Ferrari 340 America Coupé 2+2 Ghia

Vehicle Overview

The Ferrari 340 America Coupé 2+2 Ghia, chassis 0130A, was a true showstopper when it debuted at the 1951 Paris Auto Show. Designed by the renowned Giovanni Michelotti and crafted by Carrozzeria Ghia, this unique one-off featured an elegant two-tone paint scheme and striking chrome accents. Following its Paris debut, the car also made an appearance at the Olympia London Motor Show, where it caught the eye of David Brown—owner of Aston Martin—who ultimately purchased it. While early Ferrari 340 Americas were built primarily as competition cars, Ferrari introduced a more refined, road-focused version just a year after the model’s French debut. Chassis 0130 AL was designed as a true grand tourer and stood apart from its racing predecessors. Coachbuilt by Ghia in Turin, it was Ferrari’s first full four-seater, as indicated by the “AL” suffix in its chassis number—distinct from the “A” designation used for all other 340 Americas. Commissioned specifically for the 1951 Paris Motor Show in early October, 0130 AL was finished in a sophisticated dark blue with a contrasting grey roof. This elegant two-tone theme carried over to the interior, where the dashboard was split into an upper blue section and a lower grey section, separated by a polished wooden inlay. One of its most distinctive features was Ghia’s unique single instrument binnacle, which housed a multi-function dial displaying speed, RPM, fuel level, water temperature, and oil pressure. Just a week after its Paris debut, the car was transported to England, where it took center stage on the Brooklands of Bond Street stand at the London Motor Show. Brooklands of Bond Street, based in Mayfair, was the exclusive London distributor for prestigious brands like Alvis, Aston Martin, Healey, and Lagonda—and had recently become the official British Ferrari concessionaire. With its elegant styling, luxurious appointments, and historical significance, the Ferrari 340 America Coupé 2+2 Ghia remains a remarkable chapter in Ferrari’s legacy.