1953 Ferrari 340 MM Vignale Spider
- Engine
- 4.1L naturally aspirated V12 (Lampredi long-block), triple four-choke Weber carburettors, magneto ignition, ~310 bhp
- Colour
- Dark blue over white (currently refinished red)
Chassis 0350 AM is the final example produced among ten Ferrari 340 MM Vignale Spiders, and one of only four survivors of that body style. Delivered new in late 1953 to Californian sportsman and aviator Sterling Edwards through Luigi Chinetti, it wore distinctive two-tone blue-and-white coachwork by Vignale. Edwards immediately dominated West Coast SCCA competition, securing multiple victories including the Pebble Beach Road Races. The car subsequently passed through several American owners before the catalogue prose breaks off, leaving a rich early racing history as testament to the Lampredi-engined Ferrari's impact on the U.S. market.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €6,000,000 – €8,000,000
- 1953-09-01 → 1955Factory deliverySterling Edwardsfull documentation
Ordered via Luigi Chinetti and collected in Europe during a honeymoon trip; car finished in two-tone blue and white. Edwards campaigned it extensively in West Coast SCCA competition before selling.
- 1955 → 1955Private saleJim Pauleypartial documentation
Made a modification to the hood bulge to improve airflow before passing the car along.
- 1955 → 1955Private saleErnie McAfeepartial documentation
Hollywood-based dealer and racing driver who briefly held the car before selling it on.
- 1955 →Private saleTom Bamfordpartial documentation
Based in Woodland Hills, near Los Angeles; acquired from McAfee. Prose is cut off before further detail.
Competition
- 19501950 Mille MigliaDNF — transmission failure
Chassis 0030 MT was entered alongside a near-identical sibling; both retired early with gearbox issues, though the engine impressed.
- 1953-10-01SCCAStead Air Force Base, RenoDriver: Sterling Edwards1st
Debut outing for 0350 AM under Edwards; victory was immediate on the car's first competitive appearance.
- 1954-02-01SCCAPalm Springs RaceDriver: Sterling Edwards1st
- 1954-04-01SCCA5th Annual Pebble Beach Road RacesDriver: Sterling Edwards1st (Del Monte Trophy)
Come-from-behind win over American V-8 cars; Edwards set a lap record that was never subsequently beaten. Race photos appeared in several noted automotive publications.
- 1954-06-01SCCASCCA Nationals, Golden Gate ParkDriver: Sterling Edwards2nd
- 1954-08-01SCCASeafair Race, SeattleDriver: Sterling Edwards1st
- 1954-11-01SCCAMarch Air Force Base RaceDriver: Sterling Edwards4th overall
Final race for Edwards in this chassis; his results across the season placed him third in the national C-Class Modified standings.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1955Modification
Hood bulge was vented to increase air intake to the engine.
Carried out during Jim Pauley's ownership.
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