1961 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series I Coupé

Coachwork by Pininfarina Chassis no. 2921 GT Engine no. 2921

Footnotes

"Pininfarina and Enzo Ferrari have collaborated to make a most desirable motor car: expensive, fast and luxuriously comfortable, with a large luggage compartment. All this adds up to a Gran Turismo, with the accent on the 'Gran', par excellence. If you want to go road racing look to the Berlinetta, but for touring in the grand style, 'Two plus Two' equals near perfection." - Sports Cars Illustrated.

Intended to extend Ferrari's appeal to a sector of the market already contested by rivals Aston Martin and Maserati, the 250 GTE 2+2 debuted in the summer of 1960. Ferrari's first four-seater, the 250 GTE 2+2 was directly descended from the most commercially successful Ferrari of its day, the 250 GT. Launched in 1954, the latter featured the lighter and more-compact Colombo-designed 3.0-litre V12 in place of its Europa predecessor's Lampredi unit. The 250 GT chassis followed Ferrari's established practice, being a multi-tubular frame tied together by oval main tubes, though the independent front suspension now employed coil springs instead of the transverse-leaf type. A four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox transmitted power to the live rear axle, while hydraulic drums all round looked after braking. Disc brakes arrived late in 1959 and a four-speeds-plus-overdrive gearbox the following year, and both were features the 250 GTE enjoyed from the start of production in 1960.

Pininfarina's brief had been to produce a 2+2 without sacrificing the 250's elegant good looks or sporting demeanour, and the master stylist succeeded brilliantly with the GTE. By moving the engine, gearbox and steering gear forward and the fuel tank rearwards, sufficient room was created for two occasional rear seats within the 250 GT's 2,600mm wheelbase. The Tipo 128E outside-plug engine's 240bhp ensured that there was no reduction in performance despite the inevitable gain in weight. A popular and highly profitable car for Ferrari, the 250 GTE evolved through three series, changes being mainly confined to the dashboard layout and exterior lighting arrangements, remaining in production until 1963.

Bodied by Carrozzeria Pininfarina, Series I chassis number '2921' is the 249th completed out of a total production run of 954 units. Its original colour scheme was grigio (grey) with beige Connolly leather interior. Completed on 30th November 1961, '2921' was delivered to the official Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti Motors in New York, USA and was sold new to a Mr Lane of New York. Nothing else is known of the Ferrari's early history.

The accompanying Massini Report picks up the trail in October 1978 when the Ferrari was offered for sale by FAF Motorcars in Tucker, Georgia, described as orange with a black interior. In March 1984, '2921' was offered for sale by another dealer, Classic Car Collection of Miami, Florida and the following month was sold to local resident Doug Schoch. Later in 1984 Mr Schoch sold the Ferrari to Stephen G Loges of Petersburg, Florida. In 1987 Mr Loges sold the car to W A Swain, who kept it for the next 15 years and had it repainted black.

The car's next recorded owner is Robert Neilsen of Pennsylvania (December 2002) followed by Vintage Motors of Sarasota Inc, Florida in January 2003. In February 2004 the car was sold to a new owner in Europe, still finished in black with matching interior. More recently the Ferrari has benefited from a full engine rebuild by marque specialists Dino Sport of Bezons. The overdrive too has been rebuilt recently. Beautiful and practical in equal measure, this elegant Ferrari 2+2 is offered with Dino Sport's invoices and the aforementioned Massini Report.