1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competition Coupe

The Ferrari 250 GT LWB (Gran Turismo long-wheelbase) were visually stunning, but Enzo Ferrari wanted to improve the road racing performance. Ferrari and his engineers elected to shorten the wheelbase (the distance between wheel centers) by seven inches to enhance cornering and maneuverability. The coachwork was updated by Pininfarina (Ferrari's design firm), and Scaglietti in Modena hand-built the bodies. The competition Alloy-bodied 250 SWBs models weighed about 200 pounds less than the steel-bodied versions. Pininafrina's coachwork featured a rectangular 'egg-crate' Ferrari grille, a sharply raked windscreen, a snug cabin, form-fitting fenders, and a low roofline that tapered rearward. Ferrari built a series of eighteen special 250 SWBs in 1961 to contest the World Constructor's Championship. These were officially called Comp./61s, popularly known as 'SEFAC hot rods' (Societa Esercizio Fabbriche Automoili e Corse), and had a top speed of 160 mph on the long stretches. SEFAC hot rods were the most advanced Ferrari competition coupes before the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO.

The SEFAC Hot Rods exclusively received the Tipo 168B/61 engine with Testa Rossa cylinder heads, high lift tipo 130 camshafts, larger intake tracts and two-piece large-diameter exhaust headers. With six twin-choke Weber 46 DCF/3 carburetors nearly 300 horsepower was realized. The sump, valve covers and timing case were cast from magnesium. Even with the standard 4-speed transmission mandated by homologation the Hot Rods could reach 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds and had a top speed of 160 mph down the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans.

The Tipo 539/61 chassis was similar to the regular SWB unit but featured revised rear suspension pickup points.

This ultra-lightweight Berlinetta, was one of the most successful SWB competition cars. It was driven to third overall and first-in-class at the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans by Pierre Noblet and Jean Guichet. They continued to race the car and raced up probably the most desirable race records of all the SWBs.