Tag Archives: 250

Low Roof Coupé – Ferrari 250 GT Boano Coupé #0553GT

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When Pinin Farina could no longer keep up with the production of Ferrari bodies in the mid 1950’s a deal was struck with Mario-Felice Boano of Carrozzeria Boano to manufacture bodies to a Pinin Farina design.

Ferrari 250 GT Boano, Concours on the Avenue, Carmel by the Sea

Today’s featured Low Roof Coupé chassis #0553GT was manufactured in 1956 and delivered to it’s first owner Franco Buzzoni in Pisa, Italy. By 1960 it was to be found in the United States the car then went to France and the Netherlands having it’s original motor swapped out in the 1970’s.

Ferrari 250 GT Boano, Concours on the Avenue, Carmel by the Sea

In 2006 #0553GT was reunited with it’s original motor and the following year owner Tony Schwartz gave the car it’s competition debut winning it’s class at Mt. Tremblant and in two races at Fontana.

In 2008 Gerald T. Vento of Velox Motorsport acquired #0533GT which is one of 88 Ferrari 250 GT’s for which Boano built bodies between 1955 and 1957.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photo’s of #0533GT which were taken at Concours on the Avenue in Carmel by the Sea in 2011.

Thanks for joining me on this “Low Roof Coupé” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for a FIAT by Bertone. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Never Beaten In Class – Ferrari 250 GTO #4293GT

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Today’s featured Ferrari 250 GTO chassis #4293GT was originally assigned to Scuderia San Ambreous, the same team who famously fielded Formula One debutant Giancarlo Baghetti in the 1961 French Grand Prix which he promptly won, however for reasons that are not clear to me at the time of writing Scuderia San Ambreous never took delivery of the car which instead ended up in the hands of Belgian Jacques Swaters and his Ecurie Francorchamps equipe in April 1963.

Ferrari 250 GTO, Goodwood Revival

Willy Mairesse drove #4293GT to an overall victory on it’s debut in the 500km race at Spa. The cars next outing was in the Le Mans 24 hours where noted Businessman/Jazz Guitarist/Car Collector and Sponsor Jean “Beurlys” Blaton shared the driving with Gérald Langlois van Ophem to record the 250 GTO models 2nd consecutive second place finish some 16 laps behind the winning prototype Ferrari 250 P driven by Lorenzo Bandini and Ludovico Scarfiotti.

Ferrari 250 GTO, Connor, Goodwood Revival

“Beurlys” then drove #4293 GT to victory in a race at Zolder before the cars final appearance race appearance in the 1963 12 hour race at Reims where the car appears to have been driven solo by Belgian Lucien Bianchi to a 3rd overall and first in class. #4293 was driven in practice for the 1964 1000kms race at the Nurburgring by Lucien Bianchi, Jean Guichet and Nino Vaccarella but the car never took the start meaning it record of four starts and four class victories remained intact.

Ferrari 250 GTO, Connor, Goodwood Revival

No further in period races are recorded for #4293GT and by the end of 1963 the car was in the United States where it remained until 1982. From 1982 to to 1996 #4293GT went to Japan and thence to Hong Kong until 2002 when it was acquired by William E. ‘Chip’ Connor of Incline Village, NV who is seen driving the car above in the 250 GTO 50th Anniversary demonstration at Goodwood Revival a couple of years ago.

Thanks for joining me on this “Never Beaten In Class” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking a my favorite Ginetta model. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Sixties Ferrari Covers – GALPOT Automobilia

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Continuing to clear some of the motor racing stuff I have collected over the years today’s post features a couple of MotorSport covers that are currently on line on my “lightpress” e-bay account.

MotorSport, Goodwood, April 1966

First up from April 1966 the staff at MotorSport believed that the idea of an apparently arbitrary 3 liter / 183 cui limit on the size of forth coming GT regulations was not either in the interest of the sport, or the British motor industry who’s GT cars from Jaguar and Aston Martin with motors over the new limit would be rendered obsolete despite not being particularly quicker than their competition with smaller motors. The photo shows the start of the 1963 Goodwood Tourist Trophy race featuring four Ferrari 250 GTO’s, 2 Aston Martins and 2 E-type Jaguars which was won by Graham Hill in the #11 250 GTO.

