Beschreibung:

'Combining the genius of Pinin Farina and the race proven V12 results in a most coveted touring car of superlative performance.' - Motor Sport. The car that drew such praise from that esteemed motoring journal was, of course, the Ferrari 250GTE 2+2. By the end of the 1950s, the success of rivals Aston Martin and Maserati in providing Grand Touring cars for the enthusiast with a family meant that Ferrari could no longer ignore this increasingly important market sector. There had been four-seater Ferraris before the 250GTE - Ghia, Touring and Vignale all producing ‘2+2’ designs in the 1950s - but these attempts had been compromised by the necessity of using a chassis not conceived with passenger carrying in mind and were deemed less than entirely successful. Close collaboration between Ferrari and Pininfarina in the design of Maranello’s first series-production four-seater ensured that no such criticism could be levelled at the 250GTE. First seen in prototype form at the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, where it served as the Race Director’s car, the 250GTE had its official world premiere later that year at the Paris Salon. At 2,600mm in the wheelbase, the multi-tubular chassis was similar to that of the Pininfarina-designed 250GT ‘notch back Coupé and 200mm longer that the contemporary 250GT SWB’s. Moving the engine forward by 200mm and widening the rear track by 38mm made room for two rear seats in a bodyshell which, despite its increased length, retained Pininfarina’s customary classical proportions. Independent front suspension, a live rear axle, all-round disc brakes and a four-speed manual/overdrive gearbox completed the basic chassis specification, while the type 128E outside-plug engine’s 240bhp ensured that there was no reduction in performance despite the inevitable gain in weight. Top speed was within a whisker of 140mph, while one example, driven by Ferrari works driver Phil Hill and carrying two passengers, accelerated from a standstill to 100mph and back to rest in 25 seconds, a staggering achievement for an almost fully laden Grand Tourer. The 250GTE progressed through three series, changes being confined mainly to the front and rear lighting arrangements, before production ceased 1963, by which time 950 cars had been sold, making the this the most popular and commercially successful Ferrari to date. This left-hand drive 250GTE Series III was formerly in the long-term owner ship of a dentist in Switzerland. We are advised that the car was extensively restored between 2001 and 2005, benefiting from cylinder heads and valves overhauled with new guides; bead-blasted and repainted chassis; and completely re-trimmed interior. Finished in black with cream leather upholstery, the car is presented in very good running condition and offered complete with tool kit, original maintenance manual, sundry restoration invoices, Swiss Carte Grise and Contrôle Technique. Cette Ferrari 250 GTE série III fut antérieurement la propriété d’un dentiste suisse pendant de longues années. Elle fut extensivement restaurée entre 2001 et 2005, bénéficiant d’une réfection des culasses et des soupapes (guides neufs), d’un microbillage et d’une peinture du châssis et d’un regarnissage total de l’intérieur.De couleur noire avec intérieur en cuir crème, la voiture se présente en excellent état de fonctionnement avec son outillage, son carnet d’entretien d’origine, diverses factures de restauration, sa carte grise et son contrôle technique suisse.