1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta

The Ferrari 250 GT TdF was a dual-purpose road-racing model based on the 250 GT production platform. Powered by a competition-tuned version of the Colombo short-block V-12, and fitted with alloy coachwork by Scaglietti, the 250 GT Berlinetta was an important and potent machine in sports car racing through the late 1950s. They won four consecutive years at the multi-stage Tour de France, from 1956 through 1959. Seventy-eight examples of the Berlinetta were built in four different body styles before the model was succeeded by the 250 GT Interim.

This Ferrari has been in the United States since the early 1960s, and the current owner has had it since 1966. The car ran in the 1990 Mille Miglia, numerous Monterey Historic races, and several runnings of the Colorado Grand. It was repainted in the 1970s.

This 250 GT Tour de France was sent to Scaglietti for coachwork in late February 1958. Following mechanical testing, the car was officially completed in early May and was the fifth of 36 examples built by Scaglietti in the single-louvre body style and one of fewer finished with the covered headlight arrangement. Intended for competition, it was given a rally-style passenger seat with an adjustable rake and a headrest, sliding lightweight Perspex windows, bare interior door panels with simple pull-cable releases, and cabin-cooling fender vents. Its original colors were Grigio Medio Metallizzato (Medium Gray Metallic) paint with light gray interior upholstery.

Sold new to the company Cartiere del Timavo in Trieste on behalf of its president, Pietro Ferraro, in Italy on May 7, 1958, the car was entered in the 1958 Targa Florio by him with co-driver Eros Crivellari with #5 and classified as DNF. At some point during the race, the car went off the road toward an olive grove below, and came to rest hanging from a raodside wall.

Raced in a variety of other Italian events, sometimes listed as driven by 'Hippocrate,' others as Ferraro. A third in class in the October 5, 1958, Triese-Opacina event appears to be the most successful result. Purchased by Fred Peters in 1966 and maintained, driven and raced by Fred Peters and Charles Betz, the car participated in the 1990 Mille Miglia, Colorado Grands, Rolex Monterey Historics, and vintage races at Sears Point and Willow Springs. It took a class win both days at the Ferrari-Maserati Fontana Historic Challenge event in 2005.

In the early 1960s, while still residing in Italy, the car's original engine block (internal no. 0186 C) was replaced with a later Tipo 128 D block (internal no. 092 D). The work may have been performed by Milanese Ferrari dealer Crepaldi or by the Ferrari factory. This 128 D block is stamped 0905 GT in a correct font and the engine features the lightweight magnesium components and other special competition equipment that are believed to have been fitted to this car when new.

In June of 1962, the 250 GT was exported to the United States by Italian dealer Michele Vernola of Milan. It later entered the care of William Ribbs Sr., and by early 1966, it had been purchased by Dr. Hamilton Kelly of San Marino, California. When 0905 GT became available for sale, Fred Peters of Orange, California, purchased the car. Over the years that followed, the engine, gearbox, and differential were built. In the early 1970s, the exterior was refinished in a deep shade of red. A mechanical restoration was completed in the spring of 1990.

After showing and using the car for many years, a restoration began in early 2014 in efforts to bring it back to its original factory appearance. It was given a bare-metal refinished, new aluminum bumpers were fabricated, and the original chrome headlamp bezels were replated and reinstalled. The interior was trimmed in proper gray leather. The work was completed in 2015, and it made its restoration debut at the Cavallino Classic in January 2016, earning the popular vote for the Coppa Bella Macchina award for Best of Show at the pre-event Jet Party at Palm Beach airport. It was last shown in August 2017 at the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea, earning Best of Show.