Trio of mid-century Ferrari GTs head for Monaco auction

Including a £2m long-nose 275 GTB

Ferrari styling might generally be more evolution than revolution, but that doesn’t stop the stunning lines of the Italian marque’s mid-century machines from being some of the best the Prancing Horse has ever crafted.

Elegant, stylish and properly evocative, Ferrari cars in the ’50s and ’60s were truly something to behold – which makes RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction on 12 May well worth a watch.

Why? Set to go under the hammer is a trio of just such machines – including an ultra-valuable long-nose 275 GTB. Alone, any one of these cars would be a head-turner. Together, they’re enough to give a Ferrari fan palpitations.

Click on for all of the details.

New style, no space

First up is this stunning 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe. First launched in 1953, the 250 went through several refinements over its nine-year lifespan – including a Pininfarina prototype shown at the 1956 Geneva Motor Show.

A victim of its own styling success, the Italian coachbuilder couldn’t meet the demand for the new version – and so the Boano body shop was asked to take over.

Hunkered down

So was born the 250 GT Boano. Under the watchful eye of former Pininfarina designer Mario Boano, some 67 examples of the new model were built – albeit with a lower roof than the original concept.

When Boano left the house that bore his name in 1957, his son-in-law took over – continuing to make 250 GTs under his own name, Ellena, but now with a higher roofline.

Born under Boano

The Ferrari set to sell with RM Sotheby’s is an example of the former: a ‘low roof’ 250 GT coupe that was finished in early 1957.

Initially delivered to Milan, it was shipped in the late-’60s to England, before being exhibited in the ’70s in a Liverpool museum owned by one Jim Baxter.

Across the Channel

Baxter maintained the 250 GT for many years, and that museum life surely contributed to the 250’s fantastic condition today.

Subsequently, the Ferrari passed on to French-Belgian Jean-Roger Bossut. Now registered in France, in 2007 it took part in Ferrari’s 60th celebrations – the Reims-Epernay leg of the Ferrari 60 Relay tour.

Stunning runner

Immaculately presented, chassis 0639 GT has been Ferrari Classiche certified and carries its original engine, which was rebuilt in late 2017.

Moreover, a 2012 cosmetic restoration means that it today goes to market in outstanding condition, wearing a stirring silver-blue and grey colour scheme that’s sure to command attention – and doubtless a hefty sale price. The low estimate? €800,000 (£700,000).

Gentleman’s steed

Second of the Italian stallions is another 250 GT – but this one’s a 1962 Cabriolet Series II.

While the sports car mould of the 250 GT had been firmly set by the ’60s, the Cabriolet marked an effort by Ferrari to appeal to a more refined market, representing a machine both powerful and sublimely comfortable while devouring mile upon mile of asphalt. With a bigger boot, it was also a darn sight more practical, too.

Rounded package

Pininfarina’s second-generation Cabriolet design was launched at the 1959 Geneva Motor Show and was notable for its open headlights, rounded nose and more spacious interior.

Paired with the latest Tipo 128F Colombo V12 engine from Ferrari, it delivered breezy, reliable performance in a package that was easy to live with and exuded Italian luxury.

All-Italian

Chassis 3459 GT left the factory in 1962 as the 172nd of just 200 Series II Cabriolets produced, and went on to spend the rest of the century in its Mediterranean homeland.

Factory-fitted with a hard top, it shipped first to Milan, where it was stabled for some 15 years. From there, in 1983, it moved to Modena, before its keys passed through the hands of several owners and the 250 GT moved from Turin to Ispra to Novara.

Time for a refresh

Come 2012, the then-red machine came into the stewardship of the current owner and it was at this point that the 250 GT underwent a meticulous restoration in Modena.

Truly a team effort, the mechanical restoration, interior re-trim and external repainting were undertaken by different specialists in the area – and it was the latter work that saw the captivating Ferrari changed from Rosso to its current silver finish.

Stunning stuff

Ferrari Classiche-certified in 2013, 3459 GT is an immaculate example of one of the most accessible, enjoyable versions of the 250 GT.

Equipped with its original engine and gearbox, recently restored and with a lifetime of Italian ownership, you don’t find many Pininfarina-bodied machines like this today. Fancy it? You’ll need upwards of £1m when it goes under the hammer on 12 May.

Rare as they come

Last and almost certainly most captivating is this ultra-rare 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB – one of just 88 long-nose, steel body, triple-carb examples ever built.

What’s more, being a late-production model it also carries a torque-tube driveshaft – making it probably one of the most desirable GTBs money can buy, not least given its outstanding condition.

Nod to the past

Somewhat long in the tooth by the mid-’60s, the 250 GT was superseded at the 1964 Paris Motor Show by a stunning pair of 275s – including the Scaglietti-bodied 275 GTB. 

While the styling took more than a few cues from the Prancing Horses that had come before it, the 275 carried a host of novel mechanical refinements – from a transaxle gearbox setup to independent suspension on every wheel (a first for a roadgoing Ferrari).

Long but lovely

A year later a long-nose model broke cover – much like the one going up for auction with RM Sotheby’s, chassis 08729 – which achieved greater aerodynamic stability.

Finished in 1966, it was delivered in European spec to an Italian buyer, and it would remain in Italy until being shipped to the USA in 1974, where it remained for much of its life, being variously exhibited, displayed and toured to Ferrari Club events.

Tasteful update

In 2005 it was sold on again and sent in for a thorough cosmetic restoration with a Ferrari specialist.

It was during this refresh that it gained its evocative Blu Metallizato finish, while much of the trim was refinished, hoses and lines replaced and key mechanical components rebuilt to make it a 275 GTB fit for the future.

Ticking all the boxes

Carrying a matching-numbers engine and in the process of acquiring Ferrari Classiche certification, chassis 08729 is about as good as GTBs – or, indeed, Ferraris – come.

A tastefully restored, immaculate example that’s just as good for historic tours as it is for Concours events, those Borrani wire wheels and Scaglietti curves are as likely to get Ferrari fans feeling funny today as they’ve ever been. Worth £2m? That’s for you to decide.