Description
The Ferrari 250 GTE was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1960. For Enzo Ferrari, it was a decisive milestone: up to then Maranello's production had mainly targeted motorsport enthusiasts and customers attracted to two-seater coupés directly derived from competition. The Commendatore therefore realises that to ensure the company’s longevity he must offer a more versatile car capable of appealing to a broader, more international clientele. Thus the 250 GTE becomes the first Ferrari conceived from the outset as a true 2+2, a large, elegant, comfortable and high-performance grand tourer.
The coachwork, drawn by Pininfarina, marks a significant stylistic evolution. Longer and more slender than the other models in the 250 range, it retains the purity of Italian lines while offering unprecedented interior space. The chassis, derived from the 250 GT, was lengthened to allow for two rear seats, making the GTE a Ferrari usable on a daily basis, even when travelling with family or friends. Despite these adaptations, the balance of aesthetics is perfectly preserved and the car retains a sporty, rakish look.
Under the bonnet lies the legendary 3. 0-litre Colombo V12, fed by three Weber carburettors. This engine, the true beating heart of the 250 line, develops around 240 bhp and is notable for its flexible delivery, its long-legged performance and its sound. Coupled with a four‑speed manual gearbox with overdrive, it allows the GTE to reach nearly 230 km/ h. For a large four-seat grand tourer from the early 1960s, these performances are simply exceptional.
Produced in around 950 examples between 1960 and 1963, the 250 GTE is one of Ferrari’s most widely produced models of its era. Three successive series followed, each bringing its own set of technical and aesthetic details. The first series, shown in 1960, laid the foundations of the model. The second, introduced in early 1962, modernised the whole with a redesigned dashboard, new rear lights and some interior improvements that enhanced the cabin’s elegance and comfort. Finally, the third series, appearing in autumn 1962, continues this approach with subtler tweaks but bearing Ferrari’s constant preoccupation with refinement.
The 250 GTE occupies a singular place in Maranello’s history. It is the first Ferrari produced in series to offer four proper seats, paving the way for a prestigious line of 2+2 coupés that would continue with the 330 GT, the 365 GT 2+2 and, much later, the contemporary Ferrari Lusso models. It also made an impression with an unusual use: some examples were used by the Rome Police, proof that this Ferrari could be as effective in the streets of a capital as it was on Italy’s long roads.
The example presented here is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE, belonging to Series II. It perfectly embodies the balance of this generation, with Pininfarina elegance subtly modernised and a cabin more refined than that of the first series. It was built in September 1961 and put on the road in 1962 in the USA, the exact month remaining unknown.
The car was repatriated to Italy in June 1990 and became the property of the Ferragamo family in Florence.
She is now in the care of the current Belgian owner for 25 years: she has been very well maintained over the last 30 years, first at Gipi Motors and then at Officina, with invoices totaling more than €150, 000.
This 250 GT/ E is in perfect condition: the bodywork does show some signs of use, but remains very handsome. The interior is perfect, as is the engine bay. The engine runs very well and the car behaves splendidly on the road. It has been regularly used by its owner since its purchase.
It no longer wears its original colour, which was “Grigio Fumo”, and therefore does not have Ferrari Classiche certification.
Chassis number: 2801GT
Engine number: 570E typo 128/ F
Gearbox number: 228/ E
Axle number: 192/ E
