Ferrari 250

The Ferrari 250 series is a family of models from the Italian car manufacturer Ferrari . It includes a wide range of open and closed street sports cars and also includes various competition vehicles. The family's first model was sold in 1952, and it remained in the range until 1964. All members of the 250 family are powered by twelve-cylinder engines with a displacement of 3.0 liters. The name of the model family is derived from the rounded displacement of a single cylinder (approx. 250 cm³). The drive and chassis technology has been continuously developed over the years. The bodies of the series vehicles came predominantly from Pininfarina . However, the 250 models were powerful sports cars in their day and set the benchmark for rival manufacturers for a decade. With the 250 GT presented in 1958, Ferrari made the transition from a specialist to a series manufacturer.

background

The Modenese company Ferrari has its roots in racing ( Scuderia Ferrari ). After the end of the Second World War , Ferrari, like Maserati, gradually began building street sports cars . The first models were the 166 , 195 and 212 , although only a few were sold. The common feature of these vehicles was a twelve-cylinder engine designed by Gioacchino Colombo , which was used in them with different displacements. In 1951 she was joined by the 340 America , which had a twelve-cylinder Aurelio Lampredi engine . The Lampredi engine differed from the Colombo engine, among other things, by its dimensions; it is also known as the long block , while Colombo's twelve-cylinder is known as the short block . The Lampredi engine allows for larger displacements than the compact Colombo twelve-cylinder. The street versions of the 340 America with a displacement of 4.2 liters and the successor 375 America (5.0 liters) were primarily intended for export to the United States .

For the European market, Ferrari designed a smaller series with twelve-cylinder engines with a displacement of 3.0 liters in 1953, especially for the European market. In view of the displacement of a single cylinder, this series was named Ferrari 250. With the exception of a small first series, which had a reduced-displacement version of Aurelio Lampredi's Long Block , Ferrari equipped all members of the 250 family with Colombo engines. This also applies to the racing versions that were added to the street sports cars. The 250 series formed the core segment of Ferrari's street sports cars in the 1950s and early 1960s. In addition, there were always individual special models that were developed with US customers in mind; however, they lagged significantly behind the 250 models in terms of numbers.

In 1963 Ferrari began to replace the 250 series with the 330 series , which had newly designed twelve-cylinder engines with a displacement of 4.0 liters. The last relatives of the 250 series were the 275 GTB and its cabriolet and racing versions; in the mid-1960s they represented the particularly sporty counterparts to the models in the 330 series. However, this line also ended in 1968.

Street sports car

Gran Turismos

From 1953 to 1963 Ferrari had five different Gran Turismo models in its range, some of which followed one another at short intervals, but did not overlap. They were usually the basic models of the 250 series, which were supplemented by the particularly sporty Berlinettas and the open Spyder.

250 Europe

Ferrari 250 Europe

The first production model of the 250 family is the Ferrari 250 Europa, manufactured in 1953. As the only member of the 250 family, the model does not have the short Colombo engine, but rather the long block from Aurelio Lampredi, which has been reduced to 2963 cm³ in displacement and which in this form bears the name Tipo 103 in the factory .

The motor has a square design (bore × stroke: 68 × 68 mm). It has an overhead camshaft , single ignition and wet sump lubrication . The mixture is prepared by three Weber twin carburettors (type 36 DCF). The engine output is 220 HP (162 kW), which occurs at 7000 revolutions per minute. The chassis is also named Tipo 103 in the factory. It is largely the same as that of the larger 375 America and also has the same 2800mm wheelbase. The front wheels are individually suspended . There are wishbones and a transverse leaf spring . A rigid axle is installed at the rear , which is connected to longitudinally arranged leaf springs.

In 1953 a total of 20 copies of the 250 Europa were made. Production is divided between chassis numbers 0295EU to 0353EU. 14 chassis were given coupé bodies from Pininfarina, which differed from one another in details. Some versions had rear panoramic windows, others a conventional rear window. In addition, Pininfarina designed two convertibles, each with an individual shape. Four chassis received bodies from Vignale ; the designs were each based on Giovanni Michelotti . Three Vignale models were coupes, one was a convertible.

