The Ferrari 250 GT name covered a decade of grand tourers. It ran from the Europa GT of late 1954 to the Berlinetta Lusso, which left production in 1964. In between came coupes, spiders, a cabriolet, a 2+2 and berlinettas built for both road and rally.
Here are 10 Ferrari 250 GT grand tourers in roughly the order they appeared. Each one carries its build count and key facts from the source linked in its section, mostly Ferrari itself and RM Sotheby’s.
1. 1954 Ferrari 250 GT Europa by Pinin Farina
The 250 GT Europa arrived in late 1954 as the second series of the 250 Europa line. It is easy to confuse with the earlier 250 Europa. That car used a 200-bhp Lampredi V12, while the GT version switched to Gioachino Colombo’s V12.
According to RM Sotheby’s, the 2,953 cc Colombo engine made 220 hp, 20 more than before. The car rode on a 2,600 mm wheelbase under Pinin Farina coachwork. In fact, RM counts only about 34 Europa GTs. One of them, chassis 0391 GT, sold for €582,400 in Monaco in 2012.
2. 250 GT Coupe by Boano
Demand soon outran Pinin Farina’s workshop. At the time, the company was building a new, much larger factory. As a result, it did not yet have the space to build the numbers Ferrari wanted.
So Carrozzeria Boano took over the 250 GT coupe. According to RM Sotheby’s, Boano produced 67 cars with the “low roof” design. Then, in 1957, Mario Felice Boano left for Fiat, and the job passed to someone else.
3. 250 GT Coupe by Ellena
That someone was Ezio Ellena, Boano’s son-in-law, who took over the carrozzeria. His cars, by contrast, are the “high roof” coupes. Ellena raised the roof by two inches to make room for taller drivers.
According to RM Sotheby’s, Ellena built 50 more cars, and RM believes fewer than 40 survive. The one RM offered used a 3-liter tipo 128C Colombo short-block V12. In the end, it sold for $671,000.
4. 250 GT Berlinetta “Tour de France” by Scaglietti
This is the competition member of the family. Scaglietti built the bodies, and the berlinetta took its nickname from a rally.
According to RM Sotheby’s, the model so dominated the multi-stage Tour de France from 1956 to 1959 that people named it after the event. Ferrari made just 72 across four series. For example, the 1957 car RM offered had competition camshafts and a confirmed 258.2 bhp at 7,200 rpm.
5. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe by Pinin Farina
Next, Pinin Farina produced its own 250 GT coupe. It debuted at the Paris Salon in October 1958. It had a long hood, a notchback cabin and a short rear end.
According to RM Sotheby’s, Ferrari built 353 of them by the end of production in late 1960. Late cars got disc brakes and the outside-plug 128F engine. Chassis 1825 GT, the 306th example, sold for $483,500 at Monterey in 2024.
6. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider
The California Spider began as a sales idea. John von Neumann, Ferrari’s West Coast representative, saw a market for an open 250 GT Berlinetta in the Californian sun.
According to Ferrari, Scaglietti built the cars in Modena in two series. The long-wheelbase car ran from 1958 to 1960, then a short-wheelbase car followed from 1960 to 1962. Ferrari claims 260 bhp from the 3-liter V12. In total, it built 106, including nine with aluminum bodies.
7. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pininfarina
Ferrari also offered a more refined open car for grand touring. Pininfarina designed a new open body for the second-series 250 GT Cabriolet. It debuted at the 1959 Paris Salon.
According to RM Sotheby’s, it was an open version of the 250 GT Coupé, with fully trimmed cabins and better weather protection than the California Spider. Up front, meanwhile, its nose had uncovered headlamps set into recesses. Production lasted until mid-1962, with 200 built.
8. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
The SWB shortened the wheelbase to 2,400 mm, which made it more agile than the car before it. At the same time, customers could order a road-biased car or a “Competizione” version.
According to RM Sotheby’s, the SWB debuted at the 1959 Paris Salon. RM also says it was the first Ferrari with disc brakes as standard. In road form, the Colombo V12 made up to 240 bhp through a four-speed gearbox. Ferrari built 165 between 1959 and 1962.
9. 1960 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2
The 250 GTE gave the family room for passengers. Its debut came at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it served as the course car.
According to RM Sotheby’s, Ferrari built 954 in three series through 1963. That makes it the best-selling car on this list. Under the hood, it also used the type 128 E engine, with outside spark plugs for easier maintenance. Meanwhile, one Series II car sold for $302,000 in Arizona in 2022.
10. 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
The Lusso closed out the series. It debuted at the 1962 Paris Motor Show with Pininfarina styling. However, Scaglietti built the production cars in Modena.
According to Ferrari, the Lusso’s 2,953 cc Colombo “short” block V12 made a claimed 240 bhp. Ferrari also calls it “the final model in the 250 GT series in pure road car form.” Production continued until the latter part of 1964, by which time Ferrari had built 350.
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This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.
