History of chassis 0501 SA

Chassis 0501 SA was one of 13 Series 1 410 Superamericas equipped with Pinin Farina’s ‘standard’ coachwork (however, one of these cars was re-numbered form an existing machine so twelve examples could legitimately be claimed also).

0501 SA was signed off on May 26th 1956 and sold via Ferrari’s Belgian distributor, Garage Francorchamps in Brussels, to its first owner, Freddy Damann.

Not much is currently in the public domain about Mr Damann but we do know he subsequently went on to own a brace of 250 GT Spyder Californias (chassis 2377 GT from 1961 which was followed by the short wheelbase 3119 GT in 1962). Prior to his Ferraris, Freddy Damann had also purchased a 1936 Talbot-Lago T150C which he acquired in 1947 and raced at the 1948 Spa 24 Hours.

Chassis 0501 SA was configured with a number of unique features, perhaps most strikingly its two-tone gold over dark red colour scheme (possibly Oro Kelso over Rosso Rubino). This combination was repeated inside for the painted metal dash / leather and carpet. The car was also specified with a custom dash assembly that housed an audio system and centre console-mounted speaker.

Precisely how long Freddy Damann retained his one-of-one 410 Superamerica is unclear., but by the late 1960s (as depicted here), chassis 0501 SA had been exported to the USA.

Following a subsequent return to Europe, the car was shipped back out to the United States in the 1990s, since which time it has been restored to original condition.

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed