Of all the manufacturers of dream cars in the World, one marque reigns supreme above the rest: Ferrari.

Wearing the prancing horse--the cavallino rampante--as its mascot, a Ferrari possesses an almost mythical aura of super high performance and racing success. Ferraris are the most desirable exotics in the World, the benchmark all other exotics are compared to.

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While contemporary Ferraris are still breathtakingly expensive, they are, in fact, mass produced. For example, no less than 12,143 units of the popular Ferrari 308 were made, and even the rather undesirable Mondial was built 6,104 times.
How different things were in the 1950s! Each Ferrari was a bespoke car, strictly built to order, only after the Commendatore had your check covering the hefty deposit on his desk. Remember, roadgoing Ferraris were just a source of funds to finance Enzo's first love, racing. The classic Ferraris were built between the late 1940s and the mid-1960s, in very small numbers; every one of these cars has matured into a solid investment.

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Especially the '250 series' cars, possessing a prestigious bloodline, are highly coveted today. They include the 250 Testarossa, the 250 Spyder California, and the legendary 250 GTO, the most valuable Ferrari ever built. Other notable members of the 250 family are the 250 Tour de France, the 250 Lusso, and the 250 Pininfarina Coupe. Rarely does any of these cars change hands, and if one does, it's usually within a close-knit fraternity of wealthy aficionados, for an undisclosed amount of money.

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Of the Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina LWB Coupe, a mere 350 examples were manufactured between 1958 and 1960. Currently valued at around $150K for a nice example, the 250 Gran Turismo may be the last true bargain in the world of 1950s Ferraris. Dressed by none other than Signore Battista "Pinin" Farina himself, it was elegant, luxurious and at the same time very sporting, boasting a 141mph top speed when many Italians were lucky to own a Fiat 500 or a Vespa.

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Five decades later, in the brave new world of the new Millennium, you will rarely, if ever, encounter a 1950s Ferrari during your daily commute. Born of the 250 MM competition engine of 1953, the complex--and somewhat fragile, if neglected--Lampredi 240hp V12 would always remain the proverbial money pit, with maintenance and repair costs that could make a grown man cry.
Wouldn't it be great to own a classic-era Ferrari you could drive every day, without fear of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, facing yet another $25,000.00 mechanic's bill?
Believe it or not, the particular Ferrari for auction here is such a car!

Built in the fall of 1959 in Maranello, this Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina LWB Coupe, VIN *1573 GT* is so special that it might be the only one of its kind.
After its original owner experienced sudden--and terminal--engine failure in the early 1960s, the 3-liter power plant had to be replaced, an operation costing as much as a new Mercedes Benz sedan. Owner number two ran into engine trouble again, only a short while later, and decided to take matters into his own hands, since he actually wanted to drive his Ferrari, instead of having it gather dust inside the garage for fear it would suck dry his bank account.

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He employed what other well-known European car builders, such as Ghia, Iso, Monteverdi, DeTomaso, and Intermeccanica eventually would use as a recipe for success. He simply replaced the Ferrari's 240 temperamental Italian horses with 340 reliable American ones, a move that would create the most dependable 1950s Ferrari imaginable. The transplant was performed so ingeniously that the car remains virtually indistinguishable from any of its siblings. It runs, drives, and sounds perfectly right!

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Another smart move toward improved driveability was to install a set of BORRANI 15-inch knock off spoke wheels usually only found on the more expensive Ferrari 250 GT Lusso. Being 6 inches wide up front, 6-½ inches out back, they were fitted with Italian PIRELLI high-speed radial tires of the dimension 205/70 VR 15.
The last few tipo 250s built were among the first Ferraris to receive DUNLOP disc brakes; this one has 'em up front, while the rather weak stock rear brakes were upgraded to huge ALFIN-type units, mounted to a bulletproof positraction rear end, rendering obsolete the Commendatore's infamous statement "My cars are made for driving, not for braking!"

