VIN: the Tony Parravano Ferrari 340 America chassis 0150 A
History of chassis 0150 A
The 340 America was Ferrari’s first model put on sale with the big-block Lampredi V12 engine.
23 were built plus two factory conversions, the majority of which were destined for racing use.
Just under half were purchased as the ultimate road cars of their day. Three of these came with two-seat Coupe bodywork by Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin.
The first (0142 A, painted blue) was sold to John Perona, owner of the legendary Manhattan nightclub ‘El Morocco’.
The second (0148 A, painted white) went to French industrialist, Michel Paul Cavallier.
The third and final example (0150 A, painted red) was sold to Tony Parravano of Inglewood, California.
Parravano was a multi-millionaire building contractor who had entered his tuned Cadillac Series 62 Coupe for the Carrera Panamericana road race in 1950 and 1951.
The 1951 running was the first year this 2000-mile event across Mexico had been open to sports cars and Ferrari had sent over a pair of works 212 Inters which famously finished first and second.
Parravano purchased 0150 A for an attack on the 1952 event.
Chassis 0150 A was completed in December 1951 and Parravano received it early the following year.
Despite being completed as a high end road car, once it was in California, Parravano arranged for Bill Pollack to put the red Ferrari through its paces at the Torrey Pines SCCA road race on July 20th. In preparation for its outing on the 1952 Carrera, the owner wanted his car pushed hard to see what would fail: it was the rear brakes that went.
Parravano then had Ernie McAfee’s workshop on Sunset Boulevard give 0150 A a thorough overhaul at not inconsiderable expense.
The bodywork was modified with special cooling ducts cut into each rear fender. The entire drivetrain was blueprinted, a special magneto ignition was installed and every nut and bolt was cotter keyed or safety wired. McAfee also fitted bigger drilled and vented brake drums and switched the Borrani wire wheels for more durable cast Halibrands.
Although up against a formidable opposition including works teams from Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Lancia and Gordini, 0150 A finished the 1952 Carrera Panamericana in a very respectable fifth overall.
Bitten by the racing bug, Parravano went on to acquire no less than 17 of the latest Ferraris and Maseratis between 1952 and 1956. He also hired some of the best professional drivers to race for him.
Chassis 0150 A was only wheeled out for one more event, the Palm Springs SCCA Preliminaries in December 1955 (where it posted a double DNF). It was then sold to Harry Heinl of Toledo.
By early 1957, the IRS were closing in on Parravano’s construction empire. He fled to Mexico and successfully smuggled several of his cars across the border.
A warrant for his arrest was issued and, while Parravano did later surrender to the authorities in February 1960, he subsequently disappeared for good on April 8th.
Parravano was due to show up in court to enter a plea deal for tax evasion on the April 11th.
Whether foul play was involved is unknown.
The FBI started looking for him, but Tony Parravano was never seen again.
In 1958, Harry Heinl sold 0150 A to noted Ferrari expert, Dick Merritt from Ohio.
In turn, Merritt soon sold it on to John Ward of West Covina, California, who owned it for many years.
0150 A was then sold to fellow West Covina collector. Gordon Thomas. who commissioned a comprehensive restoration by Harold White. Afterwards, the car was most notably displayed at Pebble Beach in 1990.
Notable History
Sold to Tony Parravano, Inglewood, California.
20/07/1952 SCA Torrey Pines (B. Pollack) DNF (#90)
Uprated by Ernie McAfee for the 1952 Carrera Panamericana.
23/11/1952 IND Carrera Panamericana (E. McAfee / J. McAfee) 5th oa (#17)
03/12/1955 SCA Palm Springs Preliminary (B. Drake) DNF (#210)
03/12/1955 SCA Palm Springs Preliminary (B. Drake) DNF (#210)
1956/57 sold to Harry Heinl, Toledo, Ohio.
1958 sold to Dick Merritt, Boulder, Colorado.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
