1963 Ferrari 250 GTE Series III
- Engine
- 3.0L Colombo V12, 240 bhp, four-speed manual with overdrive
Chassis 4197 GT is a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE Series III, the 41st of its series built at Maranello and the 692nd of 954 total examples produced. Delivered new to a Nashville, Tennessee dealer via Luigi Chinetti Motors, it has remained in single ownership since 1979 under Ron Tonkin, accumulating a thorough service history. Certified by Ferrari Classiche in 2012 as a numbers-matching example retaining its original engine, gearbox, and differential, it represents one of Ferrari's most commercially significant road cars of the 1960s.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$428,500
- 1963-03-01 → 1963-04-01Factory deliveryMadison Smith dealership, Nashville Tennesseepartial documentation
US-market delivery routed through Luigi Chinetti Motors to this Nashville dealership, which sold the car within approximately one month of receipt.
- 1963-04-01 → 1979Private saleOriginal Nashville-area private buyerpartial documentation
Held the car for roughly sixteen years; mileage was reported at around 26,500 when the car changed hands.
- 1979 →Private saleRon Tonkinfull documentation
Maintained the car through his own technicians for over four decades; work included a cosmetic restoration in 1982, engine rebuild in 1985, major service in 1995, and Ferrari Classiche certification in 2012 confirming numbers-matching status.
Competition
- 19601960 Le Mans 24 Hours
The 250 GTE model was publicly unveiled at this event in a pace/marshal role prior to its formal debut at the Paris Salon later that year; this specific chassis was not present.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1979ServiceRon Tonkin Gran Turismo
Commencement of regular servicing under new ownership, with invoices on file from this date forming part of the car's ongoing service record.
Earliest documented service invoice in the file.
- 1982Bodywork
Cosmetic restoration carried out to refresh the car's appearance.
Documented within the car's service file.
- 1985Engine rebuild
Full engine rebuild completed.
Documented within the car's service file.
- 1995Service
Major service carried out.
Documented within the car's service file.
- 2012InspectionFerrari Classiche
Ferrari Classiche certification completed, confirming the car as numbers-matching with its original engine, gearbox, and differential intact.
Red Book issued as part of certification.
- —ServiceRon Tonkin Gran Turismo
Comprehensive pre-sale servicing performed by Ferrari Master Technicians in preparation for auction.
Carried out immediately prior to the current sale offering.
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