Ferrari 410 Superamerica, Red

The Superamerica's engine came from Aurelio Lampredi's long-block V12, which had powered Ferrari's top road cars since 1951. For the Series III, shown at Paris in October 1958, it became the first Ferrari road engine with the spark plugs moved outside the vee, between the exhaust ports. That made room for separate intake ports, more head studs and a compression ratio of 9.0:1, and with three Weber carburettors the output rose from 360 to 400 bhp at 6,500 rpm. The chassis kept a tubular steel frame on a 2,600 mm wheelbase, with coil springs at the front, a live axle at the rear and Borrani wire wheels. Only twelve Series III cars were built, all bodied by Pinin Farina, and BBR models chassis 1423 SA.

Here the three-window coupé is finished in bright red, with open headlamps in chrome rims and two driving lamps behind the egg-crate grille. A dark strip runs back from the bonnet scoop, and behind each front wheel is a three-bar vent in a chrome surround, with a Pininfarina badge beside it. Louvres cut through the rear pillars, chrome trim frames the glass, and the car runs on chrome wire wheels. At the back, two pairs of exhaust tips sit under the full-width bumper. It stands on a grey leather base with a plaque naming the 410 Serie III. BBR builds it at 1:18.