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Ferrari's sexy body is superbly straight, with perfect gaps and shut lines throughout. There's no rust, of course, and no indication that the car was ever involved in a fender bender.
The traditional Rosso Corsa finish is an older repaint, with hardly a blemish to speak of, as shiny and reflective as you would hope for. The brightwork sparkles; the glass is good; all of the lights work, including fog lights, both license plate lights, and the MARCHAL back-up lamp, as do the horn, the dual electric fans, the windshield wipers, the windshield washer, the heater blower motor . . . you name it, it works.

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Since beauty is more than skin deep, we will continue our in-depth journey around this amazing Ferrari. Let's inspect it inside and out, top to bottom. Let us be your guide as well as your eyes.

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First, you open the super-light aluminum bonnet--check out the factory 'swiss cheese' treatment--and will be pleased to find the diamond-tufted hood pad and the characteristic alloy trim strips to be beautifully preserved.

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Delving deep into the engine compartment, you notice its impeccable cleanliness. Special mention deserves the immaculate wiring harness. Fit and finish of the 'dark areas' was marginal in the old days at Ferrari; many restored cars look better today than when they were new.
Motorvation comes from a strong, healthy 351 cu.in. Windsor V-8, mated to a fully synchronized toploader 4-speed transmission that can be shifted with utmost precision. Ironically, the engine powering this car formed the basis for the mill that--in the GT 40, under Carroll Shelby's guidance--ended Ferrari's domination at Le Mans. This one starts easily, settles immediately into a rumbling idle, and runs like a champion. It doesn't sputter, overheat, or misbehave in any way.

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Opening the wide driver's door with its beautifully preserved original leather door panel, we can't help but admire the fantastic, leather-topped dash with its characteristic instrument binnacle. Two dominant gauges, tach and speedometer, are complemented by no less than five additional gauges. The original, wood-and-aluminum steering wheel features the cavallino rampante on its horn button. Note the rare, original radio block-off plate. Entering the car, we appreciate the abundance of leg and head room, even for drivers over 6' tall, and the perfect visibility all around.

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The 250 GT is a large two-seater, featuring a luggage shelf behind the--original--seats. And what seats they are! Made in Germany, they are richly padded, deliver superb comfort, even feature reclining back rests. 3-inch-wide DEIST racing safety belts with macho latches prevent excessive body movement during fast cornering.

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Ready for a test drive?
So are we, but there are still two more areas to inspect: trunk and undercarriage.

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There's ample space inside the trunk. Right now, it contains the spare rim (with a brand new PIRELLI tire as well) and jacking equipment.

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Just like the remainder of the car, the undercarriage--consisting of Ferrari's ladder-type frame with welded floor pans--looks fantastically clean, without any rust or damage. Dual 2-inch exhaust system with H-pipe and chrome-tipped MONZA silencers was expertly designed and built by the men at KENZ Muffler Service.

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Having inspected the Ferrari closely, we are eager to experience this beauty on the open road.

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April 19--the day we took these photos--was a typically balmy California spring day with blue skies and temperatures in the upper 70s. From our Ventura showroom we headed to Channel Islands Harbor, then south, toward Malibu. The Ferrari voraciously ate up the miles, without ever skipping a beat.
Much easier to drive than anticipated, with precise steering, benign handling, and excellent, servo-assisted brakes, it would be a wholly untemperamental Italian steed, were it not for the fabulous trumpeting of its exhaust and its eagerness to bark the baloneys when prodded with a heavy right foot. Priceless moments occurred whenever we passed a late-model sports car in the fast lane. Jaws would drop, fingers point, cell phone cameras flash; at each rest stop, the red Ferrari and its occupants became instant celebrities, surrounded by inquisitive folk of all age groups.

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After thirty years in the classic car hobby, we don't use the term "once in a lifetime opportunity" lightly. However, your chances of finding another fully streetable 1950s Ferrari like this one are about as high as winning the power ball lottery.

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Let's praise American ingenuity, as it has provided us with this truly unique Ferrari Special. A rust and accident free survivor from sunny SoCal, it's one 250 GT that performs every bit as good as it looks. A charter member of the most prestigious model line ever produced by Ferrari, now it can be used with the same confidence you'd put into your Corvette or Bimmer. It's the only one you'll ever find, and it's ready to be adopted by a fiscally responsible enthusiast who knows what he wants. Being of exceptional lineage and sporting pedigree, its appreciation potential is unlimited.

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