250 Europe GT

Ferrari 250 Europa GT

In 1954 Ferrari replaced the 250 Europa with the 250 GT Europa. It had an enlarged version of the Colombo twelve-cylinder engine to 2953 cm³ (bore × stroke: 73 × 58.8 mm), which was shorter and lighter than the Lampredi unit used in its predecessor. In the 250 Europa GT, a version called Tipo 112 was used, which, like the Lampredi engine, developed 220 hp (162 kW). It was a reduced-power variant of the engine that was used in the 250 MM racing car. The 250 Europa GT had a newly designed chassis ( Tipo 508 ). Instead of the previous transverse leaf spring - apart from the very first examples - coil springs were now installed at the front , which improved driving comfort. The wheelbase was shortened to 2600 mm. The 250 Europa GT was around 100 kg lighter than its predecessor. This made itself felt in a higher top speed, which was now 215 km / h.

The 250 Europa GT was produced from 1954 to 1955. A total of 27 vehicles were built with bodies from Pininfarina. In their basic features they corresponded to the superstructures of the 250 Europa. There were also three show cars and four competition versions of Pininfarina. Another chassis (number 0359GT) received a Vignale body. This vehicle was commissioned for the Belgian royal family; The buyer was the Belgian princess Princess von Réthy .

250 GT Boano and Ellena

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 GT

Ferrari 250 GT Ellena

The successor to the 250 Europa GT was the 250 GT model, production of which began in autumn 1955. In terms of the bodybuilders involved, the cars are also referred to as the 250 GT Boano and 250 GT Ellena. The chassis ( Tipo 508 ) corresponds to the construction of the predecessor. A further developed version of the short-block twelve-cylinder from Colombo ( Tipo 128 ) serves as the drive , in which the spark plugs are located inside the V that the two rows of cylinders form. The engine output is 240 hp (177 kW). The body designed by Pininfarina has an almost horizontal belt line. A panoramic window is built into the rear. The body of most of the specimens is made of steel; only about a dozen vehicles have superstructures made of sheet aluminum. Different manufacturers took over the production of this model. The first ten copies were made by Pininfarina in 1956. After that, the production order went to Carrozzeria Boano in Turin for capacity reasons . A special feature of the Boano models is an exceptionally low roofline, due to which the cars are also referred to as low roof coupés in the Ferrari scene . Boano produced a total of 63 (according to other sources: 79) coupes and two vehicles with special bodies. From the summer of 1957, the Carrozzeria Ellena , which had taken over Boano's factory, was the manufacturer of the coupés. The first five Ellena coupes were stylistically the same as the Boano versions with a low roof. In contrast, the roof line was raised by 5 cm in the following examples. The glass surfaces changed accordingly. The rest of the body remained unchanged. 49 Ellena coupés had been built by 1958. Ferrari provided the Boano / Ellena coupés from 1955 with the 250 GT Berlinetta LWB, a decidedly sporty variant with reduced comfort details that could be used successfully in racing. There was also the open version 250 GT Cabriolet .

250 GT Coupé

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 GT Coupe

Ferrari 250 GT 1959

In 1958, the 250 GT Coupé with notchback body from Pininfarina appeared as the successor to the 250 GT Boano / Ellena on the long wheelbase of 2600 mm. It was the first Ferrari that was manufactured industrially. In two years, Pininfarina's new plant in Grugliasco produced 350 largely standardized specimens. Like its predecessor, the 250 GT Coupé used the Tipo 508 chassis , which was gradually developed further in the course of the production cycle. In 1959 the previous drum brakes were replaced by disc brakes, and in 1960 telescopic shock absorbers were added at the rear. The engine ( Tipo 128 ) was also gradually modified in the area of ​​the ignition distributor and the positioning of the spark plugs. The engine output remained at 240 hp (177 kW). The body was completely redesigned. There was no longer a rear panoramic window. Instead, the roof structure was angular and followed the strict trapezoidal line. At the front there was a newly designed horizontal radiator opening that extended across the entire width of the car. Pininfarina transferred the design of the front end to the second series of the 250 GT Cabriolet in 1959.

