1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta

Chassis 0787GT is the 12th of 18 Series II cars built. It is a three-louver example with covered headlights and was delivered with chrome headlamp trim piece, which it still has today. It is painted in Rosso red with a matching interior. It was completed by the factory on January 15th, 1958. The following month it was sold to its first owner, Oscar Papais of Venice, Italy. It was used in competition, racing on March 16th at the Campionato Universario at the Modena Aerautodromo by Eros Crivellari, placing first in the GT class. The car placed third overall at the Coppa Citta di Asagio with Papais driving on June 8th of that year. Two weeks later, it raced at the Mille Miglia Rally, driven by Papais and Crivellari. The duo placed fourth overall.

In February of 1959, Papais sold the car to Countess Elvira Vaselli, who sold it in June of that same year through Franco Marenghi to the car's third owner, Frederico José Carlos Themudo 'Fritz' D'Orey. D'Orey raced it at the Gran Premio Lotteria di Monza, finished seventh overall. It was later used in the XIV Trento-Bondone hillclimb in July 1959, and finished second in the GT class.

It was raced at the XI Coppa Inter-Europa in Monza but failed to finish due to engine failure. It would not start the Tour de France as the engine problems were not resolved in time for the race.

Manual José Tudella Nogueira Pinto of Oporto, Portugal, purchased the car in June 1960. It was sold in 1963 to Maria Luisa Eccher Dall'Eco of Milan. It would pass through three additional Milanese owners before being exported to the United States in 1968.

In 1970, it was purchased by James G. Boulware of Monte Sereno, California. A few years later it had been fitted with a 250 GT LWB California Spider engine (number 1253 GT). Subsequently, the TdF received a period-correct 128D Ferrari Classiche stamped block, which it retains today.

By 1975, it was back in Italy and in the possession of Luciano Tosim of Bassano del Grappa, Italy. Keeping it for a short time, it was sold to Vittorio Pizzolotto in Treviso where it would remain for many years. The car was raced at the historic races at Salo, Lake Garda in 1976, the Ferrari Days meeting at Modena in 1983, and the Mille Miglia in 1984. In 1986, it was driven in the Nürburging for the AvD-Oldtimer-Grand Prix and, the following year once again competed in the Mille Miglia.

In 1990, the car was sold at auction and by 1991 was owned by Dutch Ferrari importer Frits Kroymans. From there, it entered the collection of Victor R. Muller of Holland in 1999. Muller brought the car to the Concours Paleis Het Loo and then the Interclassic Show in Maastricht before driving it in the Tour Auto, the Ferrari Days at Spa-Francorchamps in 2000 as well as the 2nd Ferrari Tour Rallye Historic.

The current owner purchased the car in 2002. It was prepared for vintage racing and sadly, incurred damage during an outing at Moroso in Florida. It was given cosmetic repairs, a bare-metal re-paint, and returned to the track in just two months.

It raced in the Ferrari Challenge for four years, winning the Drum Brake Championship two years in a row. After racing, the car was given an engine rebuild that cost well over $100,000 to complete.

In 2009, this Tour de France Berlinetta was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona auction presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $2,000,000 - $2,500,000. The lot failed to sell after reaching a high bid of $1,800,000.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009