Maximilien Gagnebin
Senior Specialist
LOT 144 *P
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso Coachwork by Carrozzeria Pininfarina/Scaglietti Chassis no. 4439 Engine no. 4439
Sold for €1,380,000 inc. premium
Lot 144*,P
Offered from The Collection of Bernard Fornas
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Pininfarina/Scaglietti
Chassis no. 4439
Engine no. 4439
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Pininfarina/Scaglietti
Chassis no. 4439
Engine no. 4439
• Iconic model
• Unsurpassed Pininfarina style
• One of 350 made
• Purchased by Bernard Fornas in 2012
• Matching numbers (chassis, engine)
• Engine overhauled by Donati in time for sale
• Ferrari Classiche Certified
"This new luxury Berlinetta has been developed from the car which allowed so many gentlemen to enjoy sports car performance. It boasts those characteristics valued by enthusiasts while also possessing the comfort required by the ladies." – Ferrari's brochure for the 250 GT Lusso.
Arguably the most beautiful product ever to carry the Maranello marque's prancing horse emblem, the 250 GT Lusso debuted at the Paris Salon in October 1962. Styled by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, the Lusso (Luxury) combined racetrack looks with new standards of passenger comfort. Beautifully proportioned, it blended a low-slung nose, reminiscent of that of the SWB Berlinetta, with a sculpted Kamm tail by means of some of the most exquisite lines yet seen on an automobile. Slim pillars and wide expanses of glass not only enhanced the car's outward appearance but made for excellent visibility and a pleasantly light and airy interior. "The design of the body was at once elegant and exciting and no other road Ferrari before or since has earned the same degree of enduring admiration for its aesthetics," declared Road & Track.
After Pininfarina had completed the prototype Lusso, production was entrusted to Carrozzeria Scaglietti, at that time a smaller concern that specialised in building low-volume models for Ferrari. In total, 350 (including one prototype each from Pininfarina and Scaglietti) would be completed over the next two years, with deliveries of the production model commencing early in 1963. "Its proportions approach perfection, and the execution is faultless," enthused Car & Driver. "It makes for Grand Touring in the grandest possible manner..."
The Lusso's immediate antecedent had been the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB. Introduced at the 1959 Paris Salon, the latter was a true dual-purpose car, arguably more capable than any Ferrari before or since of coping equally well with the conflicting demands of racetrack and highway. The 'SWB' (Short Wheel Base) designation arose from a chassis that, at 2,400mm, was 200mm shorter than that of the standard 250 GT. Specifications could be varied to suit individual customers' requirements for either road or track, models supplied for competition use having lightweight aluminium-alloy bodies while the Lusso road version came with a fully-trimmed interior and softer springing.
However, Ferrari's policy of building a single, dual-purpose race/road model did not survive long into the 1960s, the diverging requirements of the two markets necessitating greater specialisation in the form of the competition-only 250 GTO and the touring 250 GT Lusso. Built on a short-wheelbase chassis similar to that of the 250 GT SWB and 250 GTO, the Lusso was powered by Gioacchino Colombo's light and compact 3.0-litre V12. Ferrari's first in-house power plant, the supremely versatile Colombo V12 had debuted in 1947 as a 1.5-litre unit and would enjoy a remarkably long production life, finally bowing out in 4.9-litre quad-cam form in 1988. Breathing through three twin-choke Weber carburettors, this all-aluminium, two-cam, Tipo 168 unit produced 240bhp at 7,500rpm as installed in the Lusso, giving it a top speed of 150mph (240km/h) and a useful 0-100mph (0-160km/h) acceleration time of 19.5 seconds. Power was transmitted to the road via a conventional four-speed gearbox, and the power train was housed in Ferrari's familiar steel spaceframe chassis with oval main tubes. Suspension was conventional for the time: independent at the front by means of 'A' arms and coil springs, with a semi-elliptically sprung live axle at the rear.
The result was not only one of the best looking Ferraris ever made but also, courtesy of its competizione antecedents, one of the most rewarding to drive. "Driving a Ferrari smoothly is always easy; the Lusso is no exception," proclaimed R&T. "The gearshift moves like the proverbial stick in a bowl of whipped cream, and the smooth clutch combines with the 12-cylinder engine's buttery delivery of torque to make it nearly impossible... to stall the engine when moving off from rest." R&T found that the Lusso's steering was lighter than one would expect and remarked on its smooth, predictable, and forgiving handling. They were also much impressed by the powerful servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes.
An important milestone in the Maranello marque's history, the 250 GT Lusso was the last of the long-running 250 series that had done so much to cement Ferrari's commercial success, and a most fitting finale to this remarkable family of Ferrari road cars.
