BODYWORK

Series 2 400 Superamericas were built with one of four Pininfarina body configurations.

Most popular was the Coupe Aerodinamico with covered headlights (14 built) followed by the Coupe Aerodinamico with open headlights (four built).

A total of four Cabriolets were also constructed: two with covered headlights and two with open headlights.

Compared to a Series 1 400 Superamerica, the Series 2s could be identified on account of the larger gap between the trailing edge of the door and the leading edge of the rear wheelarch.

The Coupe Aerodinamico was a rakish five-window Coupe inspired by Pininfarina’s radical Superfast II design concept and unlike anything else available at the time.

Covered headlight variants had a long air-piercing nose treatment, at the leading edge of which was an oval primary intake flanked by quarter bumpers with overriders. Further up, the headlights were mounted behind glass covers set within elegant chrome bezels.

Open headlight versions came with a shorter nose, a flatter and wider primary intake, a full with bumper and exposed headlight units mounted further forward on the fender.

Behind the front axle, both iterations of the fixed head body style were identical. Elaborate detailing down each flank came in the form of swept front arch treatment, a bank of eleven angled engine cooling vents and a pronounced swage line accessorised with an elegant chrome trim that ran all the way to the back of the car.

The Fastback cabin profile was home to an expansive rear screen that wrapped around the C-pillars. Its trajectory continued down to a wasp-like tail dressed with wraparound quarter bumpers that contained integrated tail light housings.

Differences to the short wheelbase Series 1 Coupe Aerodinamico included a closed rather than open power bulge on the hood, a fuel filler cap moved from the side to the top of the right-hand rear fender and repositioned trunk lid lock / badging.

None of these updates applied to the Cabriolet which, in open headlight configuration, was effectively a more muscular interpretation of the second series 250 GT Cabriolet. Compared to the 250 GT Cabriolet (which had ceased production earlier in 1962), the open-bodied 400 Superamerica featured a slightly elongated nose, a bigger hood-mounted engine intake, a more rakish windscreen, more curvaceous kick up rear fenders and a shorter rear overhang.

Additionally, the tail fascia was flatter, a trim panel spanned the back end and the body was accessorised to a much higher degree with elaborate chrome trim.

400 Superamerica Cabriolets came with full width bumpers fitted at either end, sometimes with black rubber-tipped overriders.

Compared to the Series 1 Cabriolet, these open-topped Series 2 variants featured more modern single-piece tail light clusters. As before, a Hardtop was supplied as standard.

INTERIOR

Because the era of truly individual coachwork was rapidly in decline as manufacturers moved towards ever more productionised construction techniques, it was the interiors of 400 Superamerica that varied most from car to car.

Instrumentation was typically laid according to the customer’s requirements. Some cars had all the dials grouped in a large oval binnacle directly behind the steering wheel.

Others used a smaller oval binnacle while some came with individually cowled dials. In these two cases, the supplementary gauges were located on a centre console ahead of the gear lever.

A large rev counter and speedometer were ever present. Smaller read outs for water temperature, oil pressure, oil temperature, battery condition and fuel level were normally fitted in addition to a clock.

The dash and door caps were generally trimmed in black leather. The rest of the upholstery could be coloured according to the customer’s wishes.

Aside from the carpeted floors, practically every interior surface was covered in fine leather, including the fluted headliner.

As was to expected from such an expensive motor car, the standard of fit and finish on these flagship Ferraris was exemplary.

OPTIONS

In addition to a practically unlimited range of paint and upholstery finishes, customers could enhance their cars with custom instrumentation, switchgear and cockpit lighting, individually styled door panels, electric windows, a radio, head and armrests, spot lights and a set of fitted luggage.

Instead of a rear luggage shelf, the Series 2’s extended wheelbase now meant there was space for an additional pair of seats if desired.

WEIGHT / PERFORMANCE

Both Coupe and Cabriolet body styles weighed in at around the 1250kg mark.

Top speed was a quoted 165mph and 0-62mph took a little under six seconds.

CHASSIS 4561 SA

During production of the Series 2 400 Superamerica, Ferrari constructed one very special machine on chassis 4561 SA that did not conform with the rest of the 22 car run.

Built in right-hand drive on a 400 Superamerica-style Tipo 538 chassis with shortened 2450mm wheelbase, chassis 4561 SA came with a four-litre Tipo 163 LM competition motor as fitted to the contemporary 330 LMB conceived for the Experimental GT racing category. It wore a Series 1 GTO-style body and had a stripped-out interior, but was not initially used for competition.

Instead, following its completion in September 1963, chassis 4561 SA was sold to VIP customer and Ferrari board member, Michel Paul Cavallier in France.

END OF PRODUCTION

The last Series 2 400 Superamericas were completed in January 1964, a dew weeks before the 500 Superfast that replaced it broke covere at the Geneva Motor Show.

22 cars were built in total. 18 of these were to Coupe Aerodinamico trim (18 with covered headlights, four with exposed headlights).

The remaining four cars were Cabriolets (two with covered headlights, two with exposed headlights).

Buyers included the likes of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (4111 SA), Felice Riva (4271 SA), Erwin Goldschmidt (3949 SA), Count Frederic Chandon de Brialles (4443 SA), Nelson Rockefeller (5115 SA), Fritz Riess (5131 SA), Sheikh Omar Ibrahim El-Shahli (4465 SA) and the Bloomingdale family (5093 SA).

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari – https://www.ferrari.com