car, with the text Carrozzerie Speciali.
Scaglietti’s design incorporated many unique and garish features like slotted sills and two twin machined tail fins. Being the flagship model in Ferrari’s line, the 410 must have been a controversy as it was quite different from Pinin Farina’s body which graced almost all the other examples.
Unfortunately, in 1973 the car was stolen and later had to be retrieved from the bottom of a lake in Oregon, USA. Later, the chassis was found by Greg Garrison and he recreated the unique body and interior.
In total only five Series II cars were made: the sole Scaglietti Coupe on 0715SA and four Pinin Farina cars on 0713SA, 0715SA, 0717SA and 0721SA.1
Pictures
More Pictures: 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series II Gallery
Specs & Performance
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Limited Production Car |
| production years | 1956 – 1957 |
| built at | Modena, Italy |
| production | 5 |
| predecessor | 1955 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series I |
| successor | 1958 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series III |
| engine | Type 126 60° Lampredi V12 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| block material | Aluminum Alloy |
| valvetrain | SOHC, 2 Valves / Cyl |
| fuel feed | 3 Weber 42 DCF |
| displacement | 4961 cc / 302.7 in³ |
| bore | 88 mm / 3.46 in |
| stroke | 68 mm / 2.68 in |
| compression | 9.0:1 |
| power | 268.5 kw / 360 bhp @ 7600 rpm |
| specific output | 72.57 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 248.1 bhp per tonne |
| body / frame | Steel Tube Frame |
| driven wheels | Front Engine / RWD |
| front tires | 6.50 x 16 |
| rear tires | 6.50 x 16 |
| front brakes | Hydraulic Drums |
| rear brakes | Hydraulic Drums |
| front wheels | F 40.6 x 14.0 cm / 16 x 5.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 40.6 x 14.0 cm / 16 x 5.5 in |
| steering | Worm & Wheel |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones w/Coil Springs, Telescopic Shock Absorbers |
| r suspension | Live Axle w/Locating Arms, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Telescopic Shock Absorbers |
| curb weight | 1451 kg / 3200 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2600 mm / 102.4 in |
| front track | 1455 mm / 57.3 in |
| rear track | 1450 mm / 57.1 in |
| transmission | 4-Speed Manual |
| tran clutch | Triple Dry Plate |
| top speed | ~233.4 kph / 145 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~6.0 seconds |
| 0 – 1/4 mile | ~14.0 seconds |
| fuel capacity | 100 litres or 26.40 gal. |
Auction Sales History
Grigio Metallizzato 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series II Coupe 0717SA – sold for $5,087,500 One of Only Six Short-Chassis Series II 410 Superamericas. Particularly Sporting and Muscular Pinin Farina Design. Purchased New by Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. Extraordinary Provenance and History Documented by Marcel Massini. Concours-level restoration by John Carlson’s Gran Turismo Motors in Monrovia, California, with metalwork and paint handled by Steve Beckman’s Metal Works in Costa Mesa, California. Auction Source: The Pebble Beach Auctions 2015 by Gooding and Company
1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series II Coupe 0715SA – sold for $2,970,000 One of Only Eight “Short Chassis” Series II 410 Superamericas. Splendid Pinin Farina Design. Extraordinary Provenance and History. Wonderfully Original, Time-Capsule Condition. Less than 19,000 Documented Miles. Single Family Ownership Since 1969.FCA, Concorso Italiano and Pebble Beach Preservation Award Winner. A Prime Candidate for the Most Important Automotive Events. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini. Auction Source: 2011 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Company
1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Scaglietti Coupe – sold for $1,320,000. After a huge effort, Garrison managed to locate and buy the chassis of 0671SA off a farmer who had planned to use it for a tractor. The car came without a body or interior, but this didn’t stop Garrison from fabricating 0671SA to near original specification. With the help of Sergio Scaglietti, and four workers who originally built the car, 0671SA was gloriously revived and debuted at the 1991 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. There, it placed first in class amongst other competition in the Ferrari Grand Touring category. Auction Source: 2007 Monterey Preview
Sources & Further Reading
1. Alfieri, Bruno. Ferrari America Superamerica Superfast. Automobilia: 1996.
