Photos by Tim Scott, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Get to know this beautiful 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, which is heading to auction at RM Sotheby’s’ upcoming Villa Erba sale.
The car, Chassis 1953 GT, is one of forty-five aluminium-bodied examples from 1960. It was produced to be race-ready with lightweight Scaglietti coachwork and a 258.5-horsepower engine. Its destiny, however, saw it kept away from racing for quite some time.
In fact, it would even receive its first restoration beforehand! David Livingstone sent the car to Ferrari Specialists Wayne Obry of Motion Products in Wisconsin who performed a comprehensive restoration and finished the car in Giallo Fly with a black interior. Its previous life adventures had seen it change owners without its engine, so a Tipo 168U engine was sourced and fitted to the car.
Decades would pass before the car was fitted with a correct engine. In 2007 the car returned to California after a decade in Japan and a competition-specification engine was sourced from another aluminium-bodied 250GT Berlinetta along with a competition ribbed gearbox.
2011 would be the year in which its competition career would commence in earnest. The current owner purchased the car and had its spare race-prepared Tipo 168U engine rebuilt and prepared for competition. He campaigned very successfully it at high-profile events with Le Mans-winner Jackie Oliver at the wheel, and both Christian Horner, of Red Bull Racing, and Gary Pearson driving at various points.
In 2012 Christian Horner and Jackie Oliver drove the car at the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy Celebration at the Goodwood Revival, with Oliver competing in the car again at the Donington Historic Festival, winning the Pre-63 GT race, as well as at the Silverstone classic later in the year.
The car returned to the Silverstone Classic in 2013, this time with Oliver and Gary Pearson at the wheel driving it to victory in the RAC TT. Horner and Oliver reprised their partnership for the 2013 Goodwood Revival, claiming 10th in the RAC TT Celebration.
2014 saw it run in the Moss Trophy race at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting and again at the RAC TT Celebration Race at the Goodwood Revival.
This machine is rare, exciting and race ready. Check out RM Sotheby’s’ website for more information, and enjoy the video, in which Jackie Oliver and Max Girardo go for a drive and wax lyrical about the car’s many qualities.
RM Sotheby’s’ Villa Erba sale will be held on the 23rd of May, 2015.
Photos by Tim Scott, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
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