MotorSport, Surtess, Ferrari 312, Siracusa, June 1966

By June 1966 the Ferrari V12 3 litre 183 cui Formula One car was looking a good bet to win the championship with 1964 champion John Surtees at the wheel. John is seen guiding his Ferrari 312 fitted with a downsized sports car V12 motor through the streets of Siracusa on his way to an easy non championship victory. Note how Sicilian spectators are clearly seen ligning the inside of the crash barriers which were presumably installed to protect them. By the end of June John Surtees quit the Ferrari team after a disagreement with Ferrari management which deprived him and Ferrari of Championships which up until then had been theirs for the taking.

MotorSport, Bandini, Ferrari P3/4, Daytona, March 1967

Finally after a humiliating defeat to Ford at Le Mans in 1966 in February 1967 Ferrari stole a little Ford thunder by claiming victory in the Daytona 24 hour race. Seen on the cover of the March 1967 edition of MotorSport is Lorenzo Bandini at the wheel of the #23 Ferrari P3/4 he shared on his way to victory with Chris Amon. The #26 North American Racing Team Ferrari P4 driven by Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet finished second.

Thanks for joining me on this “Sixties Ferrari Covers” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Grigio Ingrid – Ferrari 250 GT Competition Berlinetta Speciale #0403

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Unbelievably, thanks to the continuing support from you dear reader the “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres adventure today enters it’s fourth year. To mark the occasion I have selected, in my humble opion, one of the finest Ferrari’s known to humanity.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Speciale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Chassis #O403 has a one off body by Pinin Farina that was to have been given to Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman in 1956 who was, at the time married to Italian film director Roberto Rosselini.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Speciale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

For reasons that are not clear to me, Ingrid never took delivery of the car, possibly because her relationship with Rosselini whom she would divorce in 1957 was drawing to a close.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Speciale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The car ended up being sold to American James Gerard Murray who lived in Modena and Pittsburg.
In 1986 #0403, painted red since 1983, was being offered at a knockdown price of $145,000, down from 175,000 by the same vendor.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Speciale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

#0403 changed hands for 1.6 million dollars in 1989, but by 1999 it was bought for ‘just’ $945,000.The following year it was restored to it’s original Grigio Ingrid, a colour mixed just to suit Ingrid Bergman, that had first been seen on a pair of custom Ferrari 375 MM’s built for Rosselini and Bergman in 1954.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Speciale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

When Sergio Pininfarina saw the elegant #0403 at Pebble Beech in 2004 he commented that it was one of his favourite.

Thanks for joining me on this third birthday “Grigio Ingrid” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, thanks also for sticking with the blog, if you have not done so before do not be afraid to like the “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ facebook page, to share the page with your friends or leave a comment below. I’ll be continuing the series commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Aston Martin tomorrow with another car that has a Scandinavian connection. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Non Stop Runner – Ferrari 250 Europa GT Pininfarina #0373GT

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Last week I looked at a 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé. This week features one of just 28 slightly later Ferrari 250 Europa GT chassis #0373GT built in November 1954.

Ferrari 250GT Europa, Silverstone Classic

#0373GT was delivered to Jacques Swaters dealership Garage Francorchamps and sold to Belgian Jacques Washer in 1955. Washer entered the car in at least two events for his cousin Olivier Gendebien in 1956.

Ferrari 250GT Europa, Silverstone Classic

Oliver finished second in class on the Cote de la Roche Hillclimb in the Ardennes, before taking part in the 1956 Liege Rome Liege rally across Europe. Oliver and his co driver Pierre Stasse finished the non stop 2000 mile event 3rd overall.

Ferrari 250GT Europa, Silverstone Classic

In the 1990’s the car was fitted with a Ferrari 250 GT/E motor and differential, along with a gearbox from a Ferrari 412. The motor was tuned to give 300hp and more recently the car has been fitted with ‘modern’ brakes.

Ferrari 250GT Europa, Silverstone Classic

#0373GT has taken part in numerous classic events including the 1999 re run of the Rome Liege Rome Rally. The same year #0373GT won it’s class on the La Carrera Panamericana repeating the feat in 2000, on the second occasion fitted with period correct Halibrand alloy wheels.

The car is seen in these photo’s at the recent Silverstone Classic.

Thanks for joining me on this “Non Stop Runner” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me when I be looking at a Can Am March. Don’t forget to come back now.

PS Some thoughts on what to watch out for at the Belgian GP at Motorsports Unplugged.

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Burgandy & Cream – Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Pininfarina #0305EU

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After a meeting between Batista Farina, in 1961 to become Batista Pininfarina, and Enzo Ferrari at a restaurant in Tortona, a small town halfway between Turin and Modena, Batista drove home an told his son Sergio “From now on you’ll be looking after Ferrari, from A to Z. Design, engineering, technology, construction—the lot!”. Sergia says he was over the moon with happiness and one of the fruits of that conversation is today’s featured Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé chassis #0305EU delivered in late September 1953.

Ferrari 250 PF Europa Coupé, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

According to the blurb about this car seen at Goodwood, #0305EU was originally commissioned by a friend of Batista Farina called Latino Magnolfi, given the PF job number 12531 chassis #0305EU features unique to the 250 Europa Coupé model 3/4 windows a shorter windscreen and larger grill than the other 250 Europa’s. Magnolfi used to enter the car in Concours d’Elegance events before he sold the car.

Ferrari 250 PF Europa Coupé, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

The exact history of the #0305EU after the sale is not known to me but it ended up in the USA and after the repair of the 3 litre / 183 cui V12 motor became uneconomic the motor and gearbox was swapped for a Chevrolet V8 and and associated transmission.

Ferrari 250 PF Europa Coupé, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

In 2006 current owner Jan de Reu acquired the car which has been fully restored to its white wall tyre two tone Burgundy and Cream splendor, with a correct Colombo designed Ferrari V12 motor, by Ferrari Classiche.

Ferrari 250 PF Europa Coupé, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

As some of my regular readers may remember the Ferrari 250 Europa is closely related to the Ferrari 375 America, the later of which is powered by a larger 4.5 litre 274 cui Aurelio Lambredi designed long block V12.

Thanks for joining me on this “Burgandy & Cream” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I be looking at Dan Gurney’s Can Am McLeagle. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Biting The Hand – Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 59/60 #0774

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After attracting the attention of US Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti in 1957 Dan Gurney found himself at the wheel of a North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, owned by Chinetti at Le Mans in 1958 and drove the car up to 5th place before handing over to his team mate Bruce Kessler who got caught up in someone elses accident before the car retired. That drive impressed Ferrari sufficiently to earn Dan a drive with the works Ferrari team.

Ferrari 250 TR, Goodwood Revival

For their 1959 Le Mans effort Ferrari built today’s featured Ferrari 250 TR chassis #0774 for Gurney to share with Jean Behra the car managed twice as many laps as Dan’s first attempt but still fell way short of a result.

Next time out Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien drove the car at Goodwood in the TT Race where they also failed to score a result both the 1959 Le Mans and Goodwood TT had been won by Aston Martin in what turned out to be a championship winning season for them.

Ferrari 250 TR, Goodwood Revival

1960 would see a return of fortune for the Ferrari sports car team and chassis #0744 played an important role winning two championship races first Phil Hill and Cliff Alison won the 1000 kms at Buenos Aires and then Olivier Gendebien and Paul Frére won the Le Mans 24 hours scoring Ferrari’s third win in the Endurance Classic and helping Ferrari to their sixth World Sports Car title.

Ferrari 250 TR, Goodwood Revival

Between these successes #0774 was loaned to Chinetti’s NART team for Ritchie Ginther and Chuck Daigh to drive in the Sebring 12 hours but they failed to finish and after Le Mans the car was sold to Eleanor von Neumann who entered it for Phil Hill to drive in the 1960 LA Times Grand Prix at Riverside where he finished 7th overall.

Ferrari 250 TR, Goodwood Revival

In 1963 Tom O’Connor bought the car for his Rose Bud racing team which promptly stripped the motor out and fitted it to their Lotus 19 chassis 952 that featured here on GALPOT a couple of years ago.

Ferrari 250 TR, Goodwood Revival

Under the ownership of Paul Pappalardo #0774 was reunited with it’s original motor in the 1980’s and the car won two class Concours d’Elegance awards at Palm Beach and Pebble Beach in 1993.

Ferrari 250 TR, Goodwood Revival

In a twist of biting the hand that feeds irony Dan Gurney eventually won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967 with co driver AJ Foyt driving for Ferrari’s sworn enemy Ford in a Mk IV.

After 26 years in Paul’s custody ownership of #0774 passed to Hong Kong sourcing and logistics magnate William E ‘Chip’ Connor who kindly took it to the 2012 Gooodwood Revival for the Tribute to Dan Gurney Parade.

Thanks for joining me on this “Biting The Hand” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t for get to come back now !

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