Description
The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupé Aerodinamico represents a turning point in Ferrari’s approach to grand touring design. Built between 1961 and 1964, it combined high performance with the most advanced styling and luxury that Ferrari and Pininfarina had achieved to that point. The “Aerodinamico” designation refers to a special body style developed by Pininfarina that introduced a sleeker, more modern design language emphasizing airflow, proportion, and visual unity.
The 400 Superamerica was powered by a 4.0-liter (3967 cc) Colombo V12 engine, a highly refined unit producing between 340 and 360 horsepower. The engine featured three Weber carburetors and delivered smooth, effortless acceleration. Paired with a four-speed manual gearbox and built on a shorter 2420 mm wheelbase, the car offered excellent performance with a top speed of over 250 km/h. Handling and stability were enhanced by the car’s compact proportions and advanced chassis layout, which included four-wheel disc brakes and independent front suspension.
The Coupé Aerodinamico was based on a styling exercise first shown on the Superfast II and III prototypes, with design influences that would shape Ferrari road cars through the 1960s. Its most distinctive features included a low, wide front grille, a sharply tapered roofline, and a fastback rear with an integrated Kamm-style tail. The clean surfaces, sculpted flanks, and minimal chrome trim gave the car a more modern and purposeful appearance, a departure from the heavily ornamented look of the 1950s.
Pininfarina built just a small number of Coupé Aerodinamico models—fewer than a dozen in total. The first few were built on the long-wheelbase chassis, while later ones used the shorter chassis that became standard for the 400 Superamerica series. Though similar in overall design, each Aerodinamico car had subtle differences in detailing, reflecting the fact that these were still largely bespoke automobiles, tailored for the specific desires of their original owners.
The interior was finished with the highest levels of craftsmanship, offering full leather upholstery, polished wood accents, and a neatly arranged dashboard with comprehensive Jaeger instrumentation. Comfort and elegance were essential qualities of the 400 Superamerica, and the Aerodinamico added to that a level of modern sophistication that made it especially appealing to Ferrari’s wealthiest clients.
The 400 Superamerica Coupé Aerodinamico stands today as one of the most beautifully resolved and influential designs of early 1960s Ferrari production. It bridged the aesthetic shift from the hand-crafted, chrome-rich era of coachbuilding to a cleaner, more performance-oriented design ethos. Its rarity, power, and elegance make it one of the most desirable grand touring Ferraris of its time.