1961 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB
- Engine
- 2.95L SOHC V12 with three Weber 40 DCL6 carburetors, 235 bhp
- Colour
- Silver-grey ('grigio argento')
Ferrari 250 GT Short-Wheelbase Berlinetta, chassis 2639, is among the approximately 89 road-specification examples produced in 1961 and is believed to be the 83rd SWB built overall. Though not a full competition car, it left the factory with numerous race-derived components including a ribbed competition gearbox, uprated Weber carburetors, revised camshafts, and an Abarth exhaust. Finished originally in silver over black leather, the car has passed through notable American and European collections and carries Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification confirming its matching-numbers drivetrain, supported by an award-winning restoration to a factory-correct state.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$9,000,000 – US$10,000,000
- 1961 →Private saleMarco Dall'Orsopartial documentation
Purchased new from Parauto dealership in Genova; local resident who was the first retail owner.
- → 1970Private saleBarry and Michael Schwartzpartial documentation
Proprietors of a North Hollywood auto body business who acquired the car from Niles.
- 1970 → 1972Private salePeter Boydpartial documentation
Hollywood-based Ferrari and racing sports car collector, reportedly also active as an actor and singer.
- 1972 → 1974Private saleHal Mayfieldpartial documentation
Based in Dallas, Texas; sold the car after two years of ownership.
- 1974 →Private saleRoger Plummerpartial documentation
From Sulphur Springs, Texas; had the nose modified with recessed covered headlamps in the style of a California Spider.
- → 1985-03-01Acquisition unknownStephen Forristall GT Carspartial documentation
Houston-based dealer who held the car for several years during a restoration that included gearbox and clutch rebuild, intake modification, red repaint, and tan interior reupholstery.
- 1985-03-01 → 1986Private saleNew York-based dealersnone documentation
Two unnamed New York dealers handled the car briefly in early 1985 before its sale to a Swiss buyer.
- 1986 →Private saleAlfred Guggisberg Oldtimer Garagepartial documentation
Swiss dealer based in Toffen who purchased the car and temporarily sold it to another Swiss owner before it moved on.
- → 2001Acquisition unknownSwiss dealers and Axel Urban Protrade GmbHpartial documentation
Over approximately two years the car passed through two unnamed Swiss dealers and a Hamburg-based dealer before being sold in late 2001.
- 2001 →Private saleJon Hajdukpartial documentation
Indiana-based Ferrari specialist and proprietor of Motorkraft; the car was titled in his name though another buyer took practical possession shortly after.
- 2002 → 2011Private salePeter Dysonpartial documentation
Prominent collector and former owner of British supercar firm Noble Automotive, and sibling of the principal behind a well-known Porsche racing team; showed the car at a major Ferrari club concours in 2002.
- 2011 →Private saleNew York-based collectorfull documentation
Current consignor who worked with Ferrari Classiche to restore factory-correct exhaust and intake configuration, ultimately securing Red Book certification confirming matching-numbers drivetrain.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownRoberto Goldinipartial documentation
Rome-based dealer who acquired the car later in the 1960s and facilitated its sale to a US buyer.
- Date unknownPrivate saleEdwin Nilespartial documentation
Los Angeles attorney known for buying and selling numerous Ferraris over the years; purchased through arrangement by Goldini.
- Date unknownPrivate saleErich Traberpartial documentation
Berne-based individual who held the car briefly as an interim owner arranged through the Toffen dealership.
- Date unknownPrivate saleBeat Kanzigpartial documentation
Oberrohrdorf, Switzerland resident who kept the car for roughly 13 years; during this period the non-original front end was restored to factory specification.
Competition
- 2002-05-0138th Annual FCA Nationals
Car was displayed at the Ferrari Club of America national gathering held in Los Angeles by owner Peter Dyson.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1961BodyworkScaglietti
Chassis delivered to Scaglietti in Modena for coachwork construction; body finished in silver-grey paint with black leather interior.
- —Modification
Front nose modified to incorporate recessed covered headlamps styled after the California Spider, departing from the original factory configuration.
Carried out around the time Roger Plummer owned the car in the mid-1970s.
- —RestorationStephen Forristall GT Cars
Partial restoration during ownership by Stephen Forristall GT Cars in Houston: gearbox and clutch rebuilt, intake modified with a cold-air box and velocity stacks, body refinished in red, and interior retrimmed in tan leather.
Work took place over several years in the early-to-mid 1980s before the car was sold in March 1985.
- —Repair
Non-original modified front end was corrected back to the factory specification during Beat Kanzig's ownership in Switzerland.
- —Mechanical
Correct replacement exhaust system installed and engine intake reconfigured to factory specification following consultation with Ferrari Classiche.
Additional minor corrective procedures also completed; work led to successful Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification confirming original matching-numbers engine and drivetrain.
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