Timeless Automotive Designs



Lot's of good guesses. The car is a Ferrari 342 America of which only 6 were made, 3 coupes and 3 cabriolets. I believe this is chassis 0248 and is probably worth a small fortune.





Here's some more info -

By the end of 1952, Enzo Ferrari had been manufacturing cars under his own name for five years. During this time it became increasingly apparent that North America was developing into a lucrative marketplace for high performance European manufacturers. To exploit the US market, Ferrari felt he required a more user friendly, larger capacity vehicle to supplement his 212 Inter's. Thus, 342 America's had no pretension of being anything other than fast touring cars intended exclusively for road use.



Only six were completed between late 1952 and spring '53, three with Coupe bodies and three as Cabriolet's, all of which (save for a solitary Vignale Cabriolet) received designs by Pinin Farina. Designated Tipo 342, Ferrari's welded tubular steel frame for this car was very similar to the outgoing 340 America. However, a 2650mm wheelbase was 230mm longer than on the 340, the Tipo 342 chassis being Ferrari's largest yet. Furthermore, in addition to its stretched wheelbase, the 342 also featured an engine moved a full 12-inches further forward than the 340. There was also a widened track to free up more interior legroom. The 342's longitudinally-mounted Lampredi 60° V12 (designated Tipo 342) was essentially a de-tuned 340 America unit (Tipo 340/A). Thanks to a bore and stroke of 80 x 68mm respectively, displacement was 4101cc, output varying between 200 and 220bhp at 6000rpm. Compression was generally set at around 8.1:1 and three Weber 40 DCF carburettors fitted, but both could be tailored according to the desires of a particular customer. One significant development that was introduced on the 342 America was the adoption of a synchronised four-speed gearbox. Curiously though, the model was never given an early public debut, instead it merely became incorporated into Ferrari's model line-up during October 1952 when the first example (chassis 0232 AL) was completed.







Aurelio Lampredi's Tipo 342 4.1-litre V12 During the early 1950’s, customers would buy a rolling chassis from Ferrari in Maranello and have it sent to the carrozzeria of their choice, often for a highly personalised body and interior to be fitted. This era of automotive haute couture produced some of todays most exquisite and collectable vehicles, however, all six 342 America's looked a little uncomfortable because of a series of interrelated factors.



With Ferrari wanting the interiors to provide plenty of space, it was necessary to shift the Lampredi engine forward by nearly a foot compared to the 340 America. Consequently, with a powerplant positioned over the front axle, handling was disappointing and a long way short of its illustrious predecessor. The problems continued when Ferrari engineers were forced to mount a very large radiator way beyond the front wheels, instantly creating a nightmare for any designer. Ending up as ugly ducklings, low on power and no great shakes in the handling department, only six were made. Most individual of all the designs was inevitably chassis 0232 AL. Bodied by Vignale to a unique Cabriolet confuguration, 0232 is considered by many to have received the most successful front-end treatment of all six cars. 0234 AL was a Pinin Farina Cabriolet commissioned by King Leopold II of Belgium, a highly favoured Ferrari client. Probably the most attractive of all the 342 America's produced by Pinin Farina was chassis 0240 AL though, originally sold to Attilio Monti. The first of three Coupe's by the Turinese firm, it was originally used by Pinin Farina for press purposes and later became the personal car of Enzo Ferrari. Chassis 0246 AL was completed along similar lines, 0248 AL being the second Pinin Farina Cabriolet and somewhat curiously, the only example sold new to the USA.





342 America Pinin Farina Coupe #0242 AL There are unsubstantiated rumours that this vehicle was also once fitted by the factory with a 1951 Grand Prix-spec 375 engine. None of the 342's were wholly identical and those produced by Pinin Farina all have detail differences around the nose, wings, windows and cabins. Produced exclusively in left-hand drive and to a spec that was intended to appeal to American drivers, its surprising that, of the six 342's produced, only one was sold new to the US, the other five remaining in mainland Europe.



342 America Chassis Index





0232 AL Vignale Cabriolet October 1952, sold new to Otto Wild, Switzerland

0234 AL PF Cabriolet May 1953, sold new to King Leopoldo II, Belgium

0240 AL PF Coupe December 1952, PF press car, sold new to Attilio Monti, Bologna

0242 AL PF Coupe January 1953, used by Enzo Ferrari

Sold as new to Ilesi Srl, Vercelli and soon after to to Georges Filipinetti

0246 AL PF Coupe December 1952, 1953 Geneva Salon car

Sold new to Franco Fassio, Italy

0248 AL PF Cabriolet January 1953, 1953 New York Motor Show car

S old through Luigi Chinetti Motors, New York to Kabalck, USA
 
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