Launched at the Paris Auto Salon in 1960, the 250 GTE was the first production Ferrari 2+2. Borrowing its lengthy 2,600 mm chassis from that of the 250 GT PF Coupe and Cabriolet, there was enough room for two rear seats and a good-sized boot. The V12 moved 20cm closer to the nose of the car meant the car appealed to those looking for a grand tourer. The track was widened, improving both cabin space and roadholding abilities.
This recipe proved to be good enough for both Il Commendatore and Squadra Mobile; the Milan Flying Squad that ordered two cars new. With a prototype starring as the official course car at the 1960 Le Mans 24 hr, the GTE was officially launched four months later at the Paris Motor Show in October.
Still effortlessly fast, capable and practical, the Pininfarina clothed GTE was elegant and ideally suited to the more discerning Ferrari customer. 954 250 GTEs were built between 1960 and 1963 over three series, but just 46 were UK supplied RHD variants.
Sadly, owing to their mechanical similarities, many RHD GTEs have been lost forever being used as donor cars for their running gear and identities for replicas of other extremely valuable Ferraris of the era such as California Spiders, 250 SWBs, 250 GTOs and 250 TRs. Today it is thought fewer than 25 UK supplied examples remain as GTEs.
This example was supplied new on 3rd January 1962 as the 219th of 300 Series 1 examples built. Completed in Grigio Scuro over Beige Connolly hide, this example was supplied new to Ferrari’s Turin agent, Signor Fontanella. The car would pass to its second keeper in July of 1962, moving to Milan in the process. Its third keeper, the Devoto family of Cagliari in Sardinia purchased the car in May 1964. The car would remain in Sardinia passing down through the family and then onwards to the Dosso family in 1968. Mrs Dosso would use the car regularly and keep the GTE for a considerable 15 years.
In 2001, following a restoration by former Ferrari employees, the 250 GTE would move to its new home in the Czech Republic. This example would be carefully looked after and presented at numerous shows within the region, including the Chateau Loucen Concours d’Elegance and later, finding residence at the capital’s Technical Museum in Prague- an exhibition supported by a 125S and F1 2001 from Ferrari’s Museum collection.
Owned at the time by official dealership Scuderia Praha, the car was cared for in house. Following on from display in the Technical Museum, permission was granted for export and the car sold to the current owner, a London resident who has cared for the car since 2013.
Shortly after arrival in the UK, the 250 GTE received a recommissioning service by marque specialists, Fosker’s Ferrari. A keen member of the GTE club of Great Britain, the car has been extensively shown at a multitude of concours events since. Testament to the care of the current owner, this GTE was awarded Ferrari Owners Club Certificate of Achievement in 2017 at Danesfield House, followed by the Salon Privé Car Club Secretary’s award at Blenheim Palace in 2020.
An eminently usable example of Ferrari’s venerable Colombo-V12 powered GT Car, this 250 GTE today presents superbly. Unusually, this example is accompanied by Ferrari’s red book Classiche Certification awarded in 2016 and today the car presents in fine order. Extensively serviced by marque experts throughout the current 13-year ownership, this GTE is further accompanied by a thorough history folio and Massini Report.
Thoroughly inspected by DK’s workshops prior to listing, this example will pass through our workshops once more as a part of the sale.