Delivered new to Luigi Chinetti Motors in New York, USA finished in Grigio Argento with Nero Connolly interior, chassis number '4339' was bought by Mr Fornas through Geneva based dealer Carugati in November 2012 (the car is still Swiss registered). It has since been maintained by the Swiss Ferrari specialist, Donati. In 2009 the engine had been overhauled, while the interior was re-trimmed in September 2011 by Lauvray Creation in Monaco. The bodywork was restored in 2015 in Italy by MC Carrozzeria. In December 2024 this car was awarded Ferrari Classiche Certification after spending nearly two years in Modena. The chassis and engine match, but it is believed that the gearbox and/or rear axle are non-original. At present the engine is being overhauled by Donati and will be fresh for the sale. The car is offered with a file of invoices and other historical paperwork, including details of its original specification and early ownership in the USA (inspection recommended).
A rare opportunity to acquire a model - seldom offered for sale - that is not only one of the most beautiful and exclusive Ferraris ever made, but also one of the most enjoyable to drive and own: the 250 GT Lusso.
Please note there is restricted bidding on this lot which requires enhanced bid verification checks. Please contact us at [email protected] or call +33 1 42 61 10 10 as soon as possible if you are planning to bid on this lot to prevent any last-minute delays.
• Unsurpassed Pininfarina style
• One of 350 made
• Purchased by Bernard Fornas in 2012
• Matching numbers (chassis, engine)
• Engine overhauled by Donati in time for sale
• Ferrari Classiche Certified
"This new luxury Berlinetta has been developed from the car which allowed so many gentlemen to enjoy sports car performance. It boasts those characteristics valued by enthusiasts while also possessing the comfort required by the ladies." – Ferrari's brochure for the 250 GT Lusso.
Arguably the most beautiful product ever to carry the Maranello marque's prancing horse emblem, the 250 GT Lusso debuted at the Paris Salon in October 1962. Styled by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, the Lusso (Luxury) combined racetrack looks with new standards of passenger comfort. Beautifully proportioned, it blended a low-slung nose, reminiscent of that of the SWB Berlinetta, with a sculpted Kamm tail by means of some of the most exquisite lines yet seen on an automobile. Slim pillars and wide expanses of glass not only enhanced the car's outward appearance but made for excellent visibility and a pleasantly light and airy interior. "The design of the body was at once elegant and exciting and no other road Ferrari before or since has earned the same degree of enduring admiration for its aesthetics," declared Road & Track.
After Pininfarina had completed the prototype Lusso, production was entrusted to Carrozzeria Scaglietti, at that time a smaller concern that specialised in building low-volume models for Ferrari. In total, 350 (including one prototype each from Pininfarina and Scaglietti) would be completed over the next two years, with deliveries of the production model commencing early in 1963. "Its proportions approach perfection, and the execution is faultless," enthused Car & Driver. "It makes for Grand Touring in the grandest possible manner..."
The Lusso's immediate antecedent had been the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB. Introduced at the 1959 Paris Salon, the latter was a true dual-purpose car, arguably more capable than any Ferrari before or since of coping equally well with the conflicting demands of racetrack and highway. The 'SWB' (Short Wheel Base) designation arose from a chassis that, at 2,400mm, was 200mm shorter than that of the standard 250 GT. Specifications could be varied to suit individual customers' requirements for either road or track, models supplied for competition use having lightweight aluminium-alloy bodies while the Lusso road version came with a fully-trimmed interior and softer springing.
However, Ferrari's policy of building a single, dual-purpose race/road model did not survive long into the 1960s, the diverging requirements of the two markets necessitating greater specialisation in the form of the competition-only 250 GTO and the touring 250 GT Lusso. Built on a short-wheelbase chassis similar to that of the 250 GT SWB and 250 GTO, the Lusso was powered by Gioacchino Colombo's light and compact 3.0-litre V12. Ferrari's first in-house power plant, the supremely versatile Colombo V12 had debuted in 1947 as a 1.5-litre unit and would enjoy a remarkably long production life, finally bowing out in 4.9-litre quad-cam form in 1988. Breathing through three twin-choke Weber carburettors, this all-aluminium, two-cam, Tipo 168 unit produced 240bhp at 7,500rpm as installed in the Lusso, giving it a top speed of 150mph (240km/h) and a useful 0-100mph (0-160km/h) acceleration time of 19.5 seconds. Power was transmitted to the road via a conventional four-speed gearbox, and the power train was housed in Ferrari's familiar steel spaceframe chassis with oval main tubes. Suspension was conventional for the time: independent at the front by means of 'A' arms and coil springs, with a semi-elliptically sprung live axle at the rear.
The result was not only one of the best looking Ferraris ever made but also, courtesy of its competizione antecedents, one of the most rewarding to drive. "Driving a Ferrari smoothly is always easy; the Lusso is no exception," proclaimed R&T. "The gearshift moves like the proverbial stick in a bowl of whipped cream, and the smooth clutch combines with the 12-cylinder engine's buttery delivery of torque to make it nearly impossible... to stall the engine when moving off from rest." R&T found that the Lusso's steering was lighter than one would expect and remarked on its smooth, predictable, and forgiving handling. They were also much impressed by the powerful servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes.
