1962 Ferrari 250 GTE

Within Ferrari's arsenal of automobiles, the Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 was designed as a multi-faceted weapon, offering performance, comfort, luxury, luggage capacity, and exclusivity. It debuted in prototype form at the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, where it was loaned to the Automobile Club de l'Ouest for use as the Course Car. Its official world premiere was held later that year at the Paris Salon.

The 250 GTE was not the first Ferrari to have seating for four, preceded by coachwork built by Vignale, Touring, and Ghia in the 1950s. These early attempts had been constructed on a shortened chassis, which made the additional +2 seating more decorative than functional. Ferrari worked closely with Pininfarina in the design of Maranello's first series-production four-seater, the 250 GTE 2+2, ensuring it excelled as a proper Gran Turismo or family car with comfortable seating and elegant styling.

The 'E' in the GTE name was for 'Export.' Produced from 1960 to 1963, it was built through three series, with changes confined mainly to the front and rear lighting arrangements. With 950 (approximately 950 or 954) examples built, it was the most popular and commercially successful Ferrari to date despite its price tag of $11,500.

Construction
The multi-tubular chassis had a wheelbase size of 2,600mm (102.3 inches), similar to the Pininfarina-designed 250 GT 'notchback' Coupé and 200mm longer than the contemporary 250 GT SWB. To create even more interior space for two rear seats, the engine was moved forward by 200mm, and the rear track was widened by 38mm. The new 2+2 was 305mm longer than the corresponding 250GT Coupé, 56mm lower in roof height, and 60mm wider.

The tires were Pirelli Cinturato 185VR15 tires (CA67), with the Series I cars having Borrani RW3591 (5.5x15) wheels, and the Series II and Series III cars fitted with Borrani RW3690 (6.0x15) wheels.

The suspension was independent at the front with unequal-length A-arms and coil springs, while the live rear axle was suspended by semi-elliptic leaf springs and parallel trailing arms.
Series III cars had rear coil springs. Braking was via four-wheel discs.

Despite its increased length, Pininfarina retained the customary classical proportions that had become an integral ingredient of Ferrari's success.

Series I and II cars had driving lights mounted within the grille, while the Series III had its driving lights positioned within the grille itself. The Series III had vertical taillight lenses, while the Series I and II had three small, circular lenses per side mounted on vertical, chrome-plated panels. Approximately 305 Series III cars were built beginning in 1962.

Engine
The 3-liter V12 engine was similar to the one powering the Pininfarina Cabriolet, with the latest-design Testa Rossa-derived cylinder heads with 'outside' spark plugs and coil-type valve springs. With induction from three Weber 40DCL/6 carburetors, the engine delivered 240 horsepower at 7,000 RPM. Series I and II cars had 8.8:1 compression, while the Series III had 9.2:1 compression. Like the parallel Cabriolet, the 250 GTE 2+2 had a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive on top.

The Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 was followed by the 330 America, which had a similar design and shared the same chassis but powered by a larger 4.0-liter engine.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2023