1961 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2

Intended to give Ferrari a strong position in a market segment already occupied by its competitors Aston Martin and Maserati, the 250 GTE 2+2 was first seen as a prototype at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1960 as the race director’s car, and made its global debut at the Paris Motor Show the same year. The first production Ferrari with four seats, it was powered by the legendary Tipo 128E V12 engine designed by Colombo: this developed 243 bhp and gave the car a top speed of 225 kph. Three successive series of the 250 GTE were built, with most of the changes concerning the front and rear lights, until production ended in 1963. With 950 cars sold, it was Ferrari’s most popular model and the company's biggest sales success at the time.

Please note: The early history of this car is still being researched. Please get in touch to be kept up to date.

Chassis 2351, first delivered in 1961 in Riva, Italy, and featuring a rare factory bonnet scoop, was acquired by the current owner on 09 June 2012. The car had been damaged in an accident in Idaho sometime before 1986 and spent some 25 years under cover, having never been repaired. Purchased with the engine removed (but present), and with damage to the roof and doors following a roll, the car was shipped to the UK later that year to form part of a growing collection of British, German, and Italian sports cars.

Initially destined for a 250 SWB conversion, the decision was eventually made to retain as much of the car’s originality as possible and maintain its form as a GTE. Over the following ten years, the car would undergo a complete restoration. The body from 3983GT was purchased from the RM Sotheby’s Duemila Ruote auction in 2016 and was to be used to repair 2351GT in a sympathetic fashion. As much of the original body was retained, although the roof, pillars, doors, and wing were replaced. The body was re-sprayed in its original Grigio Argento, and the interior subject to complete re-upholstering and re-foaming by O'Rourke Coachtrimmers in April 2021 at a cost of £22,292. The decision was made to re-upholster the interior in Blue, which suits the car exceptionally well.

With the main bulk of the restoration completed in 2022, 2351GT was sent to 250 specialists Emblem Sports Cars, who would go on to undertake a complete engine rebuild over some 300 hours. These works were extensively documented, with videographic logs alongside the paper trail, and the total cost exceeding £70,000. Finally completed in October 2024, the chassis, body, engine, and rear axle all retain their ‘matching numbers,’ with the gearbox yet to be confirmed. Exhilarating to drive and subject to immense expenditure, Chassis 2351GT is now offered for sale with Klasiko, ready for its next custodian.

Included with the vehicle is a comprehensive pair of folders documenting the car’s history. The first folder documents the restoration, with extensive invoices, literature, and correspondence. The second folder is a complete documentation of the engine rebuild in exquisite detail by Emblem Sports Cars, spanning some 200 pages. A small collection of spare parts is also included, along with a spare hide for good measure.

Overall, an excellent opportunity to acquire an example of the most well-known and sought-after Ferrari designation model, subject to significant mechanical expenditure, in a beautiful colour combination, and competitively priced.