250 GTE 2 + 2

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 GT 2 + 2

Ferrari 250 GTE 2 + 2 1963

In 1960 Ferrari replaced the 250 GT Coupé with the 250 GT 2 + 2 (later name: 250 GTE 2 + 2). Ferrari broke new ground with him: It was the company's first series-produced four-seater model and was the first to appeal to (wealthy) family fathers. Despite fundamentally unchanged technology - the chassis was still the design called Tipo 508 from 1955 - the car is significantly larger than its predecessor: it is more than 30 cm longer than the 250 GT Coupé. To make room for the second row of seats, the engine and transmission have been moved 20 cm forward. The car is still powered by a Tipo 128 twelve-cylinder, which still has an output of 240 hp (177 kW). The body was designed by Pininfarina; it has no reference points to the previous model. The body is designed as a semi-hatchback coupé; special features are a steeply inclined C-pillar and a long trunk. The cars were rebuilt at Pininfarina. The 250 GT 2 + 2 was a great economic success for Ferrari. In three and a half years, 954 copies of the four-seater were built. They were largely standardized. There were only minor stylistic changes during the production cycle, and special versions only emerged in isolated cases. Two dark GT 2 + 2 that Ferrari made available to the Roman police received special attention. One of the cars equipped with flashing lights and a siren was used by the Squadra Mobile for ten years .

In 1963 Ferrari replaced the 250 GTE 2 + 2 with the 330 America , which among other things had a larger engine from the 330 family.

Berlinettas

250 GT Berlinetta LWB "Tour de France"

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta LWB

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta "Tour de France" with Pininfarina body (2nd series)

In 1955 Ferrari provided the 250 GT with a particularly sporty version called the GT Berlinetta, which was also suitable for competition. It replaced the 250 MM, which had been produced since 1953. In view of its long wheelbase of 2,600 mm, the model was subsequently given the unofficial name affix LWB (for Long Wheelbase ), which distinguished it from its successor with a shorter wheelbase (SWB). Another unofficial name for this model is "Tour de France". It goes back to the victory of one of these cars in the Tour de France for automobiles in 1956 . The GT Berlinetta LWB is technically largely the same as the 250 GT. He took over both the tubular frame and the chassis ( Tipo 508 ) from him. The Berlinetta LWB was powered by the well-known Colombo twelve-cylinder engines of the 128 type, whose output was increased to 260 hp (191 kW) to 280 hp (206 kW). 77 copies of the Berlinetta LWB had lightweight aluminum bodies designed by Pininfarina and manufactured by Scaglietti. There were also five vehicles with bodies from Zagato , which differed from one another in detail.

250 GT Berlinetta "Interim"

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Interim

In 1959 the 250 GT Berlinetta “Interim” was created as a link between the previous “Tour de France” and its successor, the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB. Scaglietti built seven vehicles, which essentially served as test vehicles. They are distributed among the chassis numbers 1377GT to 1523GT. The “Interim” models still have the long wheelbase of the “Tour de France”, but already have a Pininfarina body in the style of the new Berlinetta SWB. Outwardly, they differ from the SWB in that they have an additional side window in the doors, which the later series SWB lacks. The Tipo 128D motor also comes from the previous model . The compression varies between 9.2: 1 and 9.7: 1. Luigi Chinetti fielded a vehicle for André Pilette and George Arents in the 1959 Le Mans 24-hour race , where it finished fourth overall as the second-best Ferrari.

250 GT Berlinetta SWB

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB

In 1959, Ferrari launched the 250 GT Berlinetta LWB, the successor to the 250 GT Berlinetta LWB, with a short wheelbase, known internationally as the SWB ( Short Wheelbase ); in Italy, on the other hand, people mostly speak of the 250 GT Berlinetta Passo Corto. The chassis was shortened for this series by 20 to 2400 mm. Ferrari offered different versions. It all started with the Competizione version with a Colombo engine ( Tipo 168 ) with around 280 hp (206 kW ). This version has a body made of aluminum sheets. In 1961 the even lighter version of the SEFAC Hot Rod with 293 hp (216 kW) appeared. Both variants were successful in motorsport; In 1960 and 1961 , among other things, they achieved class victories at the Le Mans 24-hour races . In 1960, a Lusso version with a steel body and some comfort details was added to the competition versions. In the Lusso models, the engines developed around 240 hp (177 kW) to 250 hp (184 kW). Of all the variants combined, 167 copies were made in three and a half years. Eight cars with special bodies from Pininfarina and Bertone were added to the series production vehicles ; in addition, four cars received new bodies from Carrozzeria Sportscars , Neri e Bonacini and Zagato . One of the best-known special models is the 250 GT SWB Breadvan racing car . The 250 GT Berlinetta SWB is considered to be one of the most attractive and sought-after sports cars of the early 1960s. Half a century after production was discontinued, some of the units are selling at auction prices in the tens of millions.

