1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale

When a car has a guide price of between $2.4m and $3.4m in an auction, you know you’re breathing rarified air and there won’t be many others like it available anywhere else in the world. So it proves with this breathtaking 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale which is going up for auction with RM Sotheby’s at their Arizona event in 2021. This stunning steed showcases the sort of old school cool Ferrari are synonymous with and it is sure to go to some deep pocketed classic car fan.

The 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale from RM Sotheby’s is one of just three 375 America Coupes bodied by Vignale – hence the rather lofty price tag – and it displayed at the 1954 New York World Motor Sports Show and 1954 Geneva Motor Show so it has a mighty impressive automotive backstory to brag about to boot.


First Class Ferrari


They simply don’t make cars like this 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale anymore and it is all the more alluring as a result. This amazing machine keeps its original 4.5-litre Lampredi V-12 engine and it has also been restored to its original burgundy and silver-grey finish over a beige interior to give it that extra level of authenticity and traditional that classic car aficionados are going to appreciate.

This 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale from RM Sotheby’s ($2.4m+) was originally sold new to legendary racing sponsor Robert Wilke, of Leader Card fame and has a consistent, documented ownership history from new with noted enthusiasts. The Ferrari 375 America, which first came to be in 1953, continued the burgeoning tradition established by 340 America in 1951, followed by the 342 America in 1952. While its chassis and suspension shared much in common with the 250 Europa GT, under the hood was a race-ready 4.5-litre Lampredi V-12 engine.

An impressive engine for the time to say the least, it produced an estimated 296 horsepower, which was sent to the rear axle via a four-speed gearbox. It was one of the fastest road-going automobiles in the world, and it was also among the most exclusive with a mere 11 Coupes and 1 Cabriolet being built, each wearing hand-crafted coachwork.


Exceptional Condition


As the price tag probably prompts you to believe, this 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale is in a remarkable condition. It wears its two-tone livery, very similar to the colours in which was first shown in New York and Geneva. The car’s primary exterior colour carries on into the cabin, where it appears on the dashboard and in the piping of the beige interior upholstery.

The cabin is, as one might expect for a car of this era, comfortable but straightforward, with little in there which will distract from the task of driving rapidly. A wood-rimmed steering wheel, as well as a finely detailed shift knob, matched by the door handle and window-crank escutcheons, add carefully nuanced touches of sophistication to this ultimate in elegant machines. Now, just to find a spare $2.4m.

Leo Davie
Latest posts by Leo Davie (see all)