A detailed look at the Ferrari 250 GTO Pininfarina Coupe ...

[Wouter Melissen]

Last week we learned that for the first time in a long time a Ferrari 250 GTO has come onto the open market. Generally considered one of the most valuable cars in the world, these Ferrari GT-racer usually change hands in complete privacy. Rumour has that for one of the most recent 250 GTO sales around $30 million was offered in return. Many of these rare Ferraris are safely locked away in prominent collections, so this is very much a unique opportunity to acquire a prime example of the quintessential Ferrari GT-racers. The chassis that has now come to the market is offered by RM Auctions as a private treaty sale for its current, Japanese owner. This particular chassis is one of the seven in existence today with the 'Series 2' style body and one of four converted by the factory to the later specification in period.
This exciting news inspired us to dive into our archives for shots of all four of these cars, resulting in a spectacular 30-shot gallery. All four of these machines started life with the more common 1962 style body and were refitted over the 1963/64 winter with the more aerodynamic body styled by Pininfarina. In addition Ferrari built three new chassis for the 1964 season. It was very much a stop-gap solution for the Italian manufacturer as they struggled to get the mid-engined 250 LM homologated as a GT car. The Pininfarina lines are also clearly inspired by the shape of the 250 LM. This is most obvious in the design of the rear half of the car, particularly the roof. The four converted 250 GTOs were all owned by prominent Ferrari privateers and raced with considerable success. On their long list of successes are class honours at the Targa Florio, numerous victories in Italian hill-climbs and notable wins in the hands of the likes of Graham Hill, Mike Parkes and Innes Ireland.
Our detailed article includes a general history of the 250 GTO as well as a detailed look at all four chassis. The cars are captured around the world with sparkling action photography from events like the Le Mans Classic, Goodwood Revival and Monterey Historic Races. Chassis 4675GT that is currently on offer by RM Auctions is captured at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Ferrari was the featured marque. We are not privy to the asking price but it must be in excess of $20 million.

Enjoy the links:

1962 - 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO Pininfarina Coupe - Images, Specifications and Information

[henk4]

This is a car that warrants some bonus shots. #4399 is owned by the Bamford family, and it is very intensely raced. It is the workhorse of Jean Marc Gounon at the Goodwood Revival, where he shared the car with Andy Newell in 2008 and Peter Hardman in 2009.
In 2008 they lost a thrilling fight against the heavily modified E-Type of Adrian Newey/Martin Brundle, while in 2009 the odds seemed to go the other way when Bobby Rahal handed over the E-Type, after a heroic fight with Gounon with a minimal advantage to Newey, with Hardman ready to overtake him, but then the Ferrari had to return to the pits with some problems. Shots one and two show Gounon and Rahal. After the race Gounon commented on Rahal: Not bad for an old man.

Gounon has no fears to handle a 20 mln US$ plus car at the limit as is shown here. Two shots of the car are taken within 10 minutes, but the dent in the second shot is a proof of Gounon's determination.
Shot 6 shows how Brundle harassed Newell in 2008.

[LeonOfTheDead]

May I ask something more about the car which was "used for auto mechanics practice at Victoria High School in Texas"?