250 GT Lusso

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

The last member of the 250 family was the 250 GT Lusso (Italian for "luxury") presented in 1962 as the successor to the 250 GT Berlinetta with a new Pininfarina body with an unchanged wheelbase of 2400 mm, equipped with the 255 hp engine; Battista "Pinin" Farina personally drove such a car. 350 pieces were produced by 1964.

Cabriolets

250 GT Cabriolet

Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet 1960

As an open version of the 250, the 250 GT Cabriolet with Pininfarina body, launched in two series, was in the program from 1955 to 1962. Of the first series (1955 to 1959, wheelbase 2600 mm, 162 kW (220 hp)), 41 units were built in four years. The second series received the front section of the more reservedly designed 250 GT Coupé, introduced in 1958, and more comfortable equipment and was built 200 times with the 176 kW engine. This car plays an important role in the movie Ferris Makes Blue , but is incorrectly referred to as the Ferrari 250 GT California.

250 GT Spyder California

In 1957 Ferrari presented the 250 GT Spyder specially designed for the USA, nicknamed California, which was produced in two series up to 1962. The first series (unofficially called GT Spyder California LWB = long wheelbase) had a body drawn by Pininfarina and manufactured by Scaglietti. The wheelbase was 2600 mm, the output 162 kW (220 hp). Compared to the regular 250 GT Cabriolet, the body was designed differently and had doors and hoods made of light metal, the equipment was simplified. 49 of the first series had been built by 1959. For the 1960 vintage (second series, 250 GT Spyder California SWB = short wheelbase), the wheelbase was shortened to 2400 mm, the body was changed and a four-wheel disc brake system was installed; The Spyder was now powered by the 206 kW (280 PS) engine. A further 55 cars were produced by 1962.

On May 18, 2008, a copy of this model was sold for 6.4 million euros at an auction in Maranello .

In autumn 2014, Alain Delon's Ferrari 250 California, born in 1961, was found completely neglected in a barn in Pellouailles-les-Vignes in western France . Despite its poor condition, the automobile was estimated to be worth up to 10 million euros. It was auctioned for 14.2 million euros.

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  1962 250 GT SWB California Spyder

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  1962 250 GT SWB California Spyder (front view)

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  1962 250 GT SWB California Spyder (rear view)

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  1962 250 GT SWB California Spyder (interior)

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  Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB with attached roof

Technical data Ferrari 250 series models

Racing car

250S (1952)

→ Main article : Ferrari 250S

Ferrari 250S (1952)

The first member of the 250 family was the 250S, a Berlinetta prototype developed from the Ferrari 225S on a wheelbase of 2400 mm. The 1947 designed by Gioacchino Colombo, initially 1.5 liter OHC -V12 was bored out with unchanged stroke from 58.8 to 70 mm, which resulted in a total displacement of 2953 cm³, and was with 169 kW (230 hp) at 7500 / min specified. The car was a one-off. It was only used eleven times in an automobile competition in 1952 and 1953. The 250S debuted with Giovanni Bracco in the 1952 Mille Miglia , which it won. Bracco achieved another victory with his co-driver Paolo Marzotto at the Pescara 12-hour race in 1952 . From 1954 there were no more races.

250MM (1952/53)

→ Main article : Ferrari 250MM

From the Paris Motor Show in autumn 1952, the 250S was followed by the 250MM (Mille Miglia) with largely unchanged technology, but with an engine that was upgraded to 176 kW (239 hp). Around 35 copies of this sports racing car had been built by 1953, around half of them with a Pininfarina coupé body; the remaining 250MM received Spider bodies from Vignale , one specimen a coupé body from Vignale.

250 Monza (1954)

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 Monza

The 250 Monza was an open racing sports car that used the chassis of the 750 Monza , but unlike the latter, it was not powered by a four-cylinder engine, but by a three-liter V12 from the 250MM. Four cars were built, two with a Pininfarina body and two with a Scaglietti body.

250 Testa Rossa (1957–1961)

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

The 250 Testa Rossa , a racing spider with a front engine, which was very successful between 1957 and 1961 , was also part of the widespread model family.

250 GTO (1962-1964)

Ferrari 250 GTO 1962

→ Main article : Ferrari 250 GTO

In 1962, based on the series 250, the extremely successful Ferrari 250 GTO with 300 hp engine, another racing berlinetta, was created.

250P / 250LM (1963 / 1963-1966)

Ferrari 250 LM 1965

→ Main article : Ferrari 250P

→ Main article : Ferrari 250LM

From 1963 Ferrari used the mid-engine 250P in prototype racing, which won the Sebring and Le Mans races that year and was built three times. Here the three-liter V12, equipped with six Weber 38DCN twin carburetors, developed 221 kW (300 hp) at 7800 rpm.

Derived from this was the 250LM as a roadworthy version, of which around 32 were built by 1966; apart from the first example, all 250LM had a variant of the 250 engine enlarged to 3.3 liters (unofficial name 275LM).

Technical data Ferrari 250 racing models

See also

• Ferrari 250 GTO

literature

• Leonardo Acerbi: Ferrari: A Complete Guide to All Models. MBI Publishing Company LLC, 2006, ISBN 978-0-7603-2550-6 .
• Georg Amtmann, Halwart Schrader: Italian sports cars. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-613-01988-4
• Matthias Braun, Ernst Fischer, Manfred Steinert, Alexander Franc Storz: Ferrari road and racing cars since 1946. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-613-02651-3 .
• Peter Braun, Gregor Schulz: The great Ferrari manual. All series and racing vehicles from 1947 to the present day. Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-501-8 .
• Nicola Cutrera: Ferrari 250 Gran Turismo . Heel-Verlag, Königswinter 1992, ISBN 3-89365-256-6 (technical data, construction times, quantities).
• Godfrey Eaton: The Complete Ferrari . Cadogan Books, London 1985, ISBN 0-947754-10-5 .
• Brian Laban: Ferrari. Translated from the English by Frauke Watson. Parragon Books, Bath 2006, ISBN 978-1-4054-1409-8 .
• Automobil Revue , catalog numbers 1960 and 1963 (dates and prices).
• Encyclopedia of the Automobile . Weltbild Verlag, Augsburg 1995. ISBN 3-89350-534-2 .

Web links

Commons : Ferrari 250  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Detailed article about the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB
• Article about the Ferrari 250 GT / L Lusso

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Matthias Braun, Ernst Fischer, Manfred Steinert, Alexander Franc Storz: Ferrari road and race cars since 1946. Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-613-02651-3 , page 182 f.
2. ↑ Matthias Braun, Ernst Fischer, Manfred Steinert, Alexander Franc Storz: Ferrari road and racing cars since 1946. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-613-02651-3 , p. 43.
3. ^ ^{A b} Peter Braun, Gregor Schulz: The large Ferrari manual. All series and racing vehicles from 1947 to the present day. Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-501-8 , p. 33.
4. ↑ ^{a b c} Matthias Braun, Ernst Fischer, Manfred Steinert, Alexander Franc Storz: Ferrari road and racing cars since 1946. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-613-02651-3 , p. 180 f.
5. ↑ ^{a b c} Peter Braun, Gregor Schulz: The great Ferrari manual. All series and racing vehicles from 1947 to the present day. Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-501-8 , p. 37.
6. ^ Peter Braun, Gregor Schulz: The large Ferrari manual. All series and racing vehicles from 1947 to the present day. Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-501-8 , p. 43.
7. ↑ http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Motor-show--events/Other-shows/Chris-Evans-buys-Ferrari-250-GT-California-for-5m/
8. ↑ Sensational barn find. In: nzz.ch. December 10, 2014, accessed October 14, 2018 .