1955 Ferrari 250 GT Boano

The Ferrari 250 designation was used for both road and racing vehicles and was in use from 1952 to 1964. Nearly all 250 models were equipped with the same Colombo-designed Tipo 125 V-12 engine with a 2,953cc displacement, which was renowned for its lightweight characteristics and impressive 300 horsepower. Most of the road-going cars employed the same two wheelbase sizes of 2,400 mm (94.5-inches) and 2,600 mm (102.4-inches). The earliest Ferrari 250 model was the 250 S Berlinetta prototype that raced in the 1952 Mille Miglia. While the 250 S used a 2,250mm (88.6-inch) wheelbase and a 'Tuboscocca' tubular trellis frame, its successor, the 250 MM, received a more conventional chassis with a longer 2,400mm platform.

The first road-going version was the 250 Europa, introduced in 1953 at the Paris Motor Show. While all other versions would use a Colombo-designed engine, the Europa was fitted with a 2,963cc Lampredi V12 based on ta design of the 3.3-liter Formula One engine. It had a 68 mm bore and stroke, three Weber 36 DCF carburetors, and delivered nearly 200 horsepower. The wheelbase measured 2,800mm, making it one of the longest vehicles of the 250 Series, offering adequate space to house the 'Long Block' Lampredi engine while offering comfortable accommodations for its occupants. Of the twenty-two examples built, seventeen wore coupe bodies by Pinin Farina, four were coupes by Vignale, and two were cabriolets (one by Pinin Farina and the other by Vignale).

The Pinin Farina-designed 250 Europa GT introduced at the 1954 Paris Motor Show was the first Ferrari road car to employ Colombo's 250 V12 engine and the first Ferrari to use the Gran Turismo (GT) moniker. Its wheelbase measured 2,600mm (102.4-inches) and rested on a conventional chassis, with the wet-sump engine breathing through three Weber 36 DCZ3 carburetors and delivering nearly 220 horsepower.

At the time, Pinin Farina was in the process of building a larger production facility and lacked the space to build the quantities of cars that Ferrari was requesting. Accordingly, the design they had created was handed over to Carrozzeria Felice Mario Boano, which was headed by one of Pinin Farina's designers, Mario Felice Boano (formerly of Ghia). Fiat later recruited Bonao, so production duties were relegated to his son-in-law Ezio Ellena. The car's built by Ellena received several styling revisions, including a raised roof and the removal of the vent windows from the doors. The cars built by Boano are known as the 250 GT Boano 'Low Roof' while the examples built by Ellena are referred to as the 250 GT Ellena 'High Roof.' Carrozzeria Boano built 74 250 GTs on the long-wheelbase chassis and Carrozzeria Ellena built an additional 50 Coupés. All were coupes except for chassis number 0461 GT, which was sold to New York collector Bob Lee in 1956 off the stand at the New York Auto Show.

Chassis number 0461 GT had been completed in 1955 and was delivered to Boano in Boano in Grugliasco just outside Turin. This was the first Ferrari to be built by Mario Boano, and along with its open coachwork, received several unit features that included the large chrome bumpers and flamboyant tail fins. Boano displayed the car in 1956 at the Geneva and Turin Motor Shows, before making its final appearance at the New York Auto Show. After discussions with Ferrari's American distributor, Luigi Chinetti, and approval from Enzo Ferrari himself, Mr. Lee acquired the vehicle.

The 250 GT Boano used the traditional 250 GT underpinnings with its chassis constructed around two tubular side members with the suspension comprised of front double wishbones and a live rear axle. The 'Short Block' Colombo V12 single overhead camshaft engine had a light-alloy block and head, triple Weber 36 DCZ3 twin-choke carburetors, and delivered approximately 220 horsepower. It was backed by a four-speed manual synchromesh gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes provided the stopping power. The all-aluminum bodywork (approximately fourteen examples had all-alloy bodies, others had all-steel construction) shared its basic Pininfarina styling with a brief but successful series of early 250s that included 0429 GT, the 1956 Geneva show car, and 0443 GT, which won its class at the 1956 Alpine Rally and captured an overall win at the 1957 Acropolis Rally.

Officially introduced at Geneva early in 1956, production had begun near the close of 1955, with the first cars constructed at Pinin Farina's factory prior to production moving to Boano. Boano left the company for Fiat at the end of 1957, with production relegated to Ellena. Larger brakes and a ZF steering system were adopted in 1958. The Ellena Coupes were the new 250 GT Coupe that was both designed and built by Pinin Farin in its newly opened facility.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021