With the 340 and the 342 series failing to set the heather on fire in the United States, Ferrari took a step back to carefully survey the market and came up with the 375 America model.
The Fer
rari 375 America made its public debut at the 1953 Paris Salon in the form of a Pinin Farina designed three window coupé.
Anyone taking a close look at the Ferrari 375 America could not fail to identify the close resemblance to the 212 Inter, also designed by model Pinin Farina while the 375 America was an almost exact copy of the wheelbase chassis used on the 250 Europa.
In addition, the two Ferrari models shared most of its mechanical components, with the notable exception of the engine, which in the case of the 375 was considerably more powerful.
The engine used on the 375 America was an adaptation of the Aurelio Lampredi developed “long” block V12, with a capacity of 4522cc, fitted with a bank of three twin-choke Weber 40 DCZ or DCF carburettors, which when working together could push the engine capacity up to a remarkable 296bhp.
This super powerful engine was coupled to a four-speed all-synchromesh gearbox, with a wide choice of ratios available, depending on the nature of the ride the driver was looking for.
Ferrari's desire to fit Lampredi's “long” block engine, coupled with the car's design characteristic of a more spacious cabin than the previous Americas, meant that the car sat on a 2800 mm long wheelbase for the vehicle.
Another major factor behind this new design concept was to increase sales in the US through providing what that potentially unlimited market wanted- an established identity through design uniformity for Ferrari models, while at the same time cutting costs through the use of standard body and chassis units.
Among a number of features that Ferrari hoped would appeal to the highly "colourful" market in America of the early Fifties was that the 375 was available in an attractive choice of two-tone finishes.
As was the case with the 250 Europa, the Ferrari 375 America was available fitted with either a Pinin Farina designed three or five window coupé body, although there was at least four custom-built Vignale coupé bodies, a single Vignale cabriolet.
Almost certainly the most spectacularly designed 375 America was one commission by Gianni Agnelli, owner of Fiat. Agnelli made no secret of his admiration for Ferrari and the cars he produced, so much so that he eventually acquired the company.
Agnelli's bottle green metallic 375 coupé stood out from the crowd as a result of its unique vertical radiator grille, a massive wrap around a front screen set off by a buttress that ran from the car's roofline as far as the tail panel.
Once a
gain the Ferrari 375 America failed to conquer the market in the US, with only ten produced- although the car was once again the subject of considerable acclaim.
One of the most considerable drawbacks to the 375 America's success in anything approaching a mass market was the exceptional price ticket that it carried.
Anyone who had the money to acquire a Ferrari in the early Fifties was indeed fortunate as they had the opportunity of owning such a luxurious car, in every meaning of the word.
Of the ten Ferrari 375 Americas produced, all of them remain, warmly tended in private collections around the World.
