Ferrari – 250 GT SWB (1960)

The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta was first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1959. The new GT sports car from Maranello was quickly given the additional designation SWB – short wheelbase – to distinguish it from its predecessor with a longer wheelbase. This was now 2.40 metres as against 2.60 metres. The SWB was to go on and establish itself as the benchmark to beat in GT racing over the coming few years until the 250 GTO was launched in 1962. The sports car was mainly sold to private drivers who had made a name for themselves in racing. No fewer than 166 units were sold. 70 of these were ‘Competizione’ or ‘SEFAC’ versions wearing aluminium bodywork, which meant that they benefited from a significantly reduced weight. The V12 engine draws its power from a displacement of three litres. At that time, the number 250 at Ferrari always indicated the displacement per cylinder. Multiplying this quarter of a litre by 12 yields a displacement of 3 litres. The engine was designed by Gioacchino Colombo in 1947 and formed the basis of virtually all Ferrari’s sports-car successes until well into the 1960s. This particular steel-bodied 250 GT was the 54th in the total production run of 166 cars. It was originally delivered in December 1960 to an Italian client in the unique colour combination of ‘Grigio Fumo’ and upholstered in brown leather. After five years, the first owner sold the car to a purchaser in the United States where it was to be liveried in red – as many Ferraris were at some point in their life. After a nut-and-bolt restoration, the car has now been returned to its original colour combination.