The Ferrari 250 GT is one of the most beautiful, and successful automobiles of all time, a spectacular light weight 12 cylinder 3 litre engine wrapped, enveloped is perhaps more accurate, in a body of exquisite form. It is also on our list of Unobtainables, those vehicles that car lovers  generally covet, in our case, mostly European sports cars, from every era.

Ferraro 250 GTE

We start with the Ferrari because there is one car available, scheduled to be auctioned tomorrow, August 14th, at 11 AM PST at  THE QUAIL LODGE AUCTION , in Carmel California held by Bonham’s Auction House. So now is your chance. This car is the one shown in the British Pathè news reel footage , so it has some racing provenance, though not enough to have inflicted too much serious damage.

250 GT Berlinetta “Tour de France” 

250 GT TdF “14 louvre” #0677GT, in Ecurie Francorchamps colours, at the 1997 Goodwood Festival of Speed

 

Ferraro 250 GT Boano

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Quoted from Wikipedia – ” The 250 GT Berlinetta, nicknamed the “Long Wheelbase Berlinetta”, was also called the “Tour de France” after competing in the 10-day Tour de France automobile race. Seventy-seven Tour de France cars were built of which a number were sold for GT races from 1956 through 1959. Construction was handled by Carrozzeria Scaglietti based on a Pinin Farina design. The engine began at 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp) but eventually rose to 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp). Pirelli Cinturato 165R400 tyres (CA67) were standard. At the 1956 Geneva Motor Show, Scaglietti displayed their own 250 GT prototype, which became known as the limited-production, Series I, “no-louvre” 250 GT Berlinetta.

Ferraro 250 GT

The first customer car was built in May 1956, with production now the responsibility of Scaglietti in Modena. Fourteen “no-louvre” and nine “14-louvre” Series I and II Berliettas were made. There were four series of 250 GT Berlinettas. In mid-1957 the Series III cars were introduced, with three louvres and covered headlights. Eighteen were produced. The 36 Series IV cars; retained the covered headlights and had a single vent louvre. Zagato also made five “no-louvre” superlight cars to Ugo Zagato’s design.”

Ferraro 250 GT SWB Competitions 1960

British Pathè has a great clip of the Ferrari being sold by Bonham’s on August 14th, , being driven in anger on the 1959 Tour de France  There are travelling shots from car as it drives along Riviera road. Ferrari driven by Olivier Gendebien.

And there is the price,  in 2014 a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider tops Gooding’s Saturday auction at $15.18 million, August 18, in Monterey, and but before that, Lot 240A at Monterey by Sotheby’s, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Snyder Chassis no. 3119 G, Engine no. 3119 GT , sold at auction Saturday, August 18, 2012, for $8,580,000.

Bonham’s sell’s this one one August 14th. How much? THE QUAIL LODGE AUCTION  Bonham’s, August 14, 2015 at 11am Quail Lodge & Golf Club Carmel, California