Vehicle Description
Well before the 206 and 246, Dino established the market for a
Junior Ferrari, Enzo sought to extend the reach of his company and
improve the bottom line via an entry-level GT car. Some at Ferrari,
including Il Commendatore himself shared the concern that a junior
model could cheapen the brand, so to minimize risk, the plan was to
design and engineer the car within the hallowed walls of Maranello,
but actual construction of the vehicle would fall to an outside
firm. At a year-end press conference in 1959, Enzo displayed a
prototype of the engine and announced it would go into a specially
designed small-bore sports car. Known internally as " Tipo 854"
(850cc, four cylinders), the tiny engine looked very much like
one-third of a 250-series V12 (if you imagine another inline four
and a V4 left over). While in development, the engine appeared in a
modified Fiat 1200 test mule fitted with a strange mix of leftover
and new Pininfarina panels and built by Scaglietti to look like a
miniature 250 PF Coupe. Journalists dubbed the car "Ferrarina"
despite it wearing nothing in the way of identification (save for a
mysterious machine gun emblem) as they had spotted none other than
Enzo Ferrari himself driving the prototype every day as part of its
development. Enzo Ferrari never had the intention of building the
car himself despite his staunch support of the project. He shopped
around the initial prototype to several manufacturing facilities
(including an Italian arms company, explaining the badging) but
found no takers. Regardless, development continued, as the great
Giotto Bizzarrini designed a new chassis to accommodate an updated,
985 c.c. version of the four-cylinder engine. The tubular frame
resembled that of a scaled down 250 GT, with double wishbones up
front, a live axle with trailing arms in the rear and a set of
specially designed Dunlop disc brakes. Pairing with the new chassis
was a lovely fastback body by Bertone. Finally, a deal was struck
with the De Nora family of Milan to build the car under the newly
formed Autocostruzioni Societa per Azioni (A.S.A.) banner. Despite
its exquisite quality and Ferrari cachet, sales never really took
off, and ASA could not build enough cars to keep costs low enough
to compete with Lancia, Alfa Romeo or even Abarth. In a last-ditch
effort to save the project, the De Nora family added a lovely
little Spider to the lineup. In the end, just 52 coupes, 14 spiders
and 20 post-Ferrari "Berlinetta 411s" were produced. Only 32 coupes
came to the USA, and today only 3 Spiders are known to reside on
our shores. Despite the commercial failure, the ASA 1000 GT laid
the groundwork for the successful Dino to follow, and it is highly
regarded among collectors of classic Italian etceterini and Ferrari
vehicles. This exquisite 1965 ASA 1000 Spider is one of just seven
known survivors from a production run of only fourteen open-topped
cars. The delectable Spider version of the ASA Mille debuted at the
Turin Motor Show in 1963. The Bertone family resemblance to the GT
sibling was evident, however, the Spider differed significantly in
specification. For starters, the chassis was completely redesigned.
While still a Giotto Bizzarrini creation, the Spider's multi-tube
backbone frame was completely unique compared to the coupe's
traditional oval tube style frame. Suspension components were
shared between the two cars, although the Spider used wider, 13 x
4.5-inch wheels all around. The body looked the same as the Coupe;
however, it was built entirely in high-quality, lightweight
fiberglass by Corbetta in Italy. The jewel-like engine, 4-wheel
disc brakes, and four-speed overdrive gearbox remained unchanged.
Thanks to the construction, the Spider weighed just 780 kg. The
lovely little ASA Spider hit the market at the same price as the
coupe, and despite its undeniable beauty, sales never took off.
While reports vary, it is generally accepted that ASA produced only
fourteen open-topped 1000 Spiders. Chassis number 11014 is one of
the finest surviving examples of the ASA Spider extant. In the
hands of its most recent owner, it received a complete, body-off
restoration finished to concours standards. It is believed this car
appeared at the 1965 Geneva Auto Show and was then sold to a buyer
in Spain, although little else is known about its early ownership
history. Documents show the car was on the West Coast of the USA in
the late 1990s, under the stewardship of Mr. M.J. "Tim" Matthews.
At the time, it was finished in silver with a black interior and
appeared to be a sound, driver-quality car. Around 2000, he sold
the car, and receipts indicate it received an engine rebuild in
2002/2003. The current owner acquired 11014 from Hyman Ltd in
approximately 2009, and he soon commissioned a complete,
nut-and-bolt restoration. Photos show the body was removed, and the
chassis completely restored and detailed to a high standard. The
body was then refinished in a gorgeous shade of dark metallic blue,
and trimmed with stunning tan Connolly hides. The team completed
the project just in time for its debut at the 2015 Amelia Island
Concours d'Elegance. Since the restoration, it has remained in the
owner's vast collection of significant automobiles and
professionally maintained in impeccable order. The dark blue
paintwork is gorgeous, accented with exquisitely restored chrome
bumpers and body trim. Body fit is excellent, with straight, clean
reflections in the panels. Contrasting the fine metallic blue paint
is a beautiful interior trimmed in tan Connolly leather. It lives
up to the junior-Ferrari ethos, feeling every bit like a
scaled-down 250 PF Cabriolet inside. Tan hides cover the seats,
door cards, and the beautifully quilted parcel shelf. Light tan
Wilton carpets, bound in matching leather, are fitted with the same
level of care. All of the upholstery presents in excellent
condition, appearing fresh and taut with virtually no wear since
the restoration. From the driver's seat, a lovely three-spoke wood
rim wheel sits ahead of a bank of fully restored ASA-branded Jaeger
instruments. Beneath the forward-hinged bonnet rests the tiny jewel
of a 1-liter inline-four. Ensuring the engine was as fresh and
robust as the rest of the car, a full teardown and rebuild were
undertaken, and it now presents with outstanding detail. The satin
black engine sheet metal is accurately detailed with proper wiring,
hardware, and fittings including the Fram oil filter housing. Twin
Weber 40 DCOE carburetors feed the little four, which runs
beautifully and sounds utterly magnificent breathing through the
factory-correct exhaust. Being a proper GT car, power goes through
a four-speed manual with overdrive to allow for effortless
cruising. Rarely available on the open market and seldom restored
to such a high standard, this ASA 1000 Spider is one of the most
fascinating and evocative of all the 1960s Italian etceterini. This
example benefits from expert care in the hands of a dedicated
collector, and it is equally suited to carving sinuous back roads
or gracing prestigious concours fields of the world.
