Missing for 60 years, this Ferrari was found in the USA and estimated at over 1 million $!

Some Ferrari have survived the decades by shining in concours d'élégance. Others disappear altogether, to the point where their very existence almost becomes the stuff of legend. This is precisely the case of this 1951 Ferrari 342 America Coupé, recently rediscovered in the USA after nearly 60 years off the radar. And the most incredible thing? It could fetch over a million dollars at auction.

An exceptional GT in the early days of Ferrari

In the early 1950s, Ferrari was still building its cars almost by hand. Every customer was an industrialist, an aristocrat or a famous racing driver. The America series, launched in 1950, represented the pinnacle of luxury and road performance. 1951 saw the arrival of the 342 America. Unlike its predecessors, which were still very close to competition, it was designed from the outset as a fast tourer. Its lengthened chassis enhanced comfort, while the 4.1-liter Lampredi V12 derived from the 375 F1 developed some 200 horsepower, a considerable output for the time. But above all, only seven examples were ever built.

Chassis 0130 AL is the first to be built. Ferrari entrusts it to Ghia for a unique 2+2 coupe body. The car adopts an elegant two-tone dark blue and silver-gray livery, with a particularly sophisticated matching interior. Even the dashboard is special, grouping several Jaeger instruments in a single central dial.

Ferrari immediately decided to make it its showcase model. It appeared at the Paris Motor Show in October 1951, then a few days later at the London Motor Show. The British press was captivated, and Stirling Moss himself climbed aboard to examine its driving position.

A Ferrari... for the boss of Aston Martin

After its public appearances, the car returned to Maranello in early 1952 for final preparation. It was then delivered to its first owner: David Brown, the head of Aston Martin. The symbolism is strong. The creator of the future DB2, DB4 and DB5 chose a Ferrari for himself. The 342 America thus became probably the first road-going Ferrari sold in the UK.

During the 1950s, it was regularly driven at British motoring events, notably Oulton Park. It gradually changed owners, but remained popular with enthusiasts. Then, towards the end of the decade, it was repainted in traditional Italian red. No sign yet of its demise.

1967: the Ferrari disappears from the world

In late 1966 or early 1967, the car left England for the United States. It was bought by Edwin K. Niles, a Californian enthusiast who imported several historic Ferraris. But the car didn't stay long on the West Coast. It was soon sold to Robert Chevako, who lived in New York State. In June 1967, the Ferrari was spotted at the Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix. This was the last known public sighting. After this event, it disappeared completely.

In the decades that followed, the car never went on sale, never underwent restoration, never appeared in concours d'élégance. Even in specialized Ferrari circles, the car became something of a missing piece. We know it still exists, but nobody really knows where it is or what condition it's in. It simply remains stored, out of the light, on a property in New York State. Years go by, but the car never reappears.

Emerging from the shadows after nearly 60 years

The Ferrari was recently rediscovered after the death of its last owner. By emptying the estate, the Ferrari was found in its place of storage, exactly where it had been left decades before. Unlike many early restorations, the car is intact in its original condition. It retains its British plates, part of its two-tone interior and, above all, its matching numbers engine, confirmed by the Ferrari archives.

It has never been restored, never been modified and never even been publicly offered for sale since the 1960s. This makes it a raw testimony to the brand's history, frozen in time. Its condition requires complete restoration, but for collectors, this is precisely what makes it exceptional: everything remains authentic.

A major piece of Ferrari history at auction

This Ferrari 342 America will be sold at the Amelia Island auction in March 2026. The estimate is between $900,000 and $1.2 million. Beyond the price, its historical importance is immense. As the first example built, the only Ghia, the official show car, the former property of the Aston Martin boss and missing for almost 60 years, it embodies an era when Ferrari was moving from the world of racing to that of prestige grand touring. For over half a century, it lay forgotten in an American garage.
Today, she returns to the stage as if time had stood still in 1967.