Chassis 1657GT
Exquisite recreation of the legendary 250 GT Tour de France
Based on a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT PF coupe
Highly documented throughout
Located in the USA
Perhaps no other competition sports car of the 1950s looms larger than Ferrari’s 250 GT berlinetta, which so dominated the multi-stage Tour de France rally from 1956 to 1959 that the model was nicknamed for the event. Produced in four discreet series before being succeeded by the 250 GT short-wheelbase berlinetta, the ‘Tour de France’ was built in a modest quantity of 72 examples that are prized by collectors today for their exquisite lightweight coachwork, advanced racing mechanicals and undeniable significance in Ferrari racing history.
Pinin Farina–styled bodywork was built by Scaglietti in four series, each marked by variations in sail-panel ventilation and headlight orientation. This re-creation is a tribute to the nine second-series cars built in 1956 featuring 14 louvers on each sail panel and headlights embedded in the front of the fenders.
This 1959 Ferrari 250 GT was manufactured in October 1959 as a Pinin Farina–bodied coupe and was imported to the UK in a disassembled state without a powertrain in the late 1980s. Chassis 1657 was acquired from DK Engineering in Hertfordshire in 1994 by a Swedish owner who commissioned Carrozzeria Auto Sport of Bastiglia, Italy, to construct alloy coachwork replicating that of a 14-louver Long Wheelbase Berlinetta “Tour de France.” Completed in 1996, the re-creation is powered by a replacement 3.0-liter inside-plug Colombo V12 that breathes through triple Weber carburetors topped by velocity stacks and an air pan. Additional features include a four-speed manual transmission with overdrive and a central shifter as well as 16” Borrani wire wheels, custom-made Tour de France–style seats trimmed in tan leather, and power-assisted 360mm drum brakes, the latter of which were installed by Patrick Ottis in Berkeley, California, in 2003. After spending time in Japan, 1657GT was purchased by its current US based custodian. Subsequent work has included detailing of the red paint, installation of black jute-backed wool carpeting, cosmetic refurbishment of engine ancillaries, and a rebuild of the electric fuel pump.
The car comes with documents dating back to 1987, images from its conversion in the 1990s, invoices from work by Patrick Ottis between 2003 and 2004, and a clean Montana title.
