1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Speciale (Pinin Farina one-off)
- Colour
- Metallic grey ('Grigio Metallizzato')
Chassis 0751 GT is a one-off Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Speciale bodied by Pinin Farina in 1957–58 for Princess Lilian de Réthy of Belgium, the consort of King Leopold III. Blending design cues from the Tour de France berlinetta, California Spider, and Series I cabriolet, it anticipated the forthcoming series 250 GT Pinin Farina coupé. Delivered in January 1958, it subsequently passed through a succession of American and European owners, received a full cosmetic restoration by Bachelli & Villa, and carries a well-documented ownership history.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$11,000,000 – US$13,000,000
- 1958 → 1967Factory deliveryPrincess Lilian de Réthyfull documentation
Car delivered to her Waterloo residence with Belgian diplomatic registration. She gifted the car when ordering a subsequent coachbuilt Ferrari based on a 330 GTC.
- 1967 → 1968Private saleDr. Ernest De Bakeyfull documentation
Received the car as an unsolicited gift from the Princess; a period photograph documents its arrival by freighter at New Orleans port.
- 1968 → 1970Private saleDr. John Ochsnerpartial documentation
Founder of a namesake clinic in New Orleans; converted the wheels to 15-inch units and fitted disc brakes during his ownership.
- 1970 → 1970Private saleKirk Whitepartial documentation
Philadelphia-based dealer and collector who held the car briefly before selling by year's end.
- 1970 →Private saleJohn Delamaterpartial documentation
Based in Indianapolis; sold the car to Hutchinson but subsequently reacquired it and began a restoration with Alan Powell.
- → 1973-07-01Private saleJohn Delamaterpartial documentation
Second ownership period; partnered with Alan Powell of Mishawaka, Indiana for restoration work.
- 1973-07-01 → 1974Private saleNorman Silverpartial documentation
Owner of Silver Craft Furniture; acquired the car with bodywork unfinished and engine needing attention, then sold it within months.
- 1974 → 1977Private saleAlan Powellpartial documentation
Mishawaka, Indiana resident who had previously assisted with restoration work; sold the car three years after purchasing it.
- 1977 → 1984Private saleJohn Wilson Clinardfull documentation
Ford Motor Company executive based in Farmington Hills, Michigan; repainted the car red and re-trimmed the interior in beige leather, had the engine rebuilt by Ferrari specialist John Hajduk, and actively worked to compile a documented ownership history.
- 1984 →Private saleJohn Carmackpartial documentation
Carmel, Indiana owner who retained the car through the end of the 1980s.
- 1996 → 1997Private saleGregory Nobletpartial documentation
Son of French racing driver Pierre Noblet; sold the car the following year.
- 1997 →Private salePhilippe Lancksweertpartial documentation
Former partner of Jacques Swaters at Garage Francorchamps in Belgium; commissioned Bachelli & Villa of Bastiglia to carry out a comprehensive cosmetic restoration.
- Date unknownPrivate saleKen Hutchinsonpartial documentation
Tower Lake, Illinois owner; held the car briefly between Delamater's two periods of ownership.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1968Modification
Wheels replaced with 15-inch units and disc brakes installed by then-owner Dr. John Ochsner.
- 1977Bodywork
Exterior repainted in rosso and interior retrimmed with beige leather by owner John Wilson Clinard.
Carried out early in Clinard's seven-year ownership as a cosmetic refresh.
- 1997RestorationBachelli & Villa
Full cosmetic restoration carried out by Bachelli & Villa of Bastiglia, commissioned by Philippe Lancksweert.
- —Restoration
Partial restoration begun jointly by owner John Delamater and Alan Powell; the body was still unpainted when the car changed hands in mid-1973.
Work was initiated during Delamater's second ownership spell but left incomplete at point of sale.
- —Engine rebuildJohn Hajduk
Engine overhauled as required by marque specialist John Hajduk, during Clinard's ownership period.
Commissioned by Clinard during his ownership from 1977 to 1984.
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