Ferrari 250 GT SWB 1959

Classic Car | Ferrari 250 GT

In 1953 the first of the stylish Ferrari 250 series were shown at the Paris show. The 250 Export and Europa were better road cars for their styling and purpose. About 50 of these were built. The Ferrari sports cars were now not so much racers that had been adapted for the road but were built specifically for the non-racing driver.

Ferrari 250 GT SWB 1959 Origin Italy

  Engine 2,953 cc, V12 Top speed 168 mph (270 km/h) Revealed at the 1959 Paris Motor Show, the

V12-engined 250 GT SWB was intended as a serious competition car that could also be used on the open road. Its flowing bodywork, styled by Italian design house Pininfarina, became a template for

the look of many future Ferraris

   Built for pace Early road-going 250 GT SWBs had hand-beaten, lightweight aluminum bodies, but this material was later reserved for pure racing versions. The Ferrari proved to be formidable on the track.

 The first of the series, the 250 GT coupe was released in 1956. It had a 3 liter (183 cu in) V-12, 3 Weber carburetors and produced 240 bhp at 7000 rpm. About 500 of the coupe were built.

The California Spyder (also known as the 250 GT California) was an open model released in 1958. It was built upon the suggestion of Jon von Neumann, the Ferrari Representative of Hollywood. He felt strongly that a convertible was needed for the Californian climate and Ferrari agreed.
 250 GTB

The 250 GT Berlinetta (saloon) was produced from 1959 to 1962 with Pininfarina style coachwork and built at Scarlatti. This was really a racing sports car with a 280 bhp V-12 engine, four-speed all synchromesh transmission and Dunlop disk brakes. It had a short wheelbase but much the same chassis and suspension as other Ferrari road cars. The 250 GTB, designed by Ing Bizzarini, was one of the all-time classic Ferrari sports cars.

250GT BL

The 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso (luxury saloon) had similar mechanics to the 250 GTB but the engine was de-tuned to 250 bhp. It was the sleekest and most sophisticated Ferrari up to that time.

4 Seat 250GTE

In 1961 a four seater version, the 250 GT 2+2 (also known as the GTE) was the first ever Ferrari to offer even occasional rear passenger seats. With a larger engine, it became the 330 GT. Sporting a 4 liter (244 cu in) V-12 power plant and five-speed gearbox this made it the largest Ferrari car at that time.

250 GTO

Incidentally, the racing version 250 GTO was homologated especially to allow it to race (O standing for Omolagation). It was made famous in the UK when Stirling Moss drove it to victory two years in a row winning the 1960 and 1961 Tourist Trophy.