VIN: the Niccola De Nora Ferrari 400 Superamerica chassis 2407 SA
History of chassis 2407 SA
Pininfarina bodied six Series 1 400 Superamericas as Cabriolets, five of which were built with an open headlight configuration.
The last of these Superamerica Cabriolets with uncovered headlights was chassis 2407 SA. It was completed on April 29th 1961 and delivered to its first owner, Niccolo De Nora of Milan, on May 5th.
De Nora’s father, Oronzio, was a scientist and electrical engineer who in 1923 patented Amuchina, a powerful antibacterial agent obtained from sodium hypochlorite diluted in water. In 1924, Oronzio De Nora established Industrie De Nora which pioneered the construction of plants for the production of chlorine and caustic soda. The company also became a major player in Italy’s metallurgical industry.
In 1962, Oronzio De Nora signed a licence agreement with his friend, Enzo Ferrari, to mass produce the diminutive Tipo 854 which subsequently became known as the ASA 1000. Niccola De Nora was installed as head of the new company: Autocostruzione Societa per Azioni (ASA).
Niccola De Nora’s 400 Superamerica was configured in Grigio Argento with a Nero interior. Like the other six Cabriolets built by Pininfarina, it came with a hardtop.
During proceedings for the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix (May 11th to 14th), chassis 2407 SA served as the Course Director’s car and was also used for filming.
In August 1962, Niccola De Nora acquired another 400 Superamerica: Pininfarina’s Superfast show car (chassis 2207 SA) which by this time was on its third body style (Superfast IV).
Precisely how long De Nora retained his silver Cabriolet is unclear. However, by 1965 the car had been exported to the USA and was in the possession of Ted Dibble from Coos Bay in Oregon. Dibble repainted chassis 2407 SA red and added a roll hoop.
In 1968, the 400 Superamerica moved 500 miles up the East Coast to Vancouver, Washington, where it spent four years in the custody of Bruce Russell who repainted the car yellow and removed the roll bar.
Chassis 2407 SA subsequently went through the hands of a couple more US owners before it was sold to TV producer Greg Garrison in 1979. It joined Garrison’s collection in Thousand Oaks, California, where it remained until 2001.
Since then, the car has been restored and configured in pale yellow with a light blue interior.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
