As the echoes of World War II austerity faded in Europe, it occurred to Enzo Ferrari that his wealthiest clients were ready for a superfast road going gran turismo. The result was the 410 Superamerica, which took the big four-litre Lampredi V-12, increased its displacement to 4.9 litres, and wrapped it in a series of elegant coupé and cabriolet bodies by the finest Italian coachbuilders. Truly a bespoke offering, each car was individually tailored to its owner’s requests, blisteringly fast, and sophisticated enough to transport a royal. It was Ferrari’s gift to his best customers: a car that truly proved one had arrived in the hard-to-breach hierarchy of Maranello.

Like all Ferraris, the Superamerica enjoyed gradual evolution. By 1959, with the Lampredi V-12 ageing, a new model was introduced with a four-litre version of the Colombo V-12 that powered the 250 Series. Five inches shorter and much lighter than the Lampredi unit, the engine was fitted into the 400 Superamerica, which featured disc brakes, a first on a Ferrari street car, and was offered in two wheelbase lengths. Once more, the Superamerica was exclusive, driven by Enzo himself, as well as by the Aga Khan, Gianni Agnelli, minor European royalty, and major Hollywood stars. No doubt, they were all appropriately impressed by the top speed of 160 mph and its acceleration from 0–100 mph in 18 seconds, figures that remain impressive in an era of variable valve timing and sophisticated direct fuel injection.

Car & Driver tested the prototype 400 Superamerica in April 1963, reporting that it was “the best example extant of the true GT car, in the traditional, non-Detroit, non-FIA manner, a closed two-seater, slightly hysterical, and designed expressly for long-distance, high-speed travel…owning one is, or should be, the goal of every automotive enthusiast anywhere”.

The car offered here, 3559SA, was built to the most desirable specification, with covered headlights on the short-wheelbase chassis, and was finished in Blu Sera Italver with Blu Connolly leather interior. Originally delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1962, it was supplied new to C.O. Marshall, of Toledo, Ohio, in whose hands it was shown at the 5th annual Ferrari Club of America show in Greenwich in March 1968, winning the Judge’s Choice Award.

Marshall installed a new exhaust system in 1968 and then offered 3559SA for sale, with its engine overhauled and showing only 16,000 miles. Four years later, Michael Kerr, of Carrollton, Texas, acquired the car, which by that point had a sunroof installed. He maintained the Ferrari until 1989, at which point it was passed to Arnold and Werner Meier, of Meilen, Switzerland, on the Lake of Zurich. The Meiers would keep 3559SA for a full decade, remedying various items on the car for factory correctness and using it in the manner for which it was intended, whilst also maintaining it properly. In 1993, 3559SA was completely restored by Edi Wyss Engineering, of Zurich, which repainted it the original Blu Sera, removed the sunroof, and restored the roof; the naturale leather interior that was already installed still remained.

The car was shown at the 32nd annual Ferrari Club of America meeting at the Hyatt Hotel in Monterey, California, in August 1994, followed by an appearance in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. In 1997, it was displayed at the 8th annual Concours Automobiles Classiques et Louis Vuitton at Parc de Bagatelle in Paris, rewarded with a win in Class VIII, as pictured in issue number 70 of Automobiles Classiques. Encouraged by this success, Meier drove his Ferrari to the 50th anniversary meeting in Modena and Rome, as seen in the 1997 Ferrari Yearbook. In 2002, 3559SA was shown at the Grand Prix of Montreux.

Meier finally parted with his beloved Superamerica in April 2003, and it was displayed by a subsequent owner at the Cavallino Classic at The Breakers in Florida in 2005, before coming into the ownership of its present caretaker, legendary racing driver Skip Barber.

Whilst the Ferrari was in fine condition as-purchased, Mr Barber had extensive work performed by noted Prancing Horse specialist Greg Jones, of Florida, a list of which is available for inspection, with the goal of the car being recognized as a Platinum Award-winner at the Cavallino Classic. It was returned to The Breakers in 2012, and it was awarded that sought-after prize in Class 10, Speciale/SF/SA. Having completed a rigorous approval process, the 400 Superamerica has been awarded Classiche certification by the Ferrari factory, the ultimate stamp of approval on a Ferrari’s authenticity and excellence.

With the ride-ranging travels and religious maintenance practiced by its loving owners, past and present, this covered-headlight SWB 400 Superamerica stands as among the bluest of the blue-chip Ferraris, and it ranks among the finest examples of its type that RM has ever had the pleasure of offering.