1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta

Enzo Ferrari was a man of powerful intellect and unwavering determination who inscribed his name on automobiles of rare creativity. Ferrari was always devoted to racing and pursued parallel tracks in Formula 1, sports racers & gran turismo. None of Ferrari's gran turismo racers has enjoyed more success, nor is it more sought after and dependable than the 250 GT Berlinetta.

Constructed by Scaglietti with coachwork designed by Pinin Farina, the 250 GT was built between 1955 and 1959. The Long Wheelbase Berlinetta earned its name, Tour de France (TdF), when Alfonso de Portago and Edmund Nelson won the week-long Tour de France in 1956.

The car was built on a 2,800mm wheelbase chassis, using Ferrari's twin oval tube frame with coil spring independent front suspension and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf spring and parallel trailing arms for positive location. But the soul of the TdF was its three-liter V-12 engine, producing 240-280 horsepower at 7,000 RPM.

The 1958 250 GT Tour de France benefited from design and mechanical improvements. The most important enhancement was a new gearbox with a centrally located shift lever. Internal features of the engine were strengthened, and there were new valves, a new crankshaft, strong connecting rods, and revised cylinder heads and intake manifold.

The Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta was produced from 1955 through 1959. Their first major racing success came in 1956 when drivers Alfonso de Portago and Edmund Nelson won the grueling, week-long Tour de France. The event was so difficult on drivers and automobiles that only 36 of the 103 starters were able to complete the race. The course was a 5383km circuit of France that included six circuit races, two hill climbs, and one regularity test. What makes their accomplishment even more special was that they beat factory teams driven by expert drivers, such as Stirling Moss in the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. After this amazing accomplishment, the Long Wheelbase Berlinetta was given the designation 'TdF' Tour de France. The accomplishments of the Ferrari 250 GT LWB were not a fluke; over the next three years, the cars would prove themselves at the Tour de France and each year emerged victorious.

The 250 GT TdF was a dominant force in most of the races they entered. They gave their driver's podium finishes in both class categories and overall victories in many sporting events that included circuit races, hill climbs, rallies, and more. The combination of lightweight construction, potent performance, agile handling, and reliability made the Ferrari 250GT TdF a legend and a feared adversary.

The Ferrari 250GT LWB sat atop of a 2800mm wheelbase and was powered by a 3-liter V12 engine that produced 240-280 horsepower. Most of the earlier cars were bodied by Pininfarina with many later versions being handled by Scaglietti. As the years progressed, so did the improvements to the design and the vehicle's mechanical components. In 1958 the vehicles received a new gearbox with a centrally located shift lever. The engine was given major modifications such as revised cylinder heads and intake manifolds, new crankshaft and valves, and stronger connecting rods.

On the outside, the headlights were moved back slightly in the front fenders and given a protective Plexiglas flaring. Located just behind the front tires were three vents that aided in the cycling of air to the engine and brakes. Vents could also be found behind the doors and above the rear wheels which helped circulate air through the cockpit.

This 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour De France with coachwork designed by Pinin Farina and constructed by Scaglietti was offered for sale at the 2006 Gooding & Company Auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. It is equipped with a 2953-cc V12 engine that produces 260 horsepower. It was delivered on June 17, 1958, and is the only vehicle of its kind to be adorned with a gold metallic color known as Oro Chiaro. It carries chassis number 0933 and was the eleventh of 36 single-vent TdFs constructed. Its history from new is known and well documented.

The vehicle's first owner purchased the car for just under $9000 and, within a few months, had entered it into its first race, the Molina-Rocco Cocconato hill climb, where it placed fifth. This was followed by a DNF at another Hillclimb event. A few weeks later it was entered into its third Hillclimb event where the car emerged ahead of the competition. its first owner would race the car once more before selling it to its next owner.

The second owner entered the car in only one racing competition, the Gran Premio della Lotteria in Monza, but failed to finish the race.

The car was given engine modifications in the 1960s, which improved its reliability, decreasing the overall weight. Those changes are still present in the vehicle in modern times.

The car was abandoned by its owner at the Paris airport in an attempt to evade French taxation. French authorities impounded the car and kept it in their possession until it was sold in 1967 at a customs auction. The car was sold again a year later with the new owner painting the car in red. From then, it passed through several more owners. Near the close of the 1990's, the car was repainted back to its original color.

The car has been shown at the Louis Vuitton Concours d'Elegance at Bagatelle, Paris and the VIII Automobiles Classiques. It has been awarded the 'Sheer Elegance' award from the 2003 Louis Vuitton Concours d'Elegance.

At the Gooding & Company Auction, this was one of the many highlights that graced the auction-block stage. It is one of only 36 single-vent, covered headlights, LWB Berlineta's produced. It is very original and wonderfully preserved. It has the factory upgraded engine with the rare Testa Rossa Sump which made the engine more reliable, powerful, and lighter. On auction day, the car was sold netting $1,540,000.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2009