1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale Coupe

The 250 GT SWB (short-wheelbase) Berlinetta was built on a competition chassis in 1961 by Pinifarina to a special order for a French client named Mitre Paul Villard, who was the lawyer for the French Ferrari importer Franco-Britannic Motors. Although it was built to full competition specifications (a 250 GT Comp61), it was never used in competition. Its special alloy body is in the style of the 400 Super America and has a short wheelbase and its underpinnings are the same as those of the 1961 250 GTs built for racing by the works team of Scuderia Ferrari. It bears an aerodynamic Berlinetta Speciale body designed by Pininfarina and built of aluminum, complete with plexiglass windows for added lightness.

The car has a power rating of 280 horsepower with a 2,953 cc (2.9 liter) V-12 overhead valve engine and is coupled to a 4-speed manual transmission. The three-liter V12 engine has a single overhead camshaft for each cylinder bank and was equipped with three twin-choke Weber carburetors. This aluminum chassis vehicle weights 2,112 pounds and has a top speed of 145-155 mph.

The car was restored in 2003, and although the car had a number of owners throughout its early life, its present owner has cared for it since 2000.