In 1954 Ferrari began work on a new long wheelbase 250 GT berlinetta that would become known as the Tour de France. The Pinin Farina-bodied prototype, with multiple louvers in the rear side panel, was shown at the Paris Auto Salon in 1955 and five more series of 250 GT berlinettas followed. The Series II cars had three louvers and covered headlights and the Series III had only a single vent louver.

This Series III car was built for privateer racer Jacques Peron, and included a long-range fuel tank, Bendix fuel pump, Speed-Pilot, and ammeter for its first race, the 1958 Tour de France, where it finished 4th overall. After a small accident the car was repaired by the Ferrari factory and sold to M. Cotton of Paris, who raced it in the 1959 Tour de France before selling it in 1960. It was acquired by its current owner in 2014, who commissioned a full restoration.