Mecum Auctions is one of the leading auction houses in the United States. Their auctions are regularly televised, and quite often they find some incredibly rare examples of cars that sell for some pretty major prices. Especially if they are a Ferrari. One such car that will go under the hammer later this month is this 1952 Ferrari 340 America. Mecum describes this as the ultimate barn find, and it had quite an interesting life. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti and finished in a stunning period-correct French Racing Blue with the #14, this car finished fifth in the 1952 Le Mans 24 Hours before being sold and exported to the United States.

The Original Ferrari Engine Was Soon Swapped For A Chevy V8

Ferrari 340 America
via Mecum Auctions

The car soon had a Chevy V8 installed, but the beautiful Alfredo Vignale coachwork was damaged in an accident in a race and was then fitted with 1956 Bangert Manta Rey styled open coachwork. This body was then damaged, and thus the Ferrari was fitted with a Devin Spider fiberglass body. The original Ferrari engine was also soon sold to a Chicago resident. The Ferrari was then titled in Salt Lake City, before falling off the radar and then being sold again in 1990 for just $200, before sitting undisturbed until 2006.

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It was bought by restorer Tom Shaughnessy who intended to restore the car to its former glory before he and Ferrari expert Hilary Rabb found out that it was a competition, Ferrari. It was one of just 475 competion examples ever built from 1948 to 1974, and then verified as one of just 24 examples of the 340 America ever built.

An Original V12 Replaced The Chevy V8 Engine Following Restoration

Ferrari 340 America
via Mecum Auctions

The car has since been restored to its former glory in its original French racing Blue No.14 livery and with all-new Vignale coachwork to give it back its original appearance. The car, chassis No.0202A now has a correct 4.1-liter V12 engine in place of its swapped Chevy V8 and it is mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. It is a Ferrari with a history unlike any other. It had such a secretive life before 1990 that it wasn’t known to those in the Ferrari world.

Restoration by Ferrari Classiche Brought The Car Back To Its Full Glory

Ferrari 340 America
via Mecum Auctions

Having been bought back in 2006 by Shaughnessy for $26, 912, this restored masterpiece is surely going to fetch a much larger sum when it goes under the hammer at Mecum's Indy auction which starts in just a couple of days' time. The car comes with a detailed book full of period photographs of chassis 0202A plus news clippings, race results, and some amazing restoration photos. Its come a long way since being built back in Italy, and thanks to the work of Shaughnessy and the Ferrari Classiche Department in Italy, this incredible car can once again enjoy being back on the road, and maybe even the race track too.

Source: Mecum Auctions

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