1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competition Coupe

This 250GT SWB Berlinetta is a late-production example and wears the third variation of the Pininfarina-designed, Scaglietti-built Berlinetta coachwork. The car was delivered on August 29th and arrived in time to compete at the 10th Tour de France Automobile, a race that Ferrari had dominated for many years. When the car had left the factory, it had the distinction of being the only Comp/61 to feature air vents in the front wings. This was done at the request of grand prix driver Maurice Trintignant.

The SEFAC's first outing proved a remarkable success, with Trintignant and co-driver Paul Cavrois finishing 3rd overall and 3rd in class. Less than a month later, Count Volpi entered the SWB at the third annual Paris 1,000 km race at the ancient Montlhery circuit. Graham Hill and Jo Bonnier were enlisted to drive, taking the car to 12th overall.

After the 1961 season, the SEFAC was sold on February 6th of 1962 to its second owner, Cartiere del Timavo S.p.A. for their president Paolo Ferraro. Less than a week later, Olivier Gendebien drove the car to 3rd in class and 16th overall at the Daytona 3-Hour Continental in Florida.

By March of that year, the SWB had returned to Italy and next raced at the Trento-Bondone Hillclimb with its new owner Paolo Ferraro driving. The car was purchased in July by a new owner and raced in the Trieste-Opicina Hillclimb. Egidio Nicolosi piloted the car in that event, finishing 7th in class.

The car would pass through two subsequent Italian owners, and then purchased by Dutch broker Robert de la Rive Box, who in turn sold it to an Italian car dealer and garage owner Benito Mantegani. The car would remain in his care until 1975, when it was sold to a Swiss resident before coming to the attention of Archibald Von Wegner in 1978.

Mr. Von Wegner race the SEFAC Berlinetta in many important German historic events and often with much success.

In 1981, the car was sold to another German vintage racer, Dr. Gerhard Schonleber of Bavaria. Mr. Schonleber updated the car for competitive racing and in April, appeared at the CSAI Historic Races at Monza where it placed 8th overall. It raced for two more years in historic competition. During the 1984 and 1985 seasons, the car was involved in two incidents while racing. The alloy bodywork was repaired and the car continued its competitive ways, racing between 1985 and 1991.

In 1997, FIA papers were issued for the SWB and two years later, it was sold to Douglas Jameson who then sold it to Steve O'Rourke, the manager of Pink Floyd. Mr. O'Rourke had the original bodywork removed and had a new replica body constructed and mounted in its place. In this form, the car was raced at the Goodwood Revival in 2000 with Alain de Cadent driving and again in 2002 with Derek bell.

When Mr. O'Rourke passed away in 2003, the Ferrari, along with the original body, was transferred to the current owner. In 2006, it returned to the Ferrari factory to utilize the new Ferrari Classiche program. Under the factory's guidance, the car was completely restored over a two-year period. Upon completion in June 2008, the Ferrari Classiche Department issued 2845 GT an official Certificate of Authenticity.

Currently, it is finished in its original Scuderia Serenissima livery, powered by a matching-numbers Tipo 168 Comp/61 powerplant and riding on Borrani wire wheels wrapped in XWX tires, SNAP exhausts and beautiful Marchal headlamps and auxiliary lights.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. The car was estimated to sell for $6,000,000 - $8,000,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $6,105,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2010