I have never wanted to be driving to the French Riviera more than I do right now. If any Ferrari was envisioned to get you there quickly, comfortably and in unrivalled style it was the 400 Superamerica. The Oxfordshire countryside will have to do for today, though, providing plenty of picturesque scenery to explore and enjoy what was once the jewel in Ferrari's crown.
This SWB Coupé Aerodinamico in particular is almost painfully beautiful. 'It's built like a Rolls-Royce, but has the performance of a Ferrari... and the rarity of a Picasso, jokes Max Girardo, who is currently selling this gorgeous car on behalf of its most recent owner. The Superamerica represents the pinnacle of what Ferrari could achieve at the time, as it wanted to pursue the top-tier grand tourer market proving that the marque was about more than merely the greatest competition cars.
It's certainly a far cry from the rawness of, say, a 275 GTB/4, and some of the exquisite detailing - such as the rear bumper-mounted lights and the intricate door handles - really elevate it to a higher level. Under the bonnet is the largest-capacity Colombo V12 engine ever fitted to a Ferrari, measuring 4.0 litres. To truly put this car into perspective, consider that the 400 Superamerica would have been more expensive than a 250 GTO when it was new, and each owner was, in effect, vetted by Enzo himself.
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Octane.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness
