Ferrari 500 Superfast Coupe Pininfarina 1964 1966

Ferrari 500 Superfast Pininfarina Coupe -Highlights

36 examples produced in two series- an average of one supercoupe completed in one month adjusted to the specific taste of its customer- considered the fastest, luxury and most expensive grand touring automobile at the time. 400 bhp, 4,962 cc SOHC V-12 engine,wet sump, four-speed manual gearbox (Series I), five-speed manual gearbox (Series II), independent front suspension with A-arms and coil springs, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel Dunlop hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,650 mm, kerb weight 1400 kg, length 4820 mm, width 1730 mm, height 1280 mm, claimed top speed 280 kph

By the 1950s, Ferrari had established itself not only as a world-class manufacturer of sports racing cars but also as a manufacturer of the world’s best grand touring cars for the road. Enzo Ferrari had come to fully realise that, in order to continue the success of his racing program, he needed to be able to create, market, and sell equally exceptional road cars.

Enzo Ferrari's relationship with Battista Pininfarina reached fruition with the beautiful and stunning 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico, introduced at the 1961 Geneva Salon. The two men combined their abilities and talents to create what is now considered to be an automotive masterpiece of the twentieth century.

The series of the Ferraris known as America, Super America (or Superamerica) and Superfast can be confusing. The 340, 342, 375, and 410s used the large block Lampredi engine. These top-of-the-line Ferraris were called Americas, until the advent of the Superamerica series which began with the 410 in 1955. In 1962 the 410 Superamerica was replaced with the 400 Superamerica Aerodynamic . And what of the 'Superfast'? Initially the Superfasts I-IV were a small series of showcars, and the name was transferred to the 500 Superfast, which followed the 400 Superamerica. The 500 Superfast series ended in 1966 and with it the era of custom built Ferrari cars.

In terms of numbers, the America, Superamerica and Superfast series of cars built by Ferrari from 1951 to 1966 totaled only 162 chassis. From the start, the big luxury Ferraris were so exclusive and esoteric automobiles.

The Ferrari 500 Superfast presented at the Geneva Motor Show in February 1964 was the successor to the Ferrari 400 Superamerica. Compared with its predecessor, the wheelbase was extended by 50 mm ti 2650 mm for the 500 Superfast and the details ofthe Aerodinamica Coupé body were further refined. Alongside the more powerful V12 Cylinder engine these modifications were intended to bring about a significant increase in top speed to match the epithet of Superfast.

The five litre SOHC V12 engine powering the Superfast enjoys a special position in the history of Ferrari. The engine with displacement of 4962 cc generated 400 hp at 6500 rpm and powered the car to approximarely 280 kph. By 1966, 36 units had been produced, of which 8 were fitted with right hand drive and all wre coupés. The 500 Superfast brought to an end the Ferrari line commenced in 1952 with the 342 America involving development of particularly expensive special models with largedisplacement, designed and intended primarily for the USA Market.

In 2012 at Gooding & Company Sc ottsdale Auction Sale one 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast, chassis N°6049A, was sold for  US$ 1.100.000.
In 2013, at Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction Sale, one 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast, chassis N° 5985, defined as the 1965 Chicago Auto Show Car, was sold for US$ 1.980.000.
In 2013, at Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Auction Sale, one 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Coupé, chassis N° 6661 with right hand drive, was sold for  £ 852,700 (€ 943,012).
In 2016, at RM Monterey Auction Sale one 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I, Chassis N°5985, defined as the 1965 Chicago Auto Show car, was sold for US$ 2.750.000

The Ferrari 500 Superfast illustrated here are at Concorso Villa d'Este, the blue one entered by Luca Laurey, B and Class C winner (photos BMW Classic Media Archives) in 2013 and the black one presented by Martin Gruss USA in 2010.

Source Photos P. Damiens and BMW Classic Media Archives- Text: Ferrari All the Cars Leonardo Acerbi 2012 - RM Sotheby 2016-Gooding and Company 2012 2013 and Bonhams 2013

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