1961 Ferrari 250 GT

Cars Mania Blog

Auto Car | 1961 Ferrari 250 GT | The 250 GT SWB was designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti. It was designed for the race track and the road. This two-seater had an aggressive stance and a wheel base 8 inches shorter than the LWB edition. The street versions were called 'Lusso' (luxury) and contained a Colombo V-12 producing as much as 280 BHP and propelled the vehicle to a top speed of about 150 mph. Modifications had been made to the engine to make it easier to work on during competition events. For example the spark plugs were moved to make them more accessible. The competition models had their body entirely made of the weight-saving metal aluminum. Also, plastic side windows were used to help keep the weight to a minimum. By shortening the wheel base, the chassis became more solid and the vehicle more agile.

The Berlinetta (litle coupe) Lusso (luxury), more commonly known as the 250 GT/L was also designed by Pininfarina and debuted at the 1962 Paris show.

Ferrari 250 GT SWB with chassis number 2443GT is a left hand drive vehicle with competition features. It was constructed on May 04th of 1961. During its early life it was driven in various hillclimb competition, driven by Walter Lambert and bearing the number 173. In June of 1961 it was entered in the Col de la Faucille Hillclimb, again driven by Lambert, but bearing number 42. It finished second in class. Tragedy struck the following day as the vehicle was involved in an accident that claimed the life of its driver. The vehicle was repaired but its original engine, #682F was replaced with block #730 E. The rear axle number 339F was replaced with #161 F which had been retro-fitted from 1931GT.

The car has been entered into the Oldtimer Grand Prix in Nuerburgring drivers P. Luigi Pantaleoni, Fabrizio Violati, and Archibald von Wegner.

In 2001 the car was sold at Bonhams Gstadd Auction where the car netted $1,640,750 which included buyers premium. In 2004 it was driven by Bobby Rahal in the Monterey Historic Races. In 2006 it was driven by Rahal at the Cavallino Classic.

One of two original Scuderia Ferrari Factory Competition (Berlinetta) team cars, also known as 'SEFAC Hot Rod.' Driven by factory team driver, Joe Schlesser, for LeMans in April 1961; crashed while practicing It was rebuilt by Modena factory. It raced in Italy; ran the Targa Florio 1965. Class wins in Hill Climbs Austria in 1967. Tour Auto France 2004. Tour Britannia in UK, 2005. Goodwood Revival in UK with co-driver Stirling Moss in 2005.

This aluminum body competition model won Monterey Historics in its race in 2006, driven by Hans Hugenholtz.

Ferrari 250 GT SWB with chassis number 2701GT is a Berlinetta Competizione with left hand drive. It was constructed near the close of July 1961. It was originally finished in gray metallic with engine number 388E. It was used as a factory test car. For the 1961 LeMans, it was a practice vehicle driven by Fernand Tavano and Jo Schlesser. By 1967 it was competing in Hillclimbs, driven by Egon Hofer. At the Weerberg Hillclimb and Gaisberg Hillclimb, it finished first in class. At the Targa Florio it was driven by Hofer and Aruntunoff and bearing the number 74. Unfortunately, it failed to finish.

The car was sent back to the factory and its engine was repaired. It was given engine number 330 GT. It was then sold to Anatoly Arutunoff of Oklahoma who paid $3,900. Since then, it has changed hands.

Source : www.conceptcarz.com