Classics, passion for the past !

1961 Ferrari 250-GT E 2+2 Series 1

Price on application

Carrosserie Coupe
Meterstand 4780
Brandstof Petrol
Transmissie Manual
Kleur Grey metallic
Kleur interieur Cognac
Bekleding Leather
Stuur Lhd
Chassis nr. 2247 GT
Rare original colour combination of Grigio Fumo over Beige leather
Ferrari Classiche Certified
Fully matching numbers, chassis, engine, gearbox and differential
Enormous history file
Ten years in current ownership.

‘The family car that funded the racing’, so runs the title of David Wheeler’s brilliant book on the 250 GTE, the first tome fully dedicated to the story of this important car in Ferrari’s history.

In an era before commercial sponsorship of racing teams the 250 GTE was indeed instrumental in funding some of the most successful and valuable racing cars ever produced, however the GTE also deserves recognition in its own right. Conceived by Enzo Ferrari and Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina as an elegant GT for wealthy owners who wished to cross continents in style with luggage a... nd occasional passengers.

The 250 series became the heart of Ferrari production in the 1950s and 60s, both on and off the track. ‘250’ refers to the cubic capacity of each cylinder of the Colombo V12 engine. Initially developed purely for competition in 1947 with a capacity of 1500 cc the engine was gradually enlarged to 2 litres (166), 2.3 litres (195) and 2.7 litres (212) before ultimately developing into the 250 with a 3-litre capacity. Needless to say, this engine would, in various forms, go on to power some of the greatest cars ever built and propel Ferrari from a manufacturer which had produced only 189 in the first 6 years of the company, to some 2,500 cars with the Colombo engine.

The secret of the Colombo V12 is a simple one, the dimensions of the 12 cylinders combined with the bore-to-stroke ratio produced an extremely strong, sweet and balanced engine.

Developing the GTE was complex. Without lengthening the chassis Pinin Farina and Ferrari managed to develop a 2+2 by moving the engine forward, repositioning the driver and fuel tank, to allow the fitting of rear seats. In a dramatic break from standard practice at the time the car was launched to a stunned public at Le Mans in June 1960 rather than on a motor show stand, a bold move in an era long before digital marketing!

The car was largely well received not least thanks to its elegant unadorned styling, low and sleek body lines and large glass areas, the car was also pioneering having been developed using wind tunnel analysis. Despite some scepticism about Ferrari moving away from pure sports and racing cars the GTE was a commercial success and interestingly became inextricably linked to Enzo Ferrari himself who had a great affection for the GTE, choosing it as his daily transport.

OUR Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series 1
This Ferrari 250 GTE, chassis 2247 GT, is one of the very earliest cars, being the 35th example produced and retaining several features present on the prototypes, most obviously the extended bonnet chrome strip. The car was built with Weber 40 DCL/6 carburettors, more commonly found on competition models, and not the 36 DCS variants found on most of the production.

Chassis 2247 GT rolled off the production line in the autumn of 1960 and was delivered to the official Ferrari dealer in Rome, Malagò & Co in January 1961. The car was evidently used as a presentation vehicle in the showroom for over a year, a fact which might also explain its interesting original specification. The car found its first owner in June 1962 Signor Balestrieri and was registered in Rome with the registration ‘Roma 662442’. Sig. Balestrieri was clearly delighted with the car and kept it for thirteen years before selling it to fellow Rome resident, Sig. Giorgio Ferri in March 1975, who also became a long-term custodian for the following 17 years.

In 1992 the car passed to a third owner, S.r.l. Supercar in Santa Croce Sull’Arno PI, beginning a period of Tuscan owners. In 2012 the car left Italy for the first time when it was acquired by Mr Antoine Rauis of Brussels, who would embark on a restoration of the car using specialists in Italy and the Netherlands. The current owner purchased chassis 2247 GT in April of 2015 and threw himself into a period of extensive historical research to establish the full story of his new acquisition. He also arranged for the car to be Ferrari Classiche certified, a process which confirmed that the car retains its matching engine, gearbox, rear axle and body.

In the past ten years the current owner has maintained his 250 GTE regardless of expense and moreover has used the car extensively. Aside from regular personal use, the owner has shown the car at 15 public events, often with the Ferrari Club France. The car was displayed at Le Mans Classic, Chantilly Arts & Elegance (Ferrari Club display), and the reopening of the famed Mas du Clos.

The participation of these events is recorded thanks to the many trophies, magazine articles and certificates which accompany this much-loved car. Naturally over the last decade this regular enjoyment of the car has also been accompanied by regularly and diligent maintenance with invoices on file for over €60,000 from Ferrari specialists in the Paris region.

The 250 GTE remains true to its original design, an infinitely useable classic Ferrari, elegantly styled and with performance to match. Often neglected in the annals of Ferrari history the model is now gaining the recognition it deserves, and we have rarely seen such a well-documented car so clearly enjoyed and cherished by its owner.   read more >>>
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