1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta

The Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta helped establish the marque's dominance in racing in the GT class. With the 3.0-litre Colombo V-12 engine fitted to Ferrari's 2,600-millimetre wheelbase chassis, many desirable Ferraris followed in its footsteps, including the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta and the 250 GTO, which can directly trace their roots to the 250 GT LWB Berlinetta. The Pinin Farina-designed alloy coachwork was hand-built by Scaglietti, resulting in a car that was both attractive and exciting to drive.

In 1956, the Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta proved its worth at the Tour de France, where an early example of the model (chassis 0557 GT) raced to victory with Alfonso de Portago behind the wheel. The grueling 3,600-mile race included six circuit races, two hill climbs, and a drag race. The Ferrari's accomplishment at such a grueling event spoke to the performance of the car and its level of craftsmanship.

The Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta would take 1st overall at the Tour de France for the next three consecutive years, earning the nickname of 'TdF' to commemorate its success over four years of racing throughout the French countryside. It is the most successful competition 250 GT Ferrari model, as it has garnered more victories than any other model, including the 250 GTO.

This particular example, chassis number 0899 GT, is a fourth-series, covered headlight 250 GT Tour de France with period racing pedigree. It is the third example of approximately 37 cars that featured a single-vent sail panel, and the 42nd example of 77 total Tour de France Berlinettas built.

The chassis was dispatched to Scaglietti for alloy, covered headlight coachwork on February 22, 1958, while the motor, gearbox, and rear end were all completed on March 25th and 26th. Four days later, the car was officially completed at the factory.

The Ferrari was delivered new to Eduardo Lualdi-Gabardi during the first week of April 1958. He entered 0899 GT in no fewer than 13 races over the following year, starting with first-in-class finishes at the Coppa della Consuma and the Varese-Campo di Fiori Hill Climb in June. In September, the Berlinetta finished third overall at the Coppa InterEuropa at Monza and second overall at the Trofeo Lumezzane. This was followed by a first overall finish at the Coppa Sant' Ambroeus at Monza in November.

Ferdinando Pagliarini purchased 0899 GT in late 1958, and he campaigned the car through the 1959 season, starting with a third-overall finish at the Coppa San Marino Hill Climb in April. A month later, the Berlinetta achieved overall victory at the Castell' Arquato-Vernasca Hill Climb, and second-in-class finishes were recorded at the Coppa della Concuma Hill Climb in June and the Pontedecimo-Giovi Hill Climb in September.

Paul Mounier purchased the car in the spring of 1960. He registered the TdF in the French colony for racing use. Mounier campaigned the car in both France and Africa, finishing fourth overall at the Rallye Alger-Hassi Messaoud-Alger in April 1960, participating in the Oran Hill Climb, and finishing 7th overall at the Grand Prix de Rouen.

In 1961, the car was damaged in a road accident, and Mounier sold the car to a garage owner near Marseilles named Aldo Montagna. Soon after, 0899 GT's experimental engine (internal no. 174 C) sold to French shoemaker Charles Jourdan, who installed it into a second-series 250 GT Cabriolet. The recoverable rear portion of the bodywork passed through the Carrosserie Rueda in Marseilles, from whom it was purchased by a racing enthusiast and mounted on a Swallow-Doretti chassis to build a one-off racecar, the Sunbeam Alpine Harrington Special.

The chassis, complete with gearbox, front and rear suspension, brakes, steering box, rear-end drive, fuel tank and the complete dash console, was purchased in 1969 by Jacques O'Hana of Marseilles. O'Hana registered the car and essentially retained possession for almost two decades, at one point selling a majority of the components to François Chevallier. Chevallier eventually abandoned the project and sold the components back to O'Hana, who in turn sold them to Michel Ferry of Monaco in 1987.

Part of Chevallier's efforts included acquiring the original rear bodywork that had been used on the Harrington Special, which he eventually integrated into a 250 GT Coupe chassis to complete a TdF replica. He stamped this replica as 0899GT and sold it into the market, resulting in two cars claiming to be the same chassis number. Mr. Ferry made the effort to end the replica's claim to 0899 GT by reportedly obtaining a letter through Ferrari France's F40 LM team manager Jean Sage that explained the chassis' actual history, and the false stamping used on the second car.

It is believed that Ferry retained possession of the 'legitimate' car through at least 1997. In 1990 he commissioned the creation of proper new coachwork by Carrozzeria AutoSport in Modena. In addition to a complete chassis restoration, a newly cast correct-specification type 128 C engine was supplied by the factory, which was stamped and authenticated as 0899 GT. In February 2014, the factory certified the Berlinetta with a Ferrari Classiche Red Book clarifying the repairs listed above, and asserting that the car retains its original matching-numbers chassis (including suspension and brakes), gearbox, and Borrani wire wheels.

Assurance from the factory seeking that this car is the only legitimate 0899 GT was sought, and a response from Ferrari's Marco Arrighi came unequivocally stating, 'Your car is certified by Ferrari and it means that no other car can be recognized as chassis number 0899 GT.'

A short time later, the current owner acquired the car. In August 2016, 0899 GT was presented at Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California, where the car won the Art Center's Students' Choice Award, the Best of Ferrari trophy, and the coveted Best in Show award. A month later, at the Sunday Mar-a-Lago Concours d'Elegance held in conjunction with the 2017 Cavallino Classic, the Tour de France won an Excellence in Class award.