1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta by Scaglietti

Editor’s Note: These 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso sports cars look so darn wicked cool! They’re the sort of machine you’d expect to see James Bond tooling around in, when he’s not driving his Aston-Martin DB5. Thanks to RM Auctions for permitting Monterey Car Week to run these tasty photos and the very detailed article. The story’s told in English and in French, since this car will be crossing the block at RM Auctions February 4, 2015 sale in Paris France.

Photo Credit: Tom Wood ©2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

240 bhp, 2,953 cc SOHC V-12 Tipo 168u engine with triple Weber carburettors, four-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with unequal length A-arms and coil springs, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, parallel trailing arms, and a Watt Bar, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,400 mm.

• Offered from a prominent private collection
• Matching numbers
• Recently enjoyed on a European tour
• Never before offered at auction; offered from long-term ownership

Ferrari’s breath-taking 250 GT/L, more commonly known as the Lusso, is widely celebrated to be one of the most exquisitely proportioned Ferraris ever designed by Pininfarina. Ferrari wanted their newest offering to enter the market in between the sporting 250 GT SWB and its more luxurious sibling, the 250 GTE 2+2, believing that this new car should combine the best aspects of both cars at either end of the 250-series spectrum. When new, hundreds of enthusiasts wanted one to call their own. Celebrity petrol heads like Steve McQueen and Eric Clapton owned Lussos, only adding to its allure. However, Ferraris like this were not meant to be handed out to everyone who wanted one. Demand outweighed supply, resulting in even more Lusso-mania. With 350 produced by the end of the second and final year of production in 1964, this was a car clearly destined to become a future classic.

The Lusso was first seen by the public at the Paris Motor Show in October 1962, and many enthusiasts simply fell head over heels for the beautiful body and Kamm tail that adorned the newest 250. Fortunately, all this beauty did not sacrifice aerodynamics, as these flowing lines helped to direct airflow towards the car’s rear spoiler. As per usual for the 250 series, the design was penned by Pininfarina and the bodies were constructed by Scaglietti; these bodies were made out of steel and the doors, bonnet, and boot lids were made out of aluminium.

Of course, “Lusso” translated into English means luxury, and from one look into the cabin, there is no doubt that luxury is the perfect word to describe the ambiance. Passengers were lavished with the finest materials in terms of leather, chrome trim, and Ferrari’s now trademark Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel. Perhaps the most exquisite part of the interior was the rear luggage shelf, which was quilted in fine Italian leather. It would not be surprising to learn that most owners tried to squeeze their luggage into the boot in order to catch a glimpse of that leatherwork whilst looking in their rear-view mirror.

The beauty of the Lusso did not just extend to its body and interior. Under the aluminium bonnet was Ferrari’s 3.0-litre, Colombo-designed V-12, which was topped with three Weber carburettors. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph took eight seconds, and the car could continue to accelerate until it reached a speed of 150 mph. A number of its components were shared with other Ferraris offered at the time. It borrowed its short wheelbase and rudimentary chassis design from the 250 SWB and 250 GTO and was also graced with the fantastic handling that was associated with those two models. As the final automobile in the 250 line, the Lusso would become the last Ferrari to utilise the 3.0-litre Colombo V-12, effectively closing the door on one of the most spectacular engines in automotive history.

Whilst only a handful of owners brought their Lussos to the track, it excelled as a gran turismo in the finest sense of the word. Cruising along at high speed was no problem, and the car was intended to not only cross states and provinces but whole countries and continents as well. Utilising thin A and B pillars, the interior had fantastic outward visibility, making it a much more relaxing place to be on long trips. The Lusso is not only a car that begs to be admired at all angles, but it is also a car that begs to be driven and thoroughly enjoyed. On driving the example once owned by Steve McQueen, McQueen’s son, Chad, remarked in a March 2006 article in Motor Trend that “it makes a fantastic noise, and once you get some speed, the steering lightens up. It’s warm inside, and it sure smells good”. All these aspects, topped with the smell of fine Italian leather, make for the most pleasurable of driving experiences.

CHASSIS NUMBER 5085 GT

The majority of surviving Lussos have been restored to the nines, leaving well-preserved, largely original survivors an unusual sight and something to be treasured. It is rarer still when a car becomes available that has remained largely unknown to the Ferrari community, thanks to conscientious long-term maintenance by private owners.

According to information obtained from the Ferrari factory, chassis number 5085 GT was originally delivered in Grigio Argento with Nero leather upholstery. It was originally registered in Italy to Editoriale Il Borgo S.p.A., a publisher of children’s books in Bologna. Later, it was exported to the United States, where a doctor is said to have been the second owner. He fitted a Dictaphone, which is still present inside the car, so that he would be able to take notes while on the road!

More recently, the Lusso was acquired from the doctor by its present owner, a respected Ferrari collector. He has enjoyed driving the car and employed services by Chris Holley. In July 2014, it was driven in Le 250 Tornano A Casa Tour in France and Italy, from Le Mans to Monaco to Maranello without issue, which is a testament to its drivability.

The car is noted to have been well-maintained as a driver since its last cosmetic restoration in the 1980s, at which point it was refinished in classic Rosso Corsa. Today, the paint can be described as older but is still presentable for use on the road, with straight body contours and a presentable shine. The interior is the original Nero leather, which shows wonderful authenticity. Most importantly, the car is still powered by its original engine with the correct internal number 1684/62, which matches the build sheet.

This matching-numbers example is an ideal basis for cosmetic freshening and further enjoyment or the best possible beginning to a concours-level restoration. Either way, this Lusso marks an exciting opportunity for a new owner to leave his stamp on a car which remains virtually “unknown” to the collecting world.