Lot 208: 1964 Ferrari 250GT Lusso Berlinetta

Arguably the most beautiful product ever to carry the Maranello marque’s prancing horse emblem, the 250GT Lusso debuted at the Paris Salon in October 1962. Styled by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, the Lusso (Luxury) combined racetrack looks with new standards of passenger comfort. Beautifully proportioned, it blended a low-slung nose, reminiscent of that of the SWB Berlinetta, with sculpted Kamm tail by means of some of the most exquisite lines yet seen on an automobile. Slim pillars and wide expanses of glass not only enhanced the car's outward appearance, but made for excellent visibility and a pleasantly light and airy interior.
The Lusso’s immediate antecedent had been the 250GT Berlinetta SWB. Introduced at the 1959 Paris Salon, the latter was a true dual-purpose car, arguably more capable than any Ferrari before or since of coping equally well with the conflicting demands of racetrack and highway. The ‘SWB’ (Short-WheelBase) designation arose from a chassis that, at 2,400mm, was 200mm shorter than the standard 250GT’s. Specifications could be varied to suit individual customers’ requirements for either road or track, models supplied for competition use having lightweight aluminium-alloy bodies, the lusso road version enjoying a fully-trimmed interior and softer springing.
However, Ferrari’s policy of building a single, dual-purpose race/road model did not survive long into the 1960s, the diverging requirements of the two markets necessitating greater specialisation in the form of the competition-only 250GTO and Gran Turismo 250GT Lusso. Built on a short-wheelbase chassis similar to that of the 250GT SWB and 250GTO, the Lusso was powered by Colombo’s light and compact 3-litre V12. Breathing through three twin-choke Weber carburettors, the all-aluminium, two-cam unit produced 240bhp at 7,500rpm, giving the Lusso a top speed of 150mph (240km/h) and a useful 0-100mph (0-160km/h) acceleration time of 19.5 seconds.

One of only 350 250GT Lussos made, left-hand drive chassis number ‘5525’ was delivered new to Switzerland and subsequently shipped to the USA where it was owned by Philip Ojena in San Diego, California before being stolen from Jim Payne in Louisville, Kentucky in March 1976. Fourteen years later the car was recovered and shipped back to Italy by Dino Ravani of Serenissima (Cremona) for restoration. There the engine was rebuilt by Salvetti around a new block (the original being beyond repair and its number being carried over to the replacement) with bodywork and trim entrusted to well-known artisan Giovanni Giordanengo of Cuneo. The finished car was enjoyed by Monaco-based collector Paolo Bozzano before passing to a gentleman in Italy. Sold by the latter’s widow, it has covered only a few hundred kilometres since restoration and is presented in commensurate condition. Finished handsomely in silver with red leather upholstery, this Ferrari 250GT Lusso is offered with sundry restoration invoices and Italian libretto. Local taxes will be liable should the car remain in Switzerland.