After 50 years of family ownership, and originally owned by a Southern California playboy, a 1951 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Coupe Speciale has been consigned to Bonhams’ collector car auction at The Quail Lodge during Monterey Car Week.
The car, chassis 0132A, retains its original V12 engine, a 4.1-liter powerplant designed by Aurelio Lambredi. The car took its name from the 340cc displacement of each cylinder, from Ferrari’s target market for such a vehicle, and from the company that designed its bodywork, coachwork shared by only five cars.
“Originally designated as a race car, as evidenced by its even-number chassis and engine, 0132A was ordered new by rich Filipino playboy Johnny Ysmael – a pal of Tyrone Power, Porfirio Rubirosa and Ricardo Montalban,” Bonhams reports.
“Ysmael drove the Ferrari in southern California where it was featured in the February 1952 issue of Road & Track and later sold it. Under new ownership, 0132A raced regionally, including at Willow Springs, and then remained in the same family for over 50 years.”
Also recently consigned to the auction are a 1937 Delahaye 135M, a Competition Court model that is one of only 30 produced and which wears unique roadster coachwork by Guillore, and a 2017 Ford GT in heritage livery and has been driven only 116 miles to date.
Bonhams The Quail auction is scheduled for August 15-16.
