• One of just four examples built
• Instantly recognizable in its period livery
• Eligible for the most exclusive historic events worldwide
• Impeccably presented and with the best possible provenance

In the early Fifties Ferrari recognized that the company’s best, most enthusiastic and – most importantly – most lucrative market was in North America. Protected by two oceans from the ravages of World War II and turned into an industrial and commercial colossus by the war effort, North Americans were energized, productive, flush with cash and discovering road racing.

As much as Europe focused on the Mille Miglia and Le Mans, North America turned its attention to the Carrera Panamericana, a five day, nearly 2,000 mile odyssey the length of Mexico. Begun in a small way in 1950 to promote the opening of the Pan American Highway, it was limited to five-passenger sedans and ran north-to-south. North American marques like Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Nash, Lincoln and Ford dominated the results.

Running on surfaces that ranged from loose gravel to smooth tarmac, from tight, twisting mountain stages to hours-long stretches of flat-out running, from close to sea level to passes over 10,000 feet up, it was an unprecedented test of machinery alleviated only by stage checkpoints and four overnight layovers.

A year later the organizers loosened the rules to balance the worldwide attention the Carrera had received with a similarly international group of entrants. Ferrari entered two cars, 212 Inter coupés with coachwork by Vignale, driven by Piero Taruffi/ Luigi Chinetti and Alberto Ascari/ Luigi Villoresi.

Loafing along behind the Packards, Oldsmobiles, Lincolns, Chryslers and Mercurys in the early stages, shadowed by Bracco’s Lancia, Taruffi and Ascari opened up in the late stages employing their Ferraris’ power and long gearing to capture the prizes of $23,180 and $14,487 for first and second places, taking home between them nearly half the total prize money of $68,380.

The third running in 1952 marked the race’s pinnacle. Again heading south-north, factory teams from Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Gordini raised the stakes, the level of competition and the driver line-up.

Like its competitors, Ferrari brought a special model, the 340 Mexico. There were three berlinettas and a spider, all bodied by Vignale with single ignition, 4,101cc Lampredi long-block engines described as making 280 horsepower, five-speed gearboxes, transverse leaf spring independent front suspension and leaf sprung live rear axles on 2,600 mm wheelbase chassis. Entries were variously described but Texas oilman Allen Guiberson backed at least two. US gentleman driver Bill Spear, the entrant for the spider, didn’t take the start. The three berlinettas were driven by the star-studded roster of Piero Taruffi, Luigi Chinetti, Luigi Villoresi, Franco Cornacchia, Alberto Ascari and Giuseppe Scotuzzi.

All three of the 340 Mexico coupés were sponsored by Santiago Ontanon, a Mexican motor racing enthusiast and owner of Industrias 1-2-3 who also entered his own 212 Inter in the race as well as going on to sponsor the Ferrari factory 375 Plus entries in 1954.  His ‘Productos 1•2•3’ logo dominated the Mexico’s flanks. Its slogan No hay dos – colloquially translated as “nothing better” – was on the nose. With a diverse line of consumer products ranging from a leading brand of vegetable cooking oil still sold in Mexico to a popular laundry detergent, Industrias 1•2•3’s sponsorship reflected the exposure it got to the thousands of spectators who thronged the Carrera Panamericana route. Historically more significantly, it is one of the first instances of non-automotive product sponsorship in a major motor race. The ‘Productos 1•2•3’ identity has become inseparably linked with the three Ferrari 340 Mexicos, along with the Sinclair Oil Corporation whose name prominently adorned their front wings and roof.

The third of the 340 Mexico berlinettas, ‘0226AT’, was entered by Ferrari’s North American representative Luigi Chinetti and commended to World Champion Alberto Ascari and his co-driver Giuseppe Scotuzzi. Its saga in the Carrera Panamericana is short, but is ample evidence of Ascari’s intensity and determination.

In the February 1953 issue of the U.S. magazine Speed Age author Vince McDonald records the scene:

“… 50 miles out [from the start], just over the first series of hills, the road wound down into a valley across three narrow bridges, then back up into the hills. A blinding blanket of fog lay over the valley and it was here that we awaited the racing pack.

“At 7:25 the first car could be heard, as it screamed through the turns and down into the soup, hit the first, second, and the last wooden bridge with a deep rumble, and disappeared. The fog was so thick that only by standing on the edge of the road and straining hard could the first car be distinguished – a Mercedes.

“Almost immediately the other two Mercedes-Benz went through, then the fog began to lift and the next car came off the bridge, a Ferrari driven by Efrain Ruiz Echeverria of Mexico City. Santos Litona Diaz in a Jaguar was next, with Alberto Ascari, who had started in 14th place, trying desperately to pass on a bridge that was hardly wide enough for one.

“Fifty miles up the highway, Ascari who finished second last year, lost his Ferrari in some loose stone kicked up in one of the ever present sharp turns, and folded up the front end against a rocky ledge.”

After starting at 7:14 AM, barely a half hour later Ascari had swallowed up nine competitors in an epic charge. His demise is variously attributed to gravel, stones and melting asphalt. His determination was evident.

After its retirement from the Carrera Panamericana, ‘0226AT’ was returned to Ferrari and Vignale for repairs then sold by Allen Guiberson to A.V. Dayton in Dallas, Texas in 1953. Carroll Shelby and Ernie McAfee drove it to a 2nd place finish in the Offutt Air Force Base race on 4th July 1953. Its subsequent history reflects the appeal of its history, its performance and its dramatic and attractive Vignale berlinetta coachwork, sympathetically preserved and passing through the hands of a number of owners from 1954 through 1975 without losing its identity or its original engine.

In 1975 chassis ‘0226AT’ was acquired by David Carroll in Boston, Massachusetts who sold it a decade later to hotelier and pioneering collector J Willard ‘Bill’ Marriott Jr, for whom its first and only restoration was performed by David Carte and Skip Hunt, returning it to its historic ‘Productos 1•2•3’ Carrera Panamericana identity.

In 1988 the car earned the Phil Hill Award for Best Competition Ferrari and also Best in Show at the Ferrari Club of America National Meet in Elkhart Lake followed by the Peter Helk Award at the 1989 Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance.

In August 1989 it earned Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

In 1997 London-based Brazilian collector and racer Carlos Monteverde became ‘0226AT’s penultimate custodian, followed by the present US owner from 1999 onwards who has enjoyed its thrilling presence and performance several times in the Colorado Grand and the Monterey Historic Races.

On so many levels Ferrari 340 Mexico ‘0226AT’ is a glorious machine. Driven by heroes in one of road racing’s epic events, the Carrera Panamericana, meticulously restored in its most recognized livery, it has remained together with its original driveline and is impeccably presented. It will honour any collection, historic race, tour, concours or event with its presence.

Please note that this motor car will be sold strictly ‘As is, Where is’ on a Bill of Sale from the owner.