An important milestone in the Maranello marque's history, the 250 GT Lusso was the last of the long-running 250 series that had done so much to cement Ferrari's commercial success, and a most fitting finale to this remarkable family of Ferrari road cars.
Delivered new to Luigi Chinetti Motors in New York, USA finished in Grigio Argento with Nero Connolly interior, chassis number '4339' was bought by Mr Fornas through Geneva based dealer Carugati in November 2012 (the car is still Swiss registered). It has since been maintained by the Swiss Ferrari specialist, Donati. In 2009 the engine had been overhauled, while the interior was re-trimmed in September 2011 by Lauvray Creation in Monaco. The bodywork was restored in 2015 in Italy by MC Carrozzeria. In December 2024 this car was awarded Ferrari Classiche Certification after spending nearly two years in Modena. The chassis and engine match, but it is believed that the gearbox and/or rear axle are non-original. At present the engine is being overhauled by Donati and will be fresh for the sale. The car is offered with a file of invoices and other historical paperwork, including details of its original specification and early ownership in the USA (inspection recommended).
A rare opportunity to acquire a model - seldom offered for sale - that is not only one of the most beautiful and exclusive Ferraris ever made, but also one of the most enjoyable to drive and own: the 250 GT Lusso.
Please note there is restricted bidding on this lot which requires enhanced bid verification checks. Please contact us at [email protected] or call +33 1 42 61 10 10 as soon as possible if you are planning to bid on this lot to prevent any last-minute delays.
Footnotes
"We are delighted and honoured to receive this endorsement from one of the world's outstanding leaders in luxury, design and style. This joint venture goes beyond commerce into the realms of art and emotion: it's a partnership that combines business excellence and the best of taste on both sides.
As a boy in the 1950s, driving around Morocco with his father in Alfa Romeos and American cars, Bernard fell in love with the refined GTs being produced in the USA and in Europe during that golden age for car design.
Many kids dreamt they might own one of those cars someday. Bernard Fornas, however, fulfilled that dream abundantly in his extraordinary working life: he would acquire them all.
Bernard Fornas's career could be taught in business schools as a masterclass. It blended marketing acumen with a deep respect for heritage and innovation and added firm ethical principles.
He joined Cartier in 1994 as international marketing director, becoming CEO in 2002 and leading the brand through economic turbulence while maintaining its exclusivity and prestige.
In 2013, Bernard Fornas became Co-Chief Executive of Richemont, overseeing brands like Chloé, Alaïa, and Dunhill. Founded in Paris in 1847, Cartier was described by King Edward Vll as
"jeweller of kings and king of jewellers" and supplied every crowned head of Europe.
Under Bernard Fornas, Cartier was led by to unprecedented heights. He spearheaded global expansion, especially into emerging markets like China, Russia, and the Middle East. Moving in the most elevated social and business circles, silver-haired and immaculately tailored, Bernard Fornas said of this period, "I live on planes".
Believing that luxury and exclusivity is about innovation and emotional resonance, not just price tags, he advocated for ethical sourcing, refusing to buy rubies from Burma due to human rights concerns and opposing the trade in blood diamonds.
The cars in this consignment thus embody the glittering qualities of the top luxury brands Bernard Fornas championed throughout his working life - exclusivity, outstanding design and engineering, deep cultural significance.
BonhamslCars are, therefore, proud to present to the global marketplace Mr Fornas' exquisitely curated collection of motorcars.
Meanwhile, buyers can take pleasure in acquiring the painstaking choices of a man who is renowned for utterly impeccable taste and an unsurpassed reputation for appreciating excellence and beauty."
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Auction Viewings
- 8 October 2025, 10:00 - 20:00 CEST
- 9 October 2025, 10:00 - 18:00 CEST
- 10 October 2025, 10:00 - 20:00 CEST
- 11 October 2025, 09:00 - 19:00 CEST
- 12 October 2025, 09:00 - 12:00 CEST
Lot symbols
| * | Import low rate |
| TVA sur les articles importés à un taux préférentiel sur le prix d'adjudication et au taux en vigueur sur la Commission d'achat. Merci de prendre contact avec le département ou les transporteurs que nous recommandons pour plus d'information. VAT on imported items at a reduced rate on hammer price and the prevailing rate on buyer's premium. Please speak to the Department or our recommended shippers for further information. BTW op ingevoerde goederen tegen het verlaagd tarief op de hamerprijs en het geldende tarief op de aankoopprovisie. Neem gerust contact op met het bevoegde departement of onze aanbevolen transporteurs voor verdere informatie. | |
| P | Premium Lot Subject to Restricted Bidding |
| Please note that bidding for this Lot is subject to pre-approval. Please contact client services at least 24 hours in advance to discuss registration for this lot. |