1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competition Berlinetta Coupe

Ferrari was determined to win the 1961's International GT Championship for Constructors and produced a handful of very special cars to do it with. Often referred to as SEFAC Hot Rods or Comp 61s, these cars were lighter and more powerful thanks to the use of several enhancements. These included a special frame using smaller diameter tubing with supplementary bracing to increase rigidity, lightweight body, aluminum bumpers, Plexiglas side windows, raked windscreen, 168B/61 engine fitted with 250 TR cylinder heads using revised cam timing, larger intake ports, six Weber 46 DCF/3 carburetors, and competition exhaust. These cars produced between 285-295 horsepower at 7000 rpm and depending on gear and axle ratios could achieve 160 mph at LeMans. There are generally considered to have been 21 SEFAC Hot Rods built.

Date - Race - Driver - Finish
1961 - Stallavena-Boscochiesanuovo - AdacPace - Unknown
1961 - Trofeo Gran Turismo, Monza - Ada Pace - 2nd OA
1961 - GP Pescara - Sergio Bettoja/Kim - 6thOA, 2nd IC
1961 - Trofeo Lumezzane - Sergio Bettoja - 2nd OA, 2nd IC
1961 - Tour de France - Sergio Bettoja/Thiele-
1961 - CoppaFagioli, Osimo Scalo-Osimo - Ada Pace - 2nd IC
1961 - 100 km Paris, Montlhery - Carlo Abate/Colin Davis -1st in Class
1961 - Klosters-Davos - Sergio Bettoja - 5thOA, 5th IC
1962 - Trieste-Opicina Hillclimb - Ada Pace - 3rdOA, 2nd IC
1962 - Coppa Fagioli, Scalo-Osimo - Ada Pace - 2nd OA

Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione with chassis number 2767GT was completed on June of 1961 and was the 30th example created. It is a left-hand drive example that left the factory with a red paint scheme, but given a silver stripe by its first owner, Sergio Bettojo of Italy. Bettoja took the car racing, entering it in the Grand Prix of Pescara where he finished sixth overall and 2nd in class. He raced the car to a 2nd overall and 2nd in class at the Trofeo Lumezzane. It was to race in the Tour de France, but failed to start.

The car would be raced by Ada Pace in one race in 1961 and four the following year.

In 1973 the car was sold to an individual for Sicily who kept the car until 1989 before bringing it to the Solo Ferrari Orion Monaco auction where it sold for $2.9 million including buyer's premium. It would cross the auction block a few more times up to this point in history, selling in 1999 for $1.15 million. In 1999 it was purchased by William Connor, how has continued the car's racing heritage. In 2006 the car was entered in the Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2008