Soixante-quatorzième voiture construite dans la série du type, cette Ferrari 250 GT SWB à conduite à gauche (n° de châssis 2501GT) fut vendue neuve le 4 avril 1961 via Luigi Chinetti Motors de Greenwich, Connecticut, Etats-Unis, à son premier propriétaire, M. Del Balso. “2501GT” avait été carrossée en acier et peinte en blu sera (bleu foncé). Elle est supposée avoir été livrée avec un arceau de sécurité et deux jeux de sièges (Lusso et type baquet) indiquant probablement que son propriétaire avait l’intention de courir à son volant.

En 1970, la voiture passa aux mains de Jerry L. Gamez, résidant à Castro Valley, Californie, avant d’être vendue en 1975 à Leonard M. Rennick de Fullerton, Californie. En juillet de la même année, elle fut achetée par George Heiser, résidant à Seattle, Etat de Washington, où elle fut immatriculée “IJN 409” et repeinte en rouge.

En 1988, “2501GT” fut vendue à un collectionneur suédois, Hans Thulin, qui la garde peu de temps avant de la céder au très connu ferrariste suisse, Albert Obrist de Gstaad en mai 1989. La carrosserie de la voiture fut alors totalement restaurée par Franco Ferrari et reçut une caisse tout en aluminium. Ferrari travaillait pour Fiorenzo Fantuzzi de la très respectée carrosserie du même nom de Modène. Lorsque la Carrozzeria Fantuzzi cessa ses activités, Franco Ferrari créa sa propre entreprise. « 2501GT » fut peinte en bleu foncé avec un intérieur en cuir rouge exécuté par la Tappezzeria Luppi et équipée de pare-chocs avant et arrière neufs.

Albert Obrist vendit la Ferrari restaurée en 1995 au maître de la Formule 1, Bernie Ecclestone, qui à son tour la revendit au négociant britannique William Loughran de Preston, Lancashire, en 1996. Loughran conserva la voiture pendant plus de dix ans avant de la céder à l’actuel propriétaire via Bob Houghton Ferrari en mai 2007.

En juin 2007, « 2501GT » participa avec le vendeur au 40e Anniversaire du Ferrari Owners’ Club à Silverstone où elle fut classée première de la Connoisseurs Class du concours avec attribution du trophée Peter Stubberfield. Pendant l’hiver 2007-2008, le moteur fut totalement refait par le spécialiste de la marque Bob Houghton. On notera que ce moteur d’époque a été refrappé de son numéro original « 2501 ». Présenté en excellente condition après avoir parcouru moins de 800 km depuis la reconstruction du moteur, « 2501GT » est proposée avec son contrôle technique (MoT) et sa licence de circulation britanniques (documents valables jusqu’en 2009) ainsi que son document d’immatriculation UK V5.

Polyvalente et très désirable, passionnante à piloter, mais homologuée pour la route, « 2501GT » représente une occasion exceptionnelle d’acquérir un exemplaire de ces très recherchées 250 GT SWB éligibles pour de très nombreuses et prestigieuses épreuves historiques intéressant les Ferrari dans le monde entier.


If you were a young, well-to-do racing enthusiast in 1960-61, the finest introduction into the enthralling world of Gran Turismo racing was to invest in a brand-new Ferrari 250GT Short-Wheelbase Berlinetta. Fast, safe, near unburstable and user-friendly – the alloy cars were the ultimate.’ – Motors.

Introduced at the 1959 Paris Salon, the 250GT SWB Berlinetta went on to dominate its class in international GT racing in the years 1960 to 1962. A true dual-purpose car, it was arguably more capable than any Ferrari before or since of coping equally well with the conflicting demands of racetrack and highway. A quick change to cooler spark plugs, racing tyres and the addition of a roll bar and the SWB could contest its class at Le Mans or Sebring.

The ‘SWB’ (short-wheelbase) designation arose from a chassis that, at 2,400mm in that respect, was 200mm shorter than that of the standard 250GT. Powering the 250GT SWB was Ferrari’s light and compact Colombo-designed 3.0-litre V12. Breathing through three twin-choke Weber carburettors, this two-cam, all-aluminium power unit produced 280bhp at 7,000rpm in competition tune, giving the car a top speed of 150mph with acceleration to match.

Specifications could be varied to suit individual customers’ requirements for either road or track, models supplied for competition use having lightweight aluminium-alloy bodies, and it was this special aluminium-bodied version of the 250GT SWB that led directly to the immortal GTO of 1962. Before then, the 250GT SWB Competizione had already established an enviable competition record of its own. In 1960 250GT SWBs won the Tourist Trophy, the Tour de France, the 1,000 Kms of Paris at Montlhéry and finished fourth and fifth overall at the Sebring 12 Hours and fourth and fifth overall at Le Mans. The 250GT SWB achieved numerous class wins in international events that same year and in 1961 won the Tourist Trophy yet again with Stirling Moss at the wheel, taking the GT class of the World Sportscar Championship with almost contemptuous ease.

After the first batch of SWBs had been built to lightweight Competition specification, the more refined (and 110 kilos heavier) steel-bodied street version entered production towards the end of 1960 and would account for slightly more than 50 percent of the approximately 165 SWB Berlinettas made up to 1963.

The 74th of its type built, Ferrari 250GT SWB, left-hand drive chassis number ‘2501GT’ was sold new on 4th April 1961 and delivered via Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA to its first owner, a Mr Del Balso. ‘2501GT’ was completed with steel coachwork and finished in blu sera (dark blue). It was supposedly delivered with a roll bar and two sets of seats (‘Lusso’ and bucket type) almost certainly indicating that its owner had racing in mind.

In 1970 the car passed into the ownership of Jerry L Gamez, a resident of Castro Valley, California and in 1975 was sold to Leonard M Rennick, of Fullerton, California. Later that same year, in July, ‘2501GT’ was acquired by George Heiser, a resident of Seattle, Washington State. The car was registered on Washington license plates ‘IJN 409’ and repainted red.

In 1988, ‘2501GT’ was sold to the Swedish collector Hans Thulin but belonged to him only briefly, passing into the ownership of noted Swiss Ferraristi Albert Obrist, of Gstaad in May 1989. While in Mr Obrist’s care the car’s body was completely restored by Franco Ferrari receiving an all-new body in aluminium alloy. Ferrari worked for Fiorenzo Fantuzzi at his eponymous and well respected Carrozzeria in Modena. When Carrozzeria Fantuzzi ceased trading Franco Ferrari established his own Carrozzeria, continuing the good work. ‘2501GT’ was painted dark blue and its interior trimmed in red leather by Tappezzeria Luppi. New bumpers were fitted at front and rear.

Albert Obrist sold the restored Ferrari in 1995 to Formula 1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone who in turn sold it to UK dealer, William Loughran, of Preston, Lancashire in 1996. Loughran kept the car for more than ten years before selling it to the current owner, via Bob Houghton Ferrari, in May 2007.

In June 2007, ‘2501GT’ was displayed by the vendor during the Ferrari Owners Club’s 40th Anniversary Meeting at Silverstone, where it was placed 1st in the Connoisseurs Class of the Concours, receiving the Peter Stubberfield Trophy. Over the winter of 2007/2008, the engine was completely rebuilt by marque specialist Bob Houghton. It should be noted that this period engine has been re-stamped with the original number, ‘2501’. Presented in excellent condition, having covered fewer than 500 miles since the engine rebuild, ‘2501GT’ comes with UK roadworthiness certificate (MoT) and road fund license (both valid until June 2009) together with current UK V5 registration document.

Versatile and highly desirable, exciting yet road legal, ‘2501GT’ represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire an example of the much sought after 250GT SWB, eligible for a wide variety of Ferrari-related and other prestigious historic events worldwide.