//:: A Ferrari to keep

The forthcoming Monterey auction set to take place later this month will include the sale of a rare Italian handcrafted supercar, RM Auctions revealed. The vehicle in question is a 1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Carrozzeria Vignale, which is one of 12 original 375 Americas and one of the two Vignale-bodied coupes.

Originally finished in burgundy with a silver roof and tan upholstery, the example on offer is the 1954 Geneva Salon show car.

However, by 1964, the car was known to have been refinished in metallic blue, with its original small taillights having been replaced by larger US-specification units.

But most recently, the car was returned to its original Geneva show colors, with original paint samples of the burgundy for the body and the silver for the roof located on the car and used to correctly match the colors. In addition, the original small taillights, which were swapped for larger units under Robert Wilke’s ownership in period, were returned to the car.

Moreover, the dash was also refinished in correctly matched burgundy paint, and the rest of the interior remains original. In addition, the undercarriage and engine bay are reportedly well detailed.

The lot is “cloaked in its handsomely hand-formed Vignale bodywork, presented exactly as it first appeared at Geneva in 1954 and retaining its original, matching-numbers V-12 engine,” RM Auctions explains. “Accordingly, it epitomizes the pioneering era of Ferrari road-car development, and it is certain to remain one of the most fascinating and highly coveted classic Ferraris ever created.”

Set to go under the hammer this August 20, the 1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe is estimated to fetch between $1,750,000-$2,100,000.