1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Coupe Speciale

This Ferrari 250 Europa GT entered into the Pininfarina Plant on February 14th of 1955. The Europa GT body style came in two sizes, a 104-inch or a 110.2-inch and this vehicle sits atop the larger wheelbase. It was entered into the 1956 Tour de France wearing number 76 and driven by Paolo Lena and Palanga. It failed to finish the race. Near the end of the year, it was entered in a hillclimb event driven by Paolo Lena where it emerged in third place overall and 2nd in class. It raced in one event in 1956 where it finished in third and an eighth-place finish in the Rallye Sestriere event in 1957. It was sent to the US in 1957 to Luigi Chinetti. It was raced in the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring wearing number 16.

0383GT was sold to Frank Adams in 1958 who entered it in a Watkins Glen race in the same year. He failed to finish the race. The same result was experienced in 1959 at Lime Rock.

It was later sold to Steve McCellow, also of the United States. It remained in his possession for a few years before selling it to Bill Pierce in 1964. Terry Myr became the car's next owner. Under his care, the car was involved in a garage fire and sustained heavy damages. It is believed that the damage occurred during the Detroit riots. Most of the body panels were still intact but it had been burnt to a rolling shell. Thankfully, the original engine and transmission were not in the car at the time. It was sold to Mike Pinto in 1975 who kept the car in storage, unrestored, until 1986.

The car was rebuilt in 1988 and 1989 into the pristine 250 Europa/TdF GT shown and is now, largely, a recreation. The bodywork was done by Mario Allegretti. It was given engine number 0977GT.

Since then, it was purchased by Richard Mattei who has been actively campaigning the car in a number of historic events. It has been to the Monterey Historic Races in Laguna Seca, driven by Mattei, on a number of occasions.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007