Lot 384: 1960 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta

By the early 1960s, road car production had ceased to be a sideline for Ferrari and was seen as vitally important to the company’s future stability. Thus the 250, Ferrari’s first volume-produced model, can be seen as critically important. Before the advent of the 250 Europa, Ferrari had built road-going coupés and convertibles in small numbers, usually to special customer order using a sports-racing chassis as the basis. Ghia, Vignale and Touring were responsible for bodying many of these, but there was no attempt at standardisation for series production and no two cars were exactly alike.
True series production began with the arrival of Pininfarina’s ‘notchback’ Coupé on the 250GT chassis, 350 of which were built between 1958 and 1960 within the sequence ‘0841’ to ‘2081’. However, the relatively small scale of production meant that cars could still be ordered with subtle variations according to customer choice, as well as enabling a handful of show cars and ‘specials’ to be constructed on the 250GT chassis. A number of important developments occurred during 250GT production: the original 128C 3.0-litre engine being superseded by the twin-distributor 128D, which in turn was supplanted in 1960 by the outside-plug 128F engine which did away with its predecessor’s siamesed inlets in favour of six separate ports. On the chassis side, four-wheel disc brakes arrived late in 1959 and a four-speeds-plus-overdrive gearbox the following year, the former at last providing the 250GT with stopping power to match its speed. More refined and practical than any previous road-going Ferrari, yet retaining the sporting heritage of its predecessors, the 250GT is a landmark model of historical significance.
A matching-numbers, second-series car equipped with the outside plug engine, twin distributors, disc brakes and manual/overdrive transmission, 250GT chassis number ‘1899’ was sold new to Tito Manzini (of Tito Manzini & Sons) in Parma, Italy and delivered finished in Grigio Conchiglia (Shell Grey) with Rosso (Red) leather upholstery. For the next 30-or-so years, ‘1899’ resided in the USA with a succession of owners including noted Ferrari collector Dr Ron Mulacek, gaining a 2nd place overall award at the Ferrari Club of America National Concours held in Atlanta, GA. By this time refinished in white with black interior, the car was offered for sale in 1989 advertised as ‘zero miles on complete mechanical and cosmetic restoration’ (Ferrari Market Letter 1416).
The car’s next recorded owner is well known UK Ferrari collector, Steve Pilkington, of Ormskirk, Lancashire, who added it to his extensive stable in 2003. The current owner acquired ‘1899’ in 2005 and sent the car to recognised specialist Terry Hoyle for an engine and carburettor tune, while new parts fitted recently include the starter motor, battery, regulator, tyres, stainless-steel exhaust and leather top roll above the dashboard. A mere 700-or-so miles have been covered since the last service in February 2006.
Finished in Crema Bianco (creamy white) with black hide-trimmed interior, ‘1899’ retains all of its original fittings and comes with a full tool roll, history file, handbook, MoT to May 2008 and Swansea V5. Graceful and elegant, these under appreciated 250GT Pininfarina coupés are rare today as a result of so many having been broken for spares. ‘1899’ is certainly one of the finest currently available.