by Mike Gulett –
In the photos of the Rossellini Ferrari designed by Scaglietti I noticed fins that reminded me of another Ferrari also designed by Scaglietti. Here are my photos from the Carmel on the Avenue event in August 2013 in Carmel, California. This is the only Ferrari 410 Superamerica bodied by Scaglietti.
1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe by Scaglietti
Originally sold in Genoa, Italy this Ferrari was exported in 1960 to the USA and at some point was stolen. The body was removed and thrown in a lake, why no one knows. Greg Garrison, the TV producer, found the car in Oregon and he arranged for a full restoration in Italy by the same craftsmen who built the car originally.
What a fin!
Usually it is Ferrari styles that influence other car companies, including American companies, but in this case it is an American design trend that influenced a Ferrari design, namely the fins – even thought these fins look like they were an afterthought to me.
This one-off Scaglietti designed Ferrari sold at the RM Auction in Arizona in 2012 for $1,815,000.
This is a summary of the auction company description:
340 hp, 4,962 cc SOHC V-12 engine, three Weber 40 IF4C four-barrel carburetors, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with double wishbones and coil springs, rear live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.
* One of only 34 Ferrari 410 Superamericas produced, the only one originally bodied by Scaglietti
* A Series II example, built specifically for longtime Ferrari patron Dottore Enrico Wax
* Stunning one-off design, restored by ex-Ferrari and Scaglietti craftsmen
* Pebble Beach class-winning restoration, previously owned by movie and television producer Greg Garrison
Who likes these fins? Let us know what you think in the Comments – the slide show below has all of the photos.
First of all, thank you Mike for posting the piece on this remarkable Ferrari. I was there at RM, AZ Biltmore in 2012 and saw the car. It was truly amazing. Being a 1957 automobile, it clearly was a sign of the times, which was an obsession with the jet age and fins. I’m sure they were a special order by the original buyer. These fins, as gaudy as they may be, are part of the one-off uniqueness of this car. You would be a fool to ever remove them. Thanks again MIke. Alan Osborn
iT IS SADLY JUST A QUICK WHORING OUT TO AMERICAN TRENDS, NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE DESIGN. Might as well add Continental wheel and rear spats to be real ’50s.
Wallace,
That is a little harsh after all it is:
1. A real Ferrari, as it was when new.
2. A rare 410 Superamerica.
3. The only 410 Superamerica Bodied by the legendary Scaglietti.
Maybe it shows that even Ferrari could be seduced by design trends that eventually go out of style.