VIN: the Otto Wild Ferrari 340 America chassis 0114 A
History of chassis 0114 A
Between spring 1951 and autumn 1952, Ferrari built 22 340 Americas.
The 340 America was Ferrari’s first production model equipped with Lampredi’s big-block V12 engine.
Fast, powerful and extremely expensive, buyers were able to configure their new cars for road or racing use; the model’s ability to win at the top level was amply demonstrated by Luigi Villoresi’s victory on the 1951 Mille Miglia.
Before production started, Ferrari fitted 340-spec. engines into the pair of experimental 275 Sports they had campaigned on the 1950 Mille Miglia. One of these Touring-bodied Spyders (chassis 0030 MT) was then repainted black, upholstered with a new green interior and displayed at the Paris Motor Show (October 1st to 10th 1950).
0030 MT’s unusual colour scheme attracted the attention of Odofranco ‘Otto’ Wild of Muri, Switzerland, who ordered his own 340 America in an identical livery.
A successful manufacturer of iron industrial parts, Otto Wild wanted his new car delivered in time for the 1951 Mille Miglia (April 28th and 29th). In preparation, he leased a 212 Export to race on the 1951 Giro di Sicilia (April 1st).
However, Wild’s 340 America (chassis 0114 A) was not ready until late June which forced him to miss the Mille Miglia.
Prior to handover, Ferrari personnel reputedly drove the brand new car from Maranello to Le Mans where it was parked up as a potentially useful source of spares for the 24 Hour race (June 23rd and 24th). Four 340 America’s were entered and the big Ferraris started as pre-race favourites.
0114 A was one of six 340 Americas built with Touring Spyder bodywork.
Otto Wild finally took delivery of his handsome Ferrari immediately after Le Mans and the car was registered AG 2167 on June 27th 1951.
Twelve days later, Wild displayed 0114 A at the Lucerne Concours d’Elegance where it won first prize.
During August and September, he entered the Ferrari in a series of hillclimbs (Tiefencastel-Lenzerheide, Maloja-St. Moritz and Mitholz-Kandersteg) but did not appear in the list of class winners.
Wild sent 0014 A back to the factory for maintenance in October 1951 and then again in August 1953. Immediately prior to its second visit back to Maranello, Wild had participated in a three-day driving school at Lugano, Campione and Monza organised by the Swiss Racing Car Club.
By this time, Otto Wild had purchased a new Ferrari 342 America (chassis 0232 AL, a luxurious Vignale-bodied Cabriolet that was delivered in January 1953).
He sold 0114 A in October 1955 to make way for a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
The 340 America was purchased by Wild’s brother-in-law, Ernst Hafner, a building contractor from Zurich.
At this point, the Zurich plate ZH 3488 was issued.
Ernst Hafner had several years use of 0114 A before the Lampredi engine developed problems. It was taken off the road in 1964.
In April 1969, Hafner sold 0014 A to Muri garage owner, Louis Frey. Frey was a friend and neighbour of Otto Wild. Knowing of 0114 A’s engine trouble, he had first enquired about purchasing the Ferrari in 1968.
Over the next couple of years, Frey got the car running and fitted the engine from a wrecked 250 GT.
He has retained the car ever since.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com
