On the wave of the victory won at the Mille Miglia in 1951 with Villoresi and Cassani with the 340 America, Ferrari thought of starting a road production of it and already in October of that year in Paris a coupe with bodywork by Ghia was presented, called 342 America . The car was equipped with the 4101cc V12 engine and several coachbuilders tried their hand at drawing the lines. One of the first customers was former King Leopold of Belgium, who bought an example with Pinin Farina bodywork, on which the 4.5 liter engine of the 375 was mounted. It was with the 342 that Pinin Farina intensified its collaboration with Ferrari, becoming short time the official coachbuilder.