1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe

Pinin Farina's elegant Coupe on the 250GT chassis signaled true series production, with 350 examples built between 1958 and 1960 within the sequence '0841' to '2081'. The cars could still be ordered with subtle variations according to customer choice, as well as a handful of show cars and 'specials' to be constructed on the 250GT chassis. The original Colombo-designed Tipo 128C 3.0-liter engine was superseded by the twin-distributor 128D, which in turn was supplanted in 1960 by the outside-plug 128F engine which did away with its predecessor's siamesed inlets in favor of six separate ports. The Tipo 125C engine proved to be capable on both the road and the track. In triple Weber carburetor form, it was capable of producing 240 horsepower, which gave the 250GT a top speed of 150 mph, making it one of the fastest GT cars available. Four-wheel disc brakes became optional in 1959 and a four-speed-plus-overdrive gearbox the following year.

This car, chassis number 1471GT, is a 250GT Series 1 Coupe. It started life in May of 1959, when its bare chassis was sent to the Torino factory of Carrozzeria Pinin Farina, and clothed in Coupe coachwork. The seventh to last of the first series 128D chassis, 1471GT was factory equipped with four-wheel disc brakes and the offset-lever four-speed overdrive transmission. It was finished in a two-tone livery of Grigio Argento on the top, and a Bianco lower half. Inside was a contrasting red. The car was completed in October of 1959, and soon thereafter delivered to the official Ferrari importer and agency of Sweden, Tore Bjurstrom. Soon after taking delivery, Mr. Bjurstrom had the car transported to Germany for display at the 1959 International German Auto Show - IAA in Frankfurt. After the show, the car returned to Sweden, where HRH Prince Bertil, the Ferrari's first owner, took delivery in late 1959. The Duke of Halland, Prince Bertil Gustaf Oskar Carl Eugén was 47 years old when he took delivery of his new Pinin Farina Coupe.

In 1961, 1471GT was sold to Langdon 'Bill' Proctor of Switzerland. 1471GT was registered on Swiss canton Vaud license plate VD 106426 and used often as daily transport by Procter. In November 1964, the Ferrari returned to Maranello, where it was serviced and maintained at Ferrari's factory Assistenza Clienti service center. At that point in history, the car had 53,190 kilometers on its odometer. A short time later, Proctor had the car painted silver, the current paint scheme it wears today.

In 1966, 1471GT had nearly accumulated 70,000 kilometers on its odometer. It was treated to an engine rebuild at Garaga Pesa SA in Lausanne, Switzerland. Near the close of the 1960s, Proctor sold 1471GT to Mr. John Lindsay, an American living in Switzerland. It was soon gifted to his father, Hamlin Lindsay. By 1970, the car left on M/V Atlantic Crown to New York, USA. Hamlin Lindsay kept the Ferrari until his death in the mid-1970s, at which time it reverted to Jon Lindsay's ownership. It remained in his care until 1983 when it was purchased by a Bay Area engineer, Marc Wilcoxen. Wilcoxen retained the car for 15 years, before selling it in July 1999 to William Tipton, another California resident. 1471GT remained in Mr. Tipton's ownership for another decade